Vladimir Putin discusses oil production with Iyad Allawi.

MOSCOW, August 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin and Iraq's former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi discussed on Saturday
bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic relations, and energy
projects, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said.
"Over the meeting, the sides discussed in details the bilateral
relations, and first of all in trade and the economy," he said. "Putin and
Allawi paid attention to energy cooperation, including joint projects of
Rosneft and Crescent Petroleum both in the territory of Iraq and in the
Middle East region."
"They discussed also supplies of equipment and cooperation in gas
sector, cooperation in development of new fields," Sechin added. "Over the
discussion, the sides stressed that major bilateral projects might become
a big input into the stability in Iraq and the region."
Sechin mentioned that Russia's Lukoil and Gazpromneft companies had
been working in Iraq.
He spoke about the Sharjah exploration drilling joint project, where
Crescent Petroleum is involved. The deposit may contain 70 billion cubic
metres of gas and 16 million tonnes of condensate. Rosneft, with 40
percent shares in the project, may invest 630 million dollars there. The
production is due to start in 2013.
"Today, the sides discussed charter documents of the investment fund,
which will unite Rostechnologii and Crescent Petroleum's shareholders,"
Sechin said. "The fund will unite 500 million dollars, and its purpose is
to implement the transport and logistics projects in the territory of the
Russian Federation."
"We believe, and this was discussed today, that the charter documents
will be signed over the business forum in Sochi in September," he added.


.New houses to be built in Sochi's Hosta district.

SOCHI, August 22 (Itar-Tass) -- New houses will be built in Sochi's
Hosta district for those residents, whose houses will be removed over the
construction of facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi,
Deputy Governor of the Krasnodar Region Alexander Saurin said.
"At the site of about 15 hectares, we shall construct apartment
buildings and private houses, modern infrastructures and necessary social
facilities," he said. "We shall prepare 150 flats and 22 cottages,"
Before the seasonal rains start, the construction company will make
temporary roads for the period of the construction.


.More presidential candidates appear in Belarus.

MINSK, August 22 (Itar-Tass) -- The number of future candidates for
presidency in Belarus is growing. Political parties, civic companies and
organisations appoint their candidates. Over a dozen future candidates
have announced their plans.
The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, Sergei
Gaidukevich, voiced his plans to run for presidency over the party's
congress on Saturday.
"I confirm my intention to take part in the presidential campaign and
I believe the election will be in late 2010," he said.
Earlier, similar statements came from co-chair of the Belarussian
Christian Democracy Party Vitaly Rymashevsky, leader of the For Freedom
Movement Alexander Milinkevich, leader of the European Belarus Andrei
Sannikov, deputy head of the United Civil Party Yaroslav Romanchuk, and
from former parliamentarian Valery Frolov.
Experts forecast, the list may grow after the official announcement of
the election campaign's start.
Acting President Alexander Lukashenko did not rule out his
participation in the fourth running presidential campaign.
The presidential election date in Belarus is not set yet. According to
the legislation, the election should be organised before February 6, 2011.
Some experts say that the election date may be announced at the early
session of the parliament on September 7.


.Opposition claims Georgia's gov't responsible for high bread price.

TBILISI, August 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Georgia's several opposition parties
accuse the government of "deliberate raise of bread prices." Georgia's
former head of the office and the present leader of the Movement for Fair
Georgia Petre Mamradze told reporters that the government "supported the
raise of bread prices in order to reimburse the budget."
"The raise of the prices could not be caused by international markets'
situation as the bread baked in Georgia is made of the grain, which was
imported before the prices went up," he said. "Experts and everyone
expected the prices to rise in October or November, but not in August."
"Quite recently the government promised the prices would remain at the
previous level at least till September, as the country has enough grain in
store," Mamradze said. "All Georgians should be paid a compensation for
the raise," he added. "As the government controls the business groups,
which import grain, any raise of prices would be impossible without the
government's knowledge."
On Saturday, the radical opposing Labour Party accused the government
of the raised bread prices, too
Over the past three days, prices grew by 10-15 percent there. Five
days earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture said that "the temporary ban
introduced by Russia from August 15 will affect the region, but Georgia
has enough grain in store and alternative sources, too, thus no serious
problems are possible."
"Russia's decision will affect the market in Georgia, but there are no
reasons to panic - prices will not go up in Georgia in August," the
ministry assured.
Lately, Georgia has been producing 15 percent of grain the country
needs, the rest 85 percent have been imported, mostly from Russia and
Kazakhstan. Russia's share makes 60-70 percent in Georgia's imported grain.

-0-kar


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