* Vladimir Putin played down fears that Russian state could look to tighten its hold on the country's oil and gas assets, and use its dominance in the sector to increase political leverage over neighboring countries
* Vladimir Putin named a reduction in inflation, full convertibility for the ruble and an easing of the tax burden as key targets for Russia's economy, as the country seeks to build on the strength of its petrodollar-fuelled performance in 2005
* Oleksiy Kostusev, the head of Ukraine's anti-monopoly committee, said the committee had approved the formation of a gas distribution joint venture with Russia, Ukrgasenergo, to supply gas to Ukrainian customers
* The Russian Foreign Ministry said representatives of the six nations that had met in London Monday to discuss Iran's nuclear programs decided that the UN Security Council would be kept informed about Iran's "nuclear file," but no action would be taken until March
* Iran's top negotiator said the country's referral to the UN Security Council would mark the final chapter in diplomatic efforts to end the escalating crisis
* The Russian Embassy in Iran said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak would arrive in Tehran Wednesday to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue
* Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said the Russian ruble would be fully convertible in 2007
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Afghanistan had agreed to discuss its debt to countries-creditors, including Russia, in the framework of the Paris Club
* The head of Georgia's state-owned gas distribution monopoly said Georgia would continue to receive natural gas from Iran until it was convinced that supplies from Russia were stable
