Ilya Bulavinov Kommersant, April 2, 2001, p. 2
SUMMARY:
Western companies refuse to lift the Kursk for free. The latest round of negotiations between the Design Bureau Rubin and the international consortium ended last week with virtually nothing to show for it. Financial problems of the future operation defy a solution.
Premier Mikhail Kasianov signed a directive on March 16 but the document did not spare a single word to the problem of the Western consortium’s payment. Deputy Premier Ilya Klebanov said last week no credits would be used to finance the operation.
According to what information the Kommersant has compiled, ING Barings sent its financial proposals to deputy premiers Klebanov and Aleksei Kudrin last week.
Consultations between the Design Bureau Rubin and the international consortium will continue. They had better be a success or the consortium will probably decide that enough is enough.
