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U.S. and Russian Government Commentary
March 1, 2005: Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, Agence France Presse
There's no longer any reason to watch television," Gorbachev said, adding that if it were not for a handful of liberal opposition newspapers that still manage to escape Kremlin content control we would never know what is happening in the country.
February 8, 2005: Andrei Illarionov, Economic Adviser to President Vladimir Putin
Any country that wants to build a future, would have to return Yugansk to its owners. I'm convinced this will be done. It's impossible to say right now when, and under what conditions it will be done, but I'm convinced it will be done.
December 28, 2004: Andrei Illarionov
The sale of Yuganskneftegaz to a mysterious company -- it is no longer mysterious -- to Baikal Finance Group, the acquisition of Baikal Finance Group by Rosneft, all operations related to Rosneft's merger with Gazprom, disengagement of Rosneft and Gazprom and the like deserve the title of the Swindle of the Year.
Today we made the decision to join the Third World.
[The actions against YUKOS] were conducted in a monstrously incompetent way, and it was clear to everyone that the only reason behind it was a huge desire to expropriate private property.
Before, it was street conmen that used to play this kind of game, and now it is state companies,
These actions have inflicted a colossal damage to the country.
The devastating effects of the YUKOS case for the Russian economy, Russian politics, Russia's image, the Russian judicial system and many other aspects of our life will be long-term effects. It is not clear for the time being as to how we will be able to cope with the damages done to us. Unfortunately, there will be more damages.
It is clear that the YUKOS case was not about tax claims, it was not about improper oil production or the use of certain technological methods. This was not the main point. But what was the main point? From what we see today it is obvious that the main aim is to get possession of private property which has no other name for it but expropriation of private property.
The restriction of discussion, based on either state censorship or the self-censorship of journalists, officials and politicians, is a blow to the country that no external threat can compare with…A country paralyzed by fear is doomed.
The seizure by the state of the economy's commanding heights, in particular in the energy sector, is a guarantee of stagnation. Long, hard and tortuous stagnation. For decades.
December 23, 2004: President Putin acknowledging and defending the Russian Government's takeover of Yuganskneftegaz
'Today the state, using absolutely legal market mechanisms, is securing its interests. I consider this to be quite normal.
December 21, 2004: President Putin, speaking at a press conference in Germany, acknowledging he knew the identities of the individuals behind the Baikal Finance Group, the purchaser of Yuganskneftegaz in the auction
As far as I know, the shareholders are individuals, they worked many years in the energy sphere. They intend, according to my information, to build ties with other energy companies in Russia, which are interested in these assets.
December 21, 2004: U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, commenting on the auction of Yuganskneftegaz
We read a lot of funny stories about Baikal Finance Group, but we have absolutely no information about this company. It seems to me that we clearly stated our attitude towards the sale of YUKOS and the tax claims against this company. We looked for a solution to this problem that would observe tax laws and would not infringe on the rights of the company's shareholders, creditors, and employees. We don't believe that the auction was a step in this direction. The entire course of this affair has raised questions about the independence and transparency of Russian courts and investment and tax laws and is a cause for serious concern. The situation with YUKOS has ruined Russia's reputation as a place to do business.
December 21, 2004: U.S. White House spokesman Scott McClellan, commenting on Bush Administration disappointment that Russia had gone ahead with the auction of Yuganskneftegaz
...we have previously indicated concerns about the situation regarding YUKOS. We are disappointed that Russia went ahead with the auction of the YUKOS subsidiary. We had hoped for a solution that would allow for the legitimate enforcement of tax laws, but avoid harming investors, especially American investors.
And we have communicated to the Russian government repeatedly that its handling of the YUKOS matter could have a chilling effect on the foreign investment in Russia, and affect its role in the global economy. We continue to believe it's Russia's responsibility to seek greater integration into the world economy, to create an environment governed by the protection of property rights and rule of law, and to restore confidence in its political, legal and judicial institutions.
The United States supports the ability of investors to pursue interests in Russia and believes that Russia should ensure a stable, predictable and transparent environment for those investors.
November 3, 2004: Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin
I am concerned about the increasing influence of those who think that the state should continue to direct everything and preserve its business interests.
October 28, 2004: Igor Shuvalov, Aide to President Vladimir Putin
It amounted to a denial of a hidden agenda to expropriate (core YUKOS shareholder Group) Menatep -- which, in reality, is the only possible explanation for the sale of Yuganskneftegaz.
October 18, 2004: Mikhail Zadornov, State Duma Deputy and former Russian Minister of Finance, Der Spiegel
The YUKOS case undermines our judicial reform and makes people mistrust courts’ objectivity. Furthermore, it is a bad example for the millions of employees at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a signal for forming the attitude toward captains of the economy.”
October 14, 2004: Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref, Die Zeit
It [the scandal around YUKOS] has visibly damaged stock market dynamics and deteriorated Russia’s attractiveness to investors. But it is difficult to express it in figures.
October 10, 2004: Oleg Vyugin, Head of the Federal Service for Financial Markets, Interfax
If [YUKOS assets] are sold at an unfair price, for a mere song, it will mean that property of YUKOS’ minority investors is expropriated by state authorities in favor of a new owner. This event might not confine itself to investors’ loss but influence the investment climate that we are striving to improve.
September 10, 2004: President Putin speaks on nationalism
Nationalization is not a mechanism we will resort to.
June 17, 2004: Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
The Russian government is not interested in bankrupting a company like YUKOS and will try to prevent it from happening.
Russian authorities, the government and economic authorities are not interested in the bankruptcy of such a company as YUKOS... The government will do its best to prevent the collapse of the company.
May 24, 2002: Joint statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin on the New U.S.-Russian Energy Dialogue
Successful development of the global economy depends on timely and reliable energy delivery. In this context, we welcome the fact that the Russian Federation has confirmed its role as a major world energy provider. In order to strengthen our overall relationship and enhance global energy security and international strategic stability, we have agreed to launch a bilateral energy dialogue.
Through this Dialogue we seek to:
Develop bilateral cooperation in the energy sphere on a mutually beneficial basis in accordance with our respective national energy policies.
Reduce volatility and enhance predictability of global energy markets and reliability of global energy supply.
Facilitate commercial cooperation in the energy sector enhancing interaction between our companies in exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing of energy, as well as in implementation of joint projects including those in third countries.
Encourage investment aimed at the further development and modernization of the fuel and energy sector of Russia, including expansion of oil and gas production in Eastern Siberia, the Far East, and offshore areas.
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