Returns from better weather forecasts to reach 55 bln rbls a yr 2030.

MOSCOW, November 20 (Itar-Tass) -- The expected economic returns from better weather forecasts and measures to improve the systems of warning of extreme weather events will reach at least 55 billion rubles a year by 2030, Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev told the State Duma this week.

In September 2010 the Russian government approved of a development
strategy for hydro-meteorology and the related fields for a period up to
2030.
The funding of the weather forecasting network's modernization will
make up about 22 billion rubles, Prime-Tass reports.
The implementation of the strategy, Trutnev said, will increase the
timeliness of weather forecasts, reduce the time necessary for data
processing and for issuing warnings about the threat of tsunamis from
fifteen minutes to five following the registration of an underwater
earthquake, and improve the quality and expand the range of
hydro-meteorological information products.

.Medvedev at Russia-NATO summit to voice ABM defense proposals.

MOSCOW, November 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
at the Russia-NATO summit in Lisbon on Saturday will voice a number of
proposals for cooperation in missile defense, Russian presidential aide
Sergei Prikhodko said, adding that he considered the establishment of
close cooperation in this area quite real.
"In his speech the president will announce a number of ideas about how
we may go about the business of building cooperation in the field of
missile defense in the coming years," he said. "We would like the opinion
of Russia as an equitable partner in the assessment of threats and in
devising practical steps to be taken into account," the presidential aide
said.
"The work to finalize the details of the Russian initiative
continues," Prikhodko stated. "It will probably look like an invitation to
analysis and cooperation. The calibration of these ideas will require
time, probably, much time."
Prikhodko expressed the certainty that creating a common security
system, including the ABM component, was quite real. He explained that the
point at issue was an integrated missile defense system that would include
national air defenses of NATO countries, whose activities would be
synchronized and coordinated by one command.
"We are ready to be integrated (with such a system)," the presidential
aide said. "It is a very practical matter. Its implementation on the
condition of, mainly, political will, according to experts, will not only
encounter no insurmountable difficulties, but, on the contrary, may well
be carried out even in the medium term, and not the long term," he said.
"This is going to be not a global missile defense. That is a very
different matter. As for a tactical missile defense - it is quite
possible," said Prikhodko.
"I think it depends on political will," he added.
"We are very interested to ensure the implementation of the European
missile defense idea should not allow a separation of the NATO countries
and Russia, but on the contrary, should strengthen the security of all
European countries without any exceptions and stress the indivisibility of
security," said Prikhodko. "Decisions (on this issue) are to be taken in
the coming years and their consequences will affect the nature of
cooperation over decades, so we need to choose the right message today."
Prikhodko believes that "by and large Russia's participation in a
European missile defense is in a sense a response to President Medvedev's
proposal (for concluding a Treaty on European Security), if we are talking
about joint responses and the identification of threats and challenges;
that is one of the smaller segments."
As he dwelt on that document, the presidential aide said that for
Moscow "it is important to continue discussions on the initiative for
concluding a legally binding treaty on European security."
"We were glad to see it was perceived with interest by and large," he
said. "We believe that now the Euro-Atlantic process has begun moving, and
we have a good opportunity to work for the ultimate erasing of division
lines and to move on towards a common and indivisible security space," he
added.
"For us, in fact, it is important not only the existence of a document
or fixed deadlines, but the involvement of professionals in this
discussion," said Prikhodko.

.Reform of geological exploration due 2010-2011 - resources minister.

MOSCOW, November 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia plans to reform the public
sector of geological exploration in 2010-2011, Natural Resources Minister
Yuri Trutnev told the State Duma this week.
Under the reform plan there will be created a state-run holding
Rosgeologiya and conditions ensured for the consolidation of information
assets and for a better performance of industrial research institutes.
For improving the investment attractiveness of the geological industry
economic incentives will be created and unnecessary administrative
barriers removed, he said.
Already now there has been introduced a lower severance tax for
depleted oil fields, severance tax holidays established for some remote
areas, a zero rate severance tax set for high viscosity oils, fees for
geological information abolished, preparation of project documentation
simplified, and the number of necessary authorizations reduced.
In addition, proposals have been prepared for the introduction of
discount severance taxes for small hydrocarbon deposits.
The Russian government's strategy for the development of the
geological industry until 2030 provides for the retooling and innovative
development of the service industry and its personnel, Prime-Tass reported.
It is expected that the strategy will increase the funding of
exploration from extra-budgetary by 50 percent, and the share of
exploration work based on innovations will grow to 70 percent by 2030,
said Trutnev.

-0-str