Posted on 11/17/2004 5:06:26 AM PST by jb6
MOSCOW - The state must guarantee the stability of privatization results and ensure the protection of private property, the keystone of the market economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on Tuesday.
Officials should protect private property no less than state property, the Russian President said. He stressed that the state would protect the interests of honest businesses. According to Mr. Putin, large scale investigations in the business sphere, including tax investigations, do not mean there is threat to government interests in every case.
At the same time, Mr. Putin urged the business community to make a habit of paying taxes, instead of looking for tax evasion schemes. To pay taxes is not only in the interests of the state, but also in the interests of businesses themselves, the President stressed.
Mr. Putin also admitted that businessmen are an important part of the Russian society, and the government should protect their interests alongside the interests of teachers, doctors, students, scientists and employees in the manufacturing and agricultural spheres.
He also called on businessmen to participate more actively in social, scientific and educational projects. In Mr. Putin’s opinion, Russian businessmen are interested in creating a favorable social base for their activity in Russia. According to the President, about two thirds of employed Russian citizen work in the private sector today. So, he said, “for most Russians, living and labor standards” take shape in the private sector.
Mr. Putin said it was necessary to create a legal base for cooperation between the government and businesses in priority areas. He noted that the state should ensure stable conditions for the work of private investors. At the same time, Mr. Putin added that the private sector should not be forced to incur unreasonable expenses and costs.
In particular, the President said the government and business should cooperate in implementing large transport projects, providing power supply and improving border infrastructure. Another priority is science-intensive production. “Today, the Russian business, with its advanced management, logistics and communication technologies, is already ahead of the state,” Mr. Putin stressed. At the same time, he noted that the government should retain the right to research projects regarding new materials and products
I wonder (as if I had to) if TTS will try to spin this one. The convoluted logic should be most entertaining.
Of course, the sort of "protection" Mr. Putin has in mind is kneecap-busting type. Just ask the folks at Yukos.
There's no going to back to the Communist past in Putin's Russia. The free market sector is here to stay for good.
If the tycoons try to run the government of course there will be consequences. On the other hand, if they do what they are good at, they will be left alone. Its the Russian way.
"tycoons try to run the government" sounds like exactly the sort of remark that would be uttered in a police-state.
regarding this any your previous post, all I can say is, "if you say so." My gut tells me otherwise.
You do realize that Yukos and Khodorkovsky are being prosecuted (or would you call it persecuted) in NY State for Enron like business and accounting practices? Well, either we'd better stop that or we'll look rather hypocritical, after all, he's just a misunderstood businessman, who's VP & Chief of Security ran an assassination team, getting rid of business rivals and personal enemies. I'm not talking character assassination either.
"Putin vows to protect business" by putting more businessmen to jail..
Putin also vows to protect independent TV stations by closing them (NTV, TV6 etc), protect more newspapers by firing thier chief editor (Izvestia etc), protecting political shows by closing them (Freedom of Speech show, Red Arrow show etc)
That should be the US way too, but we've got plenty of tycoons, like Kenneth Lay, Sorros, etc who attempt to buy out the government to their own ends rather to represent the people, er little ants that serve them.
Not one of those was "independent", they were owned by Gusinsky (closed for tax evasion) and Berezovsky (ditto) who were very pro-Yeltsin when they owned him and thus had no independent reporting.
Mine is that Putin isn't afraid to literally take over one of his country's largest businesses, which happens also to be a major player in the export of a commodity that is already in very high demand and precarious supply elsewhere.
He apparently is either blind to the effect of his heavy-handed tactics outside his country or he relishes the ripples that he can make in the pond. Either way, it was a windfall for his treasury.
out of the mouths of ants...
As for anti-government papers, Russia has plenty: Noveya Gazeta, Moscow Times (oligarch owned), Saint Petersburg Time (oligarch owned) come to mind. Russia Journal is neutral.
Putin no more took over Yukos then Bush took over Enron or Tyco. It is having some of its assets sold off to pay $10 billion in taxes it refused to pay for 15 years. Would you allow Exxon to tell Uncle Sam to go shove it up your arse, we're not paying you taxes and get away with it for 15 years? That is the plain litmus test, if you would not want it at home but you would defend it in some one else's home?
"kneecap-busting"? No. Russian government imitated Americans. "Reform minded oligarchs" are being prosecuted the same way as Al Capone was - for taxes.
In EVERY law abiding society "tycoons" or gangsters are not permitted to control government. You can lobby, petition or participate in election process. But looting, bribing, blackmailing, assasinating is wrong. That is why each well organized state needs police.
am I the only person who sees the sort of thing this guy is writing?
how do you say "adios" in russian?
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