Business & Financial News

The sound scandal has among Word Bank’s stuff was caused by spontaneous behavior of its president: Wolfowitz has sharply raised wages of one of bank employees with whom he has been in close relations for a long time.
On Thursday it has been declared that the president of bank Paul Wolfowitz Paul tender resignation. The members of this association have called Wolfowitz to submit to resignation, declaring, that his actions will not be coordinated with struggle of bank against corruption all over the world.
As it has been in the World Bank employees association’ application, the top management calls for fair management and the top management should be an example of the behavior it defends. The scandal began after Paul Wolfowitz has sharply raised wages of one of bank employees with whom he has been in close relations.
Soon after he started to work in the World Bank (in 2005) he has lump sum increased the salary by 61 thousand dollars to his Libyan girlfriend Shaha Riza.
Such behavior contradicts the rules of bank providing   maximum lump sum increase in 30 thousand dollars.
In 2005 Riza has passed to work from the World Bank into the US State Department. Before leaving of the employee, her not taxed income made nearby 193 thousand dollars a year. For comparison - the income of the US state secretary Condoleeza Rice before the deduction of taxes makes 186 thousand dollars.
During the assembly of World  Bank employees association Paul Wolfowitz  has declared that he had made a mistake for which he deeply apologies, however, he has not expressed desire to leave the post, though he has noted, that he would agree with any decision, accepted by the Bank’s Council.
Now the commission, which should establish whether Wolfowitz has broken internal bank instructions, when he raised wages to his girlfriend, is being considered. 
 

The EU Council has prolonged sanctions concerning Belarus till April, 10th, 2008. The representative of the EU’s  mass-media service has informed that the Council has made a decision concerning prolongation of restrictions on entrance and freezing of the accounts entered in the past to year concerning separate representatives of authorities of Belarus, in view of a situation in the country for one year.
The reasons for curtailing of bilateral (EU-Minsk) relations are caused by authoritative tendencies of Belarusian President’s authority, especially, the infringement of the opposition’s rights and infringement of human rights in the republic. The EU still does not recognize the results of presidential elections in Belarus in March, 2005.
In April, 2006 the European Union has forbidden Alexander Lukashenko and 30 Belarus officials to enter the EU’s territory. In May, 2006, the sanctions against Belarusian government have been toughened - all Lukashenko’s and his 35 functionaries’ bank accounts in the European banks have been temporary closed. The EU Council has reserved the right to expand the list of the Belarusian officials concerning whom the specified restrictions and measures are taken.
 

The project of the new resolution across Iran, brought into the UN Security Council, calls Teheran to execute immediately requirements of the previous resolution number 1737, the main thing of which is a suspension of enrichment of uranium. The text of the document, coordinated by the “six” (Russia, the USA, China, France, the Great Britain and Germany), is widespread in the United Nations.
The project allocates 60 days to Teheran on execution of UN requirements.
The project of the new resolution provides introduction of sanctions concerning 10 state Iranian companies and three companies which are being management of the case of Guards of Islamic revolution - the elite military division submitting directly to the Iranian president.
All these companies appear in the appendix to the resolution as involved in development of nuclear programs or creation of ballistic missiles. Sanctions are offered to be entered against 15 physical persons. They are the eight high-ranking heads of state companies, and they are also seven key figures in the case of Islamic Revolution.

Representatives of Eurocommission have scarified system of protection against the copying, used by Apple at sale music on the Internet. Now the business concerns only penalties, however a number of countries can start proceedings against the company. Nevertheless, Apple tries to shift the responsibility on Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner.
The eurocommissioner on protection of consumers’ rights has found out the infringement of the consumers’ rights that the music bought in the Internet-shop iTunes Music Store can be listened only on iPod players. The reason is simple - both iTunes and players are advanced by Apple Company. In other words, a technology of digital management of copyrights DRM (Digital Rights Management) which interferes with reproduction of the files loaded with iTunes, on any devices, except for a player iPod, is under the threat. Thus the eurocommissioner marks, that there are no similar restrictions on musical compact disks (CDs).
The eurocommissioner was not the first who has lifted a question concerning DRM, used by Apple, and the infringement of consumers’ rights. Earlier the representatives of consumers’ rights in France, Finland, Germany and Norway spoke about the same problem.
Norway (that is not the EU member-state) has even promised to start investigation of Apple’s activity if the company will not cease to use the system of protection of files from copying till October, 1st, 2007.

Negotiations in the Vein on Kosovo have almost failed. Such announcement was made by the U.N. Secretary-General’s special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, whose plan of settle whose plan of settlement has been presented for Saturday discussion. It was last chance to come to the compromise, and now the destiny of edge will be solved by the U.N. Security Council.
Press conference of the Albanian party, perhaps, represents last sighs of negotiating process in the Vein. Negotiating process is not so that has absolutely failed, it just has, as the international intermediary, the U.N. Secretary-General’s special envoy Martti Ahtisaari said, has been settled out. The parties speak as if not hearing each other. Everyone states only his point of view. It is not possible to reach the compromise on the status of Kosovo. The compromise has not been found even in private, less important questions. The negotiating process was started only a year ago, and now it is clear, that arrogant Ahtisaari’s plan of rapprochement by fine steps, has appeared absolutely illusory by the end of the year.

Japan and Korea have suddenly interrupted the second round of negotiations. The meeting of two states representatives of has lasted only for 45 minutes then the Northern-Korean party has interrupted negotiations. The firm position of the Japanese delegation which planned to discuss a problem of the stolen Japanese citizens in 1970 and 1980th years, has served as the reason. Tokyo demands granting the information about the kidnapped people, careful investigation of all cases of the lost Japanese citizens, their returning, or in case of destruction someone, who would proof of their death. However Pyongyang considers this question as closed one.
The destiny of the kidnapped Japanese people is one of the main questions at issue in relations between Japan and Northern Korea. Northern Korea has admitted the fact of abduction of 13 Japanese citizens which Pyongyang wished to use for training North-Korean scouts. Korea declares that 8 of 13 Japanese people have died. Tokyo demands more detailed information about eight victims and three more citizens, who are also considered as lost. In the middle of June, 2006 the parliament of Japan has adopted the law on introduction of sanctions against Northern Korea in case Pyongyang will not solve the problem, concerning abductions of Japanese people by North-Korean special services.
These are the first negotiations since February, 2006 about normalization of diplomatic relations between two countries which have not been established from the beginning of Northern Korea existence in 1948.
After realization of nuclear tests by Northern Korea in October, 2006 Japan has completely stopped import of the goods to the republic, and has also closed all the ports for Korean ships.

The USA state secretary Condoleeza Rice considers, that such critical applications, sounding from Russia to address of the USA, concerning expansion of the NATO’s activity in the Europe, which does not promote strengthening of bilateral attitudes between these two countries. Rice has pointed out that she did not think, that similar statements would not strengthen Russian -American mutual relations and the situation would change for the worse, if Russia would not reconsider their attitude towards American foreign policy and the expansion of the NATO’s activity in the East.
Rice has also reminded that the Russian and American representatives have for more than 10 times officially met for discussion of the American plans in this area, and that these discussions were also carried out within the limits of Russia-NATO Council.
The US foreign policy department chief has informed that she had already talked about this with the Russian officials, having noted, that the American plans in the Europe are not a surprise for the Russian government.
Rice has declared that the comments on similar things concerning Poland and Czech Republic - the independent countries and members of the NATO- were unnecessary and unreasonable.
Having concerned a question on NATO’s expansion, the state secretary has declared, that she considers this process as the major moment in the present world history.
Rice has emphasized that it has helped to consolidate the democratic and the protected Europe, and Russia has nothing to be afraid from the democratic states at its borders.

As it became known, the secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran Ali Larijani will renew negotiations on the Iranian nuclear problem with the Supreme representative of the European Union’s foreign policy Javier Solana in the near future.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry official representative Mohammad Ali Husseini has declared that at the conferences on safety in Munich Ali Larijani has specified, that the enrichment of uranium up to 4 % could become a good basis for renewal of negotiations between the EU and Iran. According to Larijani’s words the opposite party (EU) has got more incentives for getting out of the developed deadlock around of the nuclear program of Iran.
Husseini has also noted that the renewal of negotiations is expected and Iranian government welcomes and is ready to consider any project which will provide the rights of Iran for using peace nuclear technologies.
Husseini has again rejected the possibility of introductions by Teheran of the moratorium on enrichment of uranium. The Iranian Foreign Ministry official representative has emphasized that the moratorium concerns to the past and it has no lawful or logic substantiations and it is unacceptable for Iranian policy.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also declared that Iran will not agree to freeze the nuclear program that demanded by Security council of the United Nations.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry official representative has told that the suspension of nuclear development programs is unacceptable. He said that there are no bases for this purpose.
The UN offered to Iran a term for freezing of the nuclear development programs till February, 21st.

Russia hopes for the more predicted foreign policy of EU and the conclusion of the long-term contract on partnership and cooperation between two parties. Sergey Lavrov, the chapter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, has declared about this on Wednesday.
The minister at anniversary conference of the Russian union of industrialists and businessmen has told that he hoped that EU could develop such formula of business management which would not do the attitude with world around, including with Russia, the hostage of any internal problems.
He has also expressed a hope, that the new contract of Russia and the European Union about partnership and cooperation would be long-termed. The minister has also told the new contract would be legally obligator one, more capacious, and would be accompanied by sectoral agreements in which those principles which contain in the contract would be deciphered.
As he said, in the new base of contract between Russia and EU it is necessary to reflect qualitative changes as in attitudes of two parties, and what have occurred in Russia. Lavrov has also noted, that Russia is interested to see the EU as a united, as much as possible predicted and not held down by internal contradictions partner.
Lately, because of discrimination measures concerning the Russian companies 13 transactions on purchase of actives or merge for the sum of 50 billion dollars have been broken abroad. Lavrov has declared that it is necessary to struggle with this, and Russia and the EU will do it together. The minister has also noted that this shows the attitude to the Russian business in the Europe which is perceived as the strong competitor.

The “Transneft” company has approved the civil-engineering design of an oil pipeline to the Europe around of Belarus. The president of the company has informed mass-media about this.
The chief of “Transneft” has declared that they have made such decision and they will develop the Baltic pipeline system. He has also emphasized, that it is a question “of increase in carrying volume of the port terminal at 50 million tons of oil “which now passes nearby 75 million tons of oil a year.
According to the company’s management, the technical department has approved the declaration on intentions under the project; prospecting works on February, 12th should begin.
Of course the president of the company and his colleagues understand that the project of the new pipeline would cost a great sum of money, but it obviously is needed.
The chief of Minromenergo, according to whom “it is one of the variants of replacement of a direction of oil export″, has declared about the opportunity of increase in deliveries of oil the nearest 2-3 years in the Baltic direction up to 110 million tons. And the president of the Russian Federation V. Putin has informed that “Transneft” (under his assignment) has started development of the plan on expansion of transshipment terminals in Primorsk on 50 million tons. The Head of the state then has noted that Russia is measured to search for ways of a direct output on consumers of power resources in the Western Europe.
Let’s remind, that the conflict between Moscow and Minsk in a question of transit of oil and gas through territory of Belarus in the beginning of January 2007, has led to that deliveries of raw material in the countries of the Western Europe have been interrupted for 2 days. It was possible to renew them only after negotiations between the heads of the governments of two states.