Summary of Russian press for Tuesday 27 February 2007.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Kommersant

1. Andrey Kolesnikov report on Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting the cabinet. The president accused Health and Social Development Minister Mikhail Zurabov of short-sightedness and ordered First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev to assist the ministry in optimizing its work. However, the author quotes a source in the Kremlin as saying that Zurabov is unlikely to be dismissed; pp 1, 4.

2. Aleksey Shapovalov et al. report says Belarus is willing to receive a loan of 1.5bn dollars from Russia to resolve economic problems caused by an increase in Russian oil and gas prices. At the same time Minsk, eager to raise money, is getting ready for a large-scale privatization of state-owned property, the article adds; p 2.

3. Dmitriy Belikov and Vladimir Drabchuk report says the GAZ group, owned by tycoon Oleg Deripaska, intends to buy the Ordzhonikidze Tractor Plant in Kharkiv. The deal is due to exceed 100m dollars. …