In terms of GDP growth, Russia ranks ninth among the ten CIS member states that have revealed their national macroeconomic statistics. "The rate may not seem bad, on the face of it, but it isn't all that high as compared with, say, Armenia, whose growth rate has in the past four years surpassed 53 percent," noted the Russian presidential adviser. Thus, Russia is lagging behind its neighbors, and its share in the Commonwealth's aggregate GDP is on the decrease, he said.
Mr Illarinov assured that Yuganskneftegaz, Yukos' main production unit, would be sold at no less than 17 billion dollars. This statement was meant to ease worries that Yukos' prize asset will be auctioned off at a rock-bottom price (10 or even 3 billion dollars) to cover the embattled oil giant's back tax bills.
Yuganskneftegaz's assets this year cost at least $17 billion, and if the price of oil continues to grow, they will cost still more, the presidential adviser told reporters. "Three billion dollars or ten billion-this price is far below annual Yuganskneftegaz sales," Mr Illarionov said.
