|
|
 |
Duma Takes Care of United Aircraft-Building Corporation Revenues
Russian state will allow the enterprises which it does not own directly to export weapons and spare parts. It is necessary for creating the United Aircraft-Building Corporation. Otherwise, its participants might lose up to $1.3 billion per year. Meanwhile, the second stage of forming the corporation will require radical review of the entire concept of Russia’s military and technical cooperation.
Russian State Duma ratified amendments to the law “About military and technical cooperation with foreign states” which concern the rules for weapons export. Only enterprises where 51 percent of shares is federal property have the right to export weapons and spare parts now. The amendments allow companies whose parent is state-owned by 51 percent to export weapons as well.
Representatives of the United Aircraft-Building Corporation said these amendments are sufficient for the first stage of forming the corporation where 75 percent of shares will belong to the state. Thus, the corporation will obtain the right for independent trade of its products, by-passing the federal in-between Rosoboronexport.
However, the state intends to decrease its share in the corporation down to 51 percent. Part of shares might be acquired by foreign owners. Meanwhile, present law does not allow companies with foreign shareholders to be independent weapon exporters.
Thus, representatives of the United corporation will insist on further changing of the law. Then, however, the question of changing the entire concept of military and technical cooperation will arise. The government will have to consider giving up its present monopoly over the weapons industry. Yet, there is no unanimous opinion in the government regarding this issue.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 25, 2006
|
|
|
