Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, left in the tank, tests military machinery at Staratel firing range.
Photo: Pavel Lisizyn
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Vice PM Ivanov to Trim Fradkov of Another Authority
On tour of defense enterprises of Russia, newly appointed Vice Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov, who is also the minister of defense in the country, visited Nizhni Tagil, the Sverdlov Region, November 22, 2005. After having a ride on the T-90 tank, Ivanov announced he may soon take over the government’s military and industrial commission, which has been headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov so far.
In Nizhni Tagil, Ivanov started with Staratel firing range, where he was shown T-90C, T-80E1, T-72BM tanks and a combat vehicle of tank support. “The tank [T-90C] is very good. We plan to buy 31 of them for the Army in 2006. One may think this number ridiculous, but the state has not purchased new armaments in such consignments since the USSR collapse,” Ivanov specified after a ride in T-90C.
The next point of destination was Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) wagon works, maker of tanks and wagons. “I can say UVZ will have 750 million rubles more in defense order next year [2005 order amounts to 1 billion rubles],” Ivanov said obviously satisfied with the works’ operation.
Another statement of defense minister related to authority extension. Ivanov forecasted he may take over the government’s military and industrial commission. This commission, according to Ivanov, “is one of the two basic vehicles to control the industry; the second vehicle is the RF government’s office and some of its departments, which also directly relate to defense and industrial complex.” Today’s head of the commission is Mikhail Fradkov, prime minister of Russia. Once he loses this authority, he will be able to eye the industry only through the government, not for long apparently.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 23, 2005
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