Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) with First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev
Photo: Дмитрий Азаров
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Ten Biggest Things to Come for Russia
Correspondents from RIA Novosti information agency compiled a list of the ten biggest events awaiting Russia and the world this year. The list follows.
1. The presidential election in Russia
It will take place on March 2. Four parties have nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and announced their choice in Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin office. Medvedev has promised Putin the position of prime minister in his government.
2. Presidential election in the United States
It will take place on November 4. The primaries, during which a single candidate is chosen from each party, occur this month. Analysts say that the battle in the Republican Party will come down to Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain, and in the Democratic Party to Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama.
3. The Olympic Games in Beijing
The Summer Olympics will take place in the capital of the People's Republic of China August 8-24. Investment in facilities will total about $50 billion, according to the Chinese. Three hundred two sets of gold, silver and bronze medals (165 men's, 127 women's and 10 general) will be given in 28 sports. That is one more than in the last games.
4. The status of Kosovo will be determined
Kosovo, now formally part of Serbia, may unilaterally declare its independence. Several Western countries have already indicated that they will recognize its independence. Russia is opposed to it, insisting that Belgrade and Pristine should reach an agreement on its status. Politicians and analysts fear a new wave of violence in the Balkans due to the tension there, as well as a backlash in post-Soviet breakaway republics, Spain, Cyprus and other hotspots.
5. Presidential election in Georgia
The early election and a referendums on the date of parliamentary elections and Georgia's entry into NATO take place on January 5. Elections were set after rioting in Tbilisi last November. Of the 22 people originally declaring their intentions to run for president, seven actually campaigned.
6. Parliamentary elections in Pakistan
They will take place on January 8. They have taken on added significance after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27. She was the most likely candidate for prime minister, and her death will undoubtedly lead to greater political and economic instability in Pakistan and the entire region.
7. The Russian Army converts to a one-year draft
The change is supposed to increase the attractiveness of army service, reduce the number of draft evaders and reduce abuse within the ranks. It will also increase battle readiness with a more concentrated training period. At the same time, it will become harder to defer service, and those with higher educations will be forced to serve. In 2007, the length of service was reduced from two years to 18 months.
8. Reorganization of the RAO UES of Russia electricity holding
RAO ceases to exist on July 1 of this year. In its place, there will be 14 regional generating companies and six wholesale generating companies.
9. Commodities exchanges for petroleum products, crude oil and fish will be opened in Russia
The oil exchange will be located in St. Petersburg and the Ministries if Defense and Agriculture will be required to buy at least 15 percent of their annual consumption there. Sea bioresources will be traded in Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad and Murmansk.
10. The 2008 European Championship of soccer
It will take place June 7-29 in Austria and Switzerland. Russia's will be one of the 16 national teams participating, playing initially in Group D with Spain, Greece and Sweden. In spite of its upset victory over England in Moscow, the Russian team made it to the championship with difficulty.
www.kommersant.com
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