YUKOS DEBTS CONTINUE TO GROW

MOSCOW, July 2 (RIA Novosti) - The Taxes and Dues Ministry (MNS) has announced the results of inspection of Yukos' operation in 2001. The tax officers think it owes the budget $3.38 bln. Taking into account the MNS' previous claims, Yukos must pay nearly $7 bln, while the results of inspections of its operation in 2002 and 2003 have not been made public yet. This can be the ministry's reply to the offer of Yukos top managers to "forgive" the company the fines and penalties on the 2000 tax arrears and a part of the overdue debt, which adds up to nearly 65 billion rubles, and to postpone the payment of the remaining 34 bln rubles until 2006 (29 rubles approximately equal $1).