Egypt crisis may push oil up to 120 dollars per barrel

MOSCOW, February 4 (Itar-Tass) -- The crisis in Egypt poses no real
threat to oil transit via the Suez Canal, but can push up oil prices as
high as 120 US dollars per barrel, according to head of the Russian Gas
Society and State Duma deputy speaker Valery Yazev.
"The current rise up to 100 dollars per barrel is no fundamental price
and no result of the demand and supply balance. It is situational," he
told Tass on Thursday before leaving to attend the 47th security
conference in Munich.
He said the danger of oil transit disruption through the Suez Canal
"is hypothetical and potential, but there are no real grounds for that" as
Egypt realizes the consequences of such an option.
Yazev said "international legal mechanisms and strict global rules for
oil transportation and sea route protection shall be designed" to avert
such threats.
He said the planned Nabucco gas pipeline, which is to go through
northern Iraq populated by Kurds, may face a similar situation.
"Such critical zones shall be under international cover. This is a
legal issue. Besides, it might be necessary to create certain reserves of
energy carriers against such risks. Russia has advanced its initiatives,
but so far they meet no understanding in the European Union which is
sticking to the Energy Charter, which is objectively outdated now," Yazev
said.
Oil prices will depend on the duration of the political crisis in
Egypt and the situation in other critical places for global energy
security. "I believe the United States may begin to replenish oil
reserves," he said adding all the factors may push the price up to 120
dollars.

.Communists complain of regional election arbitrariness.

MOSCOW, February 4 (Itar-Tass) -- The opposition Communist Party
complained on Thursday that arbitrariness of regional officials is on the
rise as regional elections are approaching in Russia.
"Registration of candidates is becoming a more unpleasant business
because of arbitrariness of regional officials. The lower is the election
level the higher is the arbitrariness," first deputy chairman of the
Communist Party Ivan Melnikov told reporters on Thursday referring to
regional elections scheduled for March 13.
He said the Communists will inform President Dmitry Medvedev about all
the violations during his next meeting with political party leaders.
"Earlier they (officials) did not allow us to work normally during the
campaign and on the election day. Now they erect barricades at approaches
to the campaign through red tape, scrutiny of every comma, and pressure on
candidates," Melnikov said.
He also said some regions bar the Communists from TV channels
completely.
"There are regions where they do not let us get anywhere near the
information channels," he said and named Chukotka and Khanty-Mansi
provinces.
He blamed the ruling United Russia Party for "pressuring regional
media" and said the Communists encountered problems with publications and
outdoor campaigning.
Still he said "our analysis shows a growing number of people want to
break free from TV slavery and are ready to perceive our proposals."

.Population declines in Belarus.

MINSK, February 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Population in Belarus declined by
18.9 thousand people last year and comprised 9481.1 thousand people, the
national statistical committee (Belstat) said on Thursday.
It specified the natural population decline comprised 29 thousand
people (137305 deaths against 108123 newborns) however the number of
migrants grew by 10303 people (17169 arrived and 6866 left).
The population in the capital city of Minsk increased last year from
1843.7 thousand to 1864.1 thousand while in all other regions of the
country the population declined.
In the past five years the population in Belarus decreased 5.5
percent. Experts say Belarus "reports all the negative sides of the
current demographic crisis" as it has a high mortality rater and a low
birth rate.