Lavrov stresses need to ensure safety of Russia tourists in Turkey

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MOSCOW, May 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in
a telephone conversation with his Turkish colleague Ahmet Davutoglu has
stressed the insistent need to take measures to ensure safety of Russian
tourists in Turkey, the RF Foreign Ministry reported on Tuesday on the
results of the ministers' conversation.
"The Turkish foreign minister expressed condolences over the road
accident in the Turkish resort of Antalya that resulted in fatalities
among Russian tourists," the ministry said. "Sergei Lavrov stressed the
Russian side's readiness to provide all the necessary aid to the affected
people and assistance to the relatives of the deceased. He noted the
insistent need of taking measures aimed at ensuring safe stay of Russian
citizens in Turkey and high responsibility of tour operators for the live
and health of people."
The sides considered the developments around the Iranian nuclear
programme, exchanged views on other international problems. They also
discussed certain practical issues of Russia-Turkey relations.
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.Putin to hold meeting of VEB Supervisory Board.

MOSCOW, May 26 (Itar-Tass) - Issues of the participation of
Vnesheconombank (VEB) in the financing of the third stage of a woodworking
complex in the Khabarovsk Territory and in crediting of the project of
purchase and exploitation by Sovcomflot of Arctic shuttle tankers will be
in the focus at a meeting of the VEB Supervisory Board on Wednesday. The
meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin.
The woodworking complex for the production of chipboard and sawn
timber with the wood processing capacity of up to 1.1 million cubic metres
annually is planned to be built in the Vanino district of the Khabarovsk
Territory. The project is aimed at raising the efficiency of the use of
natural resources, development of the national products' exports, promotes
socio-economic development of the region. The project's implementation
will create 500 new jobs in the Vanino urban type settlement of the
Khabarovsk Territory.
The meeting agenda also includes the issue of the possibility of VEB's
participation in crediting of the project of the purchase and exploitation
by Sovcomflot of Arctic shuttle tankers for the transportation of oil, oil
products and gas condensate. The main planned route of the transportation
is the Prirazlomnoye field (Pechora Sea) - Western Europe. Before the
beginning of the field's exploitation it is planned to use the vessels for
the transportation of liquid hydrocarbons on the route Baltic ports - West
European ports.
A report on the bank's activity for 2009 and proposals on the use
(distribution) of profit gained by Vnesheconombank last year will also be
presented at the VEB Supervisory Board meeting.
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.FC to consider coalmine safety, president bills on party activity.

MOSCOW, May 26 (Itar-Tass) - The Federation Council upper house of
Russia's parliament on Wednesday will again raise at its plenary meeting
the issue of ensuring safety in the coalmining industry. "It is necessary
to draw the right conclusions from the tragedy at the Raspadskaya mine in
the Kemerovo region in order to prevent its recurrence," representative of
the Kemerovo region in the FC Sergei Shatirov told Itar-Tass. He said that
over 700 normative acts on the work of mines are in effect at present
"many of which have outdated and control over their fulfilment is
inefficient." According to him, "it is necessary to form a new legislative
base and establish responsibility of the related departments and heads of
enterprises for the situation in mines."
The explosion in the Raspadskaya mine, located near Mezhdurechensk in
Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, occurred on 8 May 2010. It was believed to have
been caused by a build up of methane. The initial explosion was followed
by a second approximately four hours later which collapsed the mine's
ventilation shaft and trapped several rescue workers. By 12 May, 2010 60
people were confirmed to have died with at least 99 others injured and as
many as a further 58 unaccounted for.
The FC will also consider a package of presidential draft laws on the
intensification of the deputy activities of parties and certain norms of
voting. In particular, they concern a possibility to create in regional
parliaments factions comprising one deputy. The adoption of this and other
laws will make it possible to create additional conditions for the free
and civilised competition between parties, believe FC experts. It is
planned to narrow the possibility of early voting in elections in order to
rule out a number of violations.
It is also planned to ratify on Wednesday a number of international
agreements, including on the Customs Union.
Within the Government Hour of questions and answers the issue of state
financial monitoring of the development of payment systems will be
considered. Head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service Yuri
Chikhanchin will deliver a report on this matter.
The Murmansk region will be presented within the framework of the RF
Subject Hour at the FC. Meetings of Murmansk region's representatives in
related committees were held on Tuesday, and the regional governor and
chairman of the regional Duma are expected to speak at the house meeting
on Wednesday.
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