The Russian Information Agency Novosti begins Hotline coverage for Thursday, June 17, 2004.
TASHKENT
* Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which comprises Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. At first the summiteers will take part in the ceremony of opening in Tashkent of the headquarters of the executive committee of the SCO Regional Anti-terrorist Structure. Then the heads of state will hold meetings in the narrow and enlarged formats and answer journalists' questions.
On the same day, Vladimir Putin will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Other bilateral contacts of the Russian President, in particular, with Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, are not ruled out too.
In the evening Vladimir Putin will leave Tashkent for Astana.
MOSCOW
* A session of the Russian government will be held. On the agenda:
* the main parameters of the 2005 budget and a forecast of the country's socio-economic development up to 2007,
* the main characteristics of draft federal budgets up to 2007,
* the preparation of a list of federal target programs for 2005,
* draft resolutions on a number of ministries, federal agencies and services.
* The Russian Federation Ministry for Taxes and Dues will host a press conference "On the course of declaration campaign-2004."
* The State Duma (lower house of Russian parliament) will host the following events:
* a two-day joint session of committees of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the State Duma permanent delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will start;
* a round table "On the normative-legal base of management of environment, forest and water resources protection" will take place.
* A press conference dedicated to the creation and development of a new educational discipline, business IT, will be held.
* The RussianInformation Agency Novosti will host a press conference of Vice President of Russia's Road Users' Movement, well known legal expert Leonid Olshansky called "The Law on OSAGO [compulsory vehicle insurance]. The Code on Administrative Offenses, Normative Acts of Departments - Attempts to Reanimate Repressions Against Drivers and Vehicle Owners."
* The Rossiiskaya Gazeta editorial office will host a press conference devoted to the opening of an international armaments, military hardware and ammunition exposition called "Russian Armaments Exhibition. Nizhny Tagil-2004."
* OAO Gazprom's management will hold a regular briefing shortly before the annual meeting of its shareholders. The meeting will be dedicated to gas deliveries to non-CIS countries.
* As part of the conference "Financial Tools in the Work of Dealers", after the signing of official agreements on cooperation between General Motors Avtovaz and Sobinbank and between General Motors Avtovaz and Alfa-Bank, a press conference will be held. It will touch upon the launch of national automobile credit programs.
* The European Commission Representation will host a presentation of a new EU project on reduction of the influence of mining and processing enterprises on water quality in the Murmansk region.
* The Armory of the Moscow Kremlin will host a press conference dedicated to the presentation of an information project "Russia and the World. The History of Interaction of Cultures."
* A press conference dedicated to the Eighth Russian Open Golf Championship, to be held on June 22-25, will be held.
ST. PETERSBURG
* The Eighth Petersburg international economic forum will end in the Tavrichesky Palace.
* The Baltiiskaya Zvezda hotel will host the opening of the two-day international conference "Russia and the EU: Prospects of Economic and Legal Integration."
BAIKONUR
* The launch of a Proton carrier rocket with the American Intelsat-10 communications satellite is scheduled for 02.27 a.m., Moscow time.
VELIKY NOVGOROD
* A Russo-German economic symposium will open.
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