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Tokarev estimated his own firm's "concrete losses" in Iraq at $150 million (140 million euros)- $180 millions , not counting lost revenue from subsequent projects.
"We were on to some huge deposits, irrigation projects, a whole lot of things apart from the oil sector," he said.
LUKoil, Russia's top oil company, which saw a lucrative contract with Baghdad canceled last December following reports that the oil firm was in contact with exiled opposition groups, is unlikely to receive any favorable treatment, Tokarev said.
Tokarev said it was "obvious" the main object of the U.S.-led war was to control Iraqi oil reserves.
As for Iraq's $8 billion debt to Iraq, "neither [Iraqi President] Saddam [Hussein] nor the regime that replaces him will pay our debts back. The economic reconstruction of the country will absorb all resources," Rogov predicted.
Further economic losses would be caused by a sharp fall in oil prices if the war were to be ended quickly, he added. Russia is a major oil exporter and relies heavily on energy taxes for its budget revenues.
In Paris, meanwhile, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin warned that any cancellation of Iraqi contracts signed by Russian oil companies would be in breach of international law.
"Russian companies signed contracts in Iraq under international law, and I know that American legal firms helped write these contracts. So I would like to know how these contracts could be questioned," he said following a meeting at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
He added that he expected any new government in Iraq to honor the country's debt commitments to Russia.
Moscow has maintained important trade ties with Baghdad since Soviet times, and Russian oil companies have invested more than $1 billion in the Iraqi oil industry since 1996, although they have been unable to develop fields mostly because of U.N. sanctions.
Philadelphia is gearing up to roll out a bike share program this spring that makes biking convenient for the masses.
Most bike share programs around the country require a credit card deposit.
But Philadelphia will offer memberships for just a few dollars a week and no credit cards are needed. And short trips of up to an hour are free for members.
Katie Monroe of the Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition is doing outreach on the program in low-income neighborhoods. She says the bikes will be both exercise and cheap transportation.
The city hasn't announced the start date or the name of the lead sponsor but expects to have 600 bikes at 60 depots around the city the first year.
The program would expand to outlying neighborhoods in the following few years.
Archana Kapoor is a publisher, author and a community media activist. She is an independent filmmaker and Founder of Seeking Modern Applications for Real Transformation (SMART) – a non-governmental organisation which works with marginalized communities in India.
The transformative power of community radio for young women in India is up against a central government ban on the stations broadcasting news and discussing politics. Radio Mewat is staying on air.
Kellie Pickler, the newest 'Dancing With the Stars' champion, not only received the coveted mirror ball trophy for her stellar performances throughout this season. She also got another memento -- a puppy.
The 'Someone Somewhere Tonight' singer has been pining after one of these furry friends ever since she was helping out at a recent charity event. A Maltese puppy was being auctioned off, and Pickler was the one to take it onstage when the bidding began. “I was looking at my husband [in the audience], like, ‘You better ...
For now, the couple has named the tiny puppy "Tango," which was one of the dances that she received a perfect score for. "It's not official!" Jacobs tells US Weekly. "But it's Tango for right now."
Even if the pup's name changes, you can be sure that Pickler will treasure both her momentos -- the trophy and the puppy -- for a very long time.
Could This Be the Real Reason Putin Is in Ukraine?
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I think I feel the same. I'm tired of trying to fix me. I'm just going to accept I am where I am .
The holy Iranian city of Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, will host the award ceremony.
The award seeks to appreciate wise and philanthropist women who are devoted to Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.
It pivots on different subjects as sacrifice and martyrdom, resistance and Islamic awareness, devotion and charity affairs, construction, medical and training affairs, scientific, research, art and cultural activities.
The women nominated for the award are active in different public-service sectors, including development, health, education, research, science, culture, art and management.
Goharshad (1387–1457), was the wife of Shah Rukh, the emperor of the Timurid Empire of Herat. She was an example of benevolent women, who stepped in the path to promote religion and Shia views, and Goharshad Mosque in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) is a symbol of this pious woman’s benevolence and her devotion to in...
Former athletics coach, Bobby Gaseitsiwe has recalled veteran athletes, Isaac Makwala and Amantle Montsho's humble beginnings, as he reflects on their triumphs at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Montsho won a second Commonwealth Games gold medal this week, with her first triumph in 2010, while Makwala was winning it for the first time.
Gaseitsiwe recalls it was difficult when he started working with the athletes in the 1990s.
“There were no funds at Botswana Amateur Athletics Association (BAAA), but the executive committee at that time supported my programme of assisting Montsho and other athletes. What was unique about Montsho was her dedication. She did not miss any national team call up.
Montsho will travel by bus from Maun and the following day she will be ready to train,” he said.
Gaseitsiwe said Montsho rarely complained and she was a hard worker. He said BAAA could not even afford to pay athletes allowances. “We had to explain the situation to them. That the bigger picture was to give them a chance to compete outside the country with the best in the world,” he said.
Gaseitsiwe said Montsho was a 100m and 200m runner, from Tshwaragano Community Junior Secondary School in Maun. He said Montsho was an average athlete with good physique, but not speed. Gaseitsiwe said Montsho had to shift to 400m because she did not have the speed for a 100m and 200m runner.
“These were discussions, which we later shared with athletes. As a coach you need to have the quality of a parent and retain the athletes’ trust. I worked with our athletes through respect and mutual understanding,” Gaseitsiwe said.
he was still a student at Zwenshambe Brigade. He said they did not hesitate to call and talk to the athletes’ parents.
“We have visited their families at their villages. That’s what tells that as a coach, you are interested in your athletes’ careers. I have gone as far as Etsha VI to meet Zacharia Kamberuka’s parents and Galefele Moroko’s homestead in Tsau,” the proud Gaseitsiwe said.
He said Montsho was in the first crop of Out Of School Programme products, which BAAA had started and it was fully supported and funded by the then Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC). The programme had other great athletes such as California Molefe and Obakeng Ngwigwa, amongst others.
Gaseitsiwe said he knew Makwala was going to bag gold in Australia.
“He ran well last year and he just needed to continue with the momentum. Makwala is a strong willed athlete. When he wants something, he goes for it. I never had doubts about Montsho and I am proud of her performance. That is what a champion should do,” he said.
Gaseitsiwe said when Montsho won gold in New Delhi in 2010, she followed it up with the world title in Daegu in 2011.
“Those two are unique in their own right. They are true sportspersons and they have contributed to the success of athletics in the country. They never give up. I believe they can do well in any major event in the next two to three years,” Gaseitsiwe said.
Reindeer, because of their connection to Christmas, are often associated with the spirit of giving. However, one Krasnoyarsk region resident trying to avoid criminal prosecution found that the animal's meat didn't make the best present to a police officer.
A district court in the Taimyr peninsula pronounced a local man guilty of attempting to bribe a law enforcement official with a reindeer carcass, the West Siberian Transport Prosecutor's Office said Monday. He was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined 144,000 rubles ($4,320).
In April, two residents of the northern city of Dudinka were detained for stealing diesel fuel at the Norilsk airport, Interfax reported.
Attempting to sweep the crime under the rug, one of the thieves offered a police officer reindeer meat if he didn't initiate criminal proceedings.
For evidence of the bribe, the officer asked the man to deliver the meat to the police garage and print a receipt for the carcass, which he valued at 5,400 rubles.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday stressed that women should actively participate in business activities with full confidence.
He was talking to a delegation of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) Lahore led by Shehla Javed Akram and accompanied by president WCCI Shahzia Suleman, said a press release issued here.
The President emphasized for utilization of financial services of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce for provision of business opportunities to women.
He opined that honesty and truthfulness should be hallmarks of doing business without which a society could not progress.
The President also stressed upon exposing scrupulous elements in the society and said the womenfolk could play an important role in this regard as they groom the new generation.
He assured the delegation about allocation of development budget in Trade Development of Pakistan for promotion of women’s businesses.
He said the government was focussing on science and technology education for women so that they could advance in this field.
The President also directed the authorities in the ministry of commerce to take special steps for the promotion of businesses in which women were taking interest and work for establishment of women chamber research wing.
He further informed that a laboratory duly sanctioned by the Wold Health Organization would soon start functioning which would help different sectors.
One-time United States Sen. Eugene McCarthy turns from the lectern to take his seat on the stage at an antiwar rally at the College of St. Catherine. The crowd of a few hundred applauds enthusiastically. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sen.-elect Paul Wellstone passes Mr. McCarthy en route to the same lectern. There is thunder...
Minnesota's populist baton has been passed.
As Mr. Wellstone addresses the crowd, the newest national populist preacher produced by Minnesota bobs and gestures with both hands. He punctuates syllables, pausing between phrases and even individual words.
The crowd seems pleased as he tears into the Bush administration's Persian Gulf policy.
But then, the 46-year-old former professor from Carleton College has pleased his supporters throughout the year - and especially the first two weeks of this month when he conducted eight ``town meetings'' throughout the state, attracting about 5,600 people by his own estimate.
The morning before the recent antiwar rally, Wellstone talked about these town meetings over a bowl of chicken soup at Keys Restaurant just around the corner from his headquarters here.
From these meetings, Wellstone says he learned of the anger of the Vietnam veterans who, he says, were mad that the US Congress might allow an ``undeclared'' war to be waged.
Wellstone, who claims to have a ``mandate'' from the voters in Minnesota, says these town meetings helped him solidify - not alter - the agenda he hopes to take with him to Washington.
A ``children's agenda'' that focuses on social and educational issues.
A ``credible'' national energy policy.
Wellstone says the best way for him to push through this agenda is for him to be a ``rock the boat'' senator - and to serve no more than two terms.
Wellstone is increasingly being compared to another ``rock the boat'' Minnesota senator, Hubert Humphrey. But as a recent Star Tribune newspaper article reminded readers, Humphrey was not able to get a single piece of legislation passed during his first term in the Senate.
Still, Wellstone says he is sticking to his two-term pledge.
``If I was going to try to serve an apprenticeship, go with the norms, build up the seniority, and be effective that way, then 12 years wouldn't be enough time,'' Wellstone says.
As he talks, a couple in their 60s comes by his restaurant booth.
``Go get 'em. I know you're going to do something remarkable,'' the woman says to the senator-elect.
These people are not along in their viewpoint, judging from local news stories and political analysts here.
There is concern that when he takes office Wellstone may be more interested in making noise than in making a difference.
Recently he made waves by attacking Republican Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina.
A man in blue coveralls walks by Wellstone's booth as the politician has another spoonful of soup.
``I feel like we finally got someone in our corner,'' the passerby says to the senator-elect.
Wellstone rises, thanks the man, and shakes his hand.
Despite his plans to hit the ground running once he reaches Washington, Wellstone admits that this agenda could be upended should war break out in the Gulf.
``I could accept the loss of life of any one of our three children if it was to stop a Hitler - I'm a Jew - or if it was to defend our country.
``I would not want one of them to die there right now, which tells me I don't believe in this war,'' he says.
``What happens in the Persian Gulf could define the whole decade of the '90s. It's the defining question that has tremendous bearing on all these other issues,'' Wellstone adds.
Britni Atwell, a senior at Heritage High School, is hoping to land state gymnastics titles in floor and vault at the state meet Feb. 16. If she does, she'll finish high school with eight career state championships.
's Britni Atwell has a chance to put herself in a special place among the state's high school gymnasts.
Feb. 16 in the Tacoma Dome, she would become Washington's first four-time state champion in that event. Win in both events, and Atwell would have eight state titles and would be tied at second in state history for number of career gymnastics championships.
"I do feel like there's a lot of pressure on me," Atwell said. "It's a very big deal."
Coaches and athletes often prefer to sidestep talking about milestone accomplishments before the fact, but that is not the case at Heritage.
"To get a state title three years in a row and not get it in your senior year, that would be hard. She would be very, very sad," Timberwolves coach Rachel Tamayo said. "It's a lot of pressure, but she's someone who does well under pressure."
Atwell dove headfirst into high school gymnastics as a freshman when competing in club gymnastics became too expensive. Atwell grew up as a club gymnast, reaching level 10 -- the second-highest youth level -- and won a state club beam title in eighth grade.

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