Ukraine to see in 2010 without gas problems for first time.

KIEV, November 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister
Alexander Turchinov is convinced that the country "will see in 2010
without gas problems for the first time." He has made a statement in an
interview with the 5th television channel on Sunday evening.

According to him, both sides are fulfilling the bilateral gas
agreements. "Ukraine will pay for Russian gas consumption timely in the
future, and the Russian side will not impose sanctions against Ukraine for
the shortage of gas pumping," Turchinov said.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stated more than once that
Russia may levy more than eight billion dollars of fines for Ukraine's
shortfall of gas pumping. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko
pledged that Ukraine had reached an agreement with Russia not to impose
penalty sanctions on Ukraine. The Russian gas major Gazprom notes that the
company is entitled to impose penalty sanctions on Ukraine, but does not
intend to do it yet.

.Medvedev to round off first visit of Russia president in Singapore.

SINGAPORE, November 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev will round off the first-ever official visit of the Russian
president in Singapore on Monday.
The president will begin the last day of the visit in Singapore by a
meeting with the CEOs of major Russian and Singaporean companies. Such
major Russian businessmen as Vladimir Dmitriyev (Vnesheconombank), Oleg
Deripaska (Base Element), Vladimir Yevtushenkov (AFK Sistema), Yevgeny
Kaspersky (Kaspersky Lab), Andrei Kostin (VTB) and Alexander Medvedev
(Gazprom) will participate in the meeting.
Before the meeting with the business captains Medvedev will
familiarize with Singapore's achievements in modern electronic
communication technologies. The Russian president will examine the
electronic government project developed by the Singaporean agency of
information and telecommunication technologies.
The president will also have negotiations with Singaporean Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Alongside, under the protocol of official visits
in Singapore the Russian high guest will have a meeting with Senior
Minister Goh Chok Tong.
At the end of the visit Medvedev will visit the Russian Pacific Fleet
flagship missile cruiser Varyag. The Varyag is currently on a friendly
visit in Singapore. The Varyag, which was initially called Chervona
Ukraina before the renaming in February 1996, is the best warship of the
Russian Pacific Fleet. This Guards missile cruiser is designed for
providing the combat stability of warships, which are on mission in remote
maritime areas, as well as for destroying surface warships of the enemy in
remote areas.

.Russia to present its position at World Summit on Food Security.

MOSCOW, November 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Agriculture Minister Yelena
Skrynnik will participate in the World Summit on Food Security that will
open in Rome on Monday. The agriculture minister will present Russia's
position on the solution to the food security problem at a plenary session
of the summit.
Skrynnik will have bilateral meetings with her counterparts from
Italy, France, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Australia, Ecuador, as
well as with Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) Jacques Diouf and Executive Director of the UN World Food Program
Josette Sheeran.
The provision and strengthening of food security is among the top
priorities in Russia's agrarian policy. The Russian Agriculture Ministry
has developed a draft doctrine on food security targeted at providing the
country with qualitative domestic agricultural products by no less than
80-90% of domestic demand.
Alongside, in order to step up food security in the EurAsEC
member-countries Russia intends to participate actively in the
implementation of a program for creating a common Eurasian distribution
network of agricultural products, raw materials and food products.
Russia is currently ranked among the top three wheat exporters on the
world market. The Russian Agriculture Ministry is drafting a program for
the development of the grain market infrastructure to increase the country'
s export potential on the world grain market.
-0-baz