RUSSIA ECON MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA MOVING TOWARDS KYOTO

Do not automatically accept advance rumors to the contrary

MichaelP

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03623184.htm

03 Dec 2003 16:16:07 GMT

MOSCOW, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Russia is moving towards ratifying the Kyoto 
environmental pact, the country's deputy economy minister said on 
Wednesday, contradicting an earlier statement by Kremlin aide Andrei 
Illarionov that Moscow would not do so.

"There are no decisions about ratification apart from the fact that we are 
moving towards ratification," Mukhamed Tsikhanov told a news briefing.

"I cannot comment on Illarionov but we do not have any information in the 
government about the fact that a decision has been made," he said.

Illarionov, a Kremlin economic adviser, said on Tuesday Russia -- whose 
vote will decide the fate of the treaty -- would not ratify it because 
doing so would threaten the country's economic growth.

Asked what a final decision depended on, Tsikhanov said: "You should put 
this question to Japan and the EU about when they will start to speak to 
us in economic language."

Asked when it could be put to the State Duma lower house of parliament for 
ratification, he said: "This could be in 2004."

The treaty, which aims to cut emissions of gases responsible for global 
warming, requires approval from countries responsible for 55 percent of 
global emissions. The world's biggest polluter, the United States, has 
pulled out, leaving Russia with the deciding vote.