YELTSIN PUTS PRIVATIZATION UNDER HIS OWN CONTROL.

President Boris Yeltsin has issued a decree regulating the privatization of state-owned enterprises. The decree says that all state enterprises wishing to sell shares must have the personal approval of the President, and an appropriate resolution from the government. Yeltsin’s economic advisor Aleksandr Livshits explained that the decree was intended to prevent any misuse of federal property as well as to make the privatization program is more efficient. (1)

Yeltsin’s decree is probably intended to respond to voices critical of the privatization program, which is headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais and the State Property Committee. However it is unclear whether Yeltsin wants to take over the privatization program completely, or simply to have greater control over the work of government privatization bodies.

Russia Calls for Consolidation of CIS Economic Potential.