3 Americans Given Top Post At Russian Oil Giant (Yukos)

http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-russia1104,0,7478103.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines


...In a brief statement today, Yukos said it had appointed Simon Kukes, a Russian-born U.S. citizen, to replace him as chief executive.

Steven Theede, also an American, was named executive director of Yukos-Moscow, a subsidiary under which many of Yukos' central corporate functions are incorporated, the company said.

They join Bruce Misamore, also a U.S. citizen, who remains Yukos' chief financial officer.

Khodorkovsky has pursued close ties with the United States and its oil companies -- last year Yukos became the first Russian oil company to export crude oil directly to the United States -- and led a trend among Russian companies toward hiring Westerners to improve their image and their business practices.

Kukes, who once attended Rice University, was elected chairman of the Yukos board of directors in June. He was formerly president and chief executive officer of the Tyumen Oil Company, or TNK, which merged with British Petroleum's Russian subsidiary earlier this year.


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Putin has denied any political motives behind the probe. He denied that the investigation was aimed at revising results of the controversial privatization of the 1990s, in which tycoons such as Khodorkovsky won quick fortunes by snapping up state assets at rock-bottom prices.

In an interview with Italian journalists that was posted on the Kremlin Web site today, Putin said that while the results of privatization "weren't ideal," changing them would entail negative economic and social consequences.

"There will be no deprivatization or review of privatization results, but every one must learn to live in accordance with the law," he said..>> MORE

Jailed ex-CEO to sell YUKOS?
November 05, 2003 Posted: 11:48 Moscow time (07:48 GMT)

Mikhail Khodorkovsky (AP)

MOSCOW - Despite tough actions of Russian authorities, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who resigned as YUKOS CEO on Monday, continues to consider ways of selling a large stake in the company to a Western investor.

Last week, the US Department of State issued a strong statement in response to the arrest of Mr. Khodorkovsky by Russian authorities. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Russian authorities should ensure an unbiased investigation into the case of YUCOS CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky. According to Mr. Boucher, the arrest and jailing of Mr. Khodorkovsky and the freezing of the company's shares raise serious questions about Russia's commitment to free market principles and independent judiciary. However, according to Russian analysts, these statements do not reflect the real attitude of the American elite to the events in Russia, and they are rather intended for 'home use'. With the help of such statements, part of the American establishment tries to clarify the position of US President George Bush on the developments in Russia..

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"I think, the statement of the US State Department was quite mild, which seems strange. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that certain tacit agreements were reached during the last meeting of Vladimir Putin and George Bush on how Russia will build its economic policy in the future," the analyst said.

Perhaps, it is for this reason that investors did not panic after the arrest of Mr. Khodorkovsky. "Investors are not going to withdraw from the Russian market, and they have been planning their future work with Russia since the time of the arrest. In addition, most of the US business elite are optimistic. Opinions are expressed that the YUKOS affair is just an isolated incident, which will be forgotten in half a year, and it is necessary to continue investing," Mr. Sobyanin says. According to analysts, investors, especially American businessmen, will be increasingly interested in Russia. It is clear that Washington's plans to establish full control over Iraqi oil resources have collapsed, and the Americans will continue looking for other cheap and safe sources of oil. In this respect, Russia is the most realistic option. It is not a coincidence that, prior to Mr. Khodorkovsky's arrest, the American companies ExxonMobil and ChevronTexaco were the most likely buyers of a stake in YUKOS.

Although the Americans are not in talks with YUKOS to buy a stake, from a formal point of view, this does not mean that the multinational oil companies dropped their plans to gain control of the Russian oil giant. According to some reports, large Western financial corporations already have such control, even if indirectly.
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http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cnews-article.shtml?nd=41193

http://makeashorterlink.com/?N2F012476

How Russian Oil Tycoon Courted Friends in U.S.

In early 2001, as George W. Bush's administration moved into the White House, one of Russia's wealthiest men, Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, sought a meeting with the new national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice. According to a former staff member, National Security Council analysts were asked to perform a background check.

Mr. Khodorkovsky did not get the meeting — part of the tycoon's efforts to secure approval from the American establishment — because of "allegations of past business improprieties," the former staff member said, also noting that Mr. Khodorkovsky spent heavily in Washington to court the Capitol's inner circle.

<snip>

The Carlyle Group, an investment bank that retained the elder Mr. Bush as an adviser until a few weeks ago, has a close business relationship with Mr. Khodorkovsky. Although Mr. Bush was in Russia as a Carlyle representative, the bank said, his visit had nothing to do with oil deals and he did not meet privately with Mr. Khodorkovsky.

...more...

Putin, and I bet he but a bug in Putin's ear about him. I can't wait to see the links between the stooges put in place and Poppy and Carlyle.

The Sunday Times has reported recently that Lord Jacob Rothschild, the influential British financier and President of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, had signed an agreement with YUKOS. According to the British newspaper, Lord Rothschild was to take control of a $12m stake in YUKOS should the company's head be arrested. This agreement, allegedly signed last summer, came into effect automatically after Mr. Khodorkovky was arrested on October 25.

Wouldn't be surprised if Bush/Rothschild did indeed have something to do with arranging this arrest...and what's more...

Lord Rothschild, who is well acquainted with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, is on the Board of the Open Russia Foundation, set up by YUKOS. Interestingly, another prominent member of the Board is the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Both of them represent the interests of large oil corporations, although unofficially. The Rothschild family is closely linked to Royal Dutch/Shell, and Henry Kissinger supports another powerful family - the Rockefellers, who still indirectly control ExxonMobil, built on the ruins of the oil monopoly Standard Oil.

nm

Send Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling to Russia!!!


Americans are ready for some real JUSTICE!!!!!!!