Gazprom’s Regional Policy Commission has convened on a session chaired by Alexander Ryazanov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee and Head of the Commission.

The session addressed the issue of regulating land relations in the Vologda and Yaroslavl Regions during the construction of the United Gas Transmission System facilities. Attending the session were Viktor Ryabishin, First Deputy Governor of the Vologda Region and Alexander Fyodorov, First Deputy Governor of the Yaroslavl Region.

The Commission’s members pointed to the constructive position of the Vologda and Yaroslavl executive authorities while assisting Gazprom to resolve arising construction problems. At the same time the parties underlined that the significant changes occurring during 2004 and 2005 in the federal land & forestry legislation as well as in the structure of regional & federal executive authorities, coupled with the absence of a clear mechanism for the agricultural & forestry land transferral to the industrial sector, substantially impeded timely registration of land plots.

Under the existing conditions, the Commission advised that Gazprom’s core businesses should develop and submit proposals to amend intra-corporate documents governing the registration of land ownership during UGTS infrastructure construction as well as be more active in promoting those at the federal and regional legislative levels.

The Commission also advised that, while implementing investment projects, Gazprom’s structural units sign with Russian Federation constituents short-term contracts (being part of existing agreements on cooperation) setting out mutual commitments and taking into account a balance of interests.