Russ Oil-Gas

Sep. 17, 2007 Kommersant - The strength of new cabinet could be announced already on Tuesday, September 18, Vedomosti reported. Not all ministers of Fradkov’s government will retain offices in the cabinet led by Viktor Zubkov. First Vice Premier Dmitry Medvedev, for instance, is forecasted to vacate his post, Vedomosti reported with reference to the sources aware of progress in new cabinet’s creation. Medvedev is expected to replace Alexey Miller as Gazprom CEO. His social section of the government may go to Valentina Matvienko, who is St. Petersburg governor now, but who could be offered to advance to the vice premier's rank. At the same time, the analysts expect Matvienko to refuse to join Zubkov’s cabinet, which she views of transition nature. Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko will hardly sail to the new government, while his ministry will be divided into the industry and energy components. Oboronprom chief Denis Manturov is well expected to take over industry, and Viktor Khristenko could be offered to head Rosneft. Health and Social Protection Minister Mikhail Zurabov, Culture and Mass Communication Minister Alexander Sokolov and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Yakovlev won’t have seats in the new cabinet, the sources say. But First Vice Premier Sergey Ivanov, IT and Communication Minister Leonid Reiman and Education Minister Andrey Fursenko are likely to maintain today’s employment.