New RF-Switzerland protocol to serve tax applications from RF.

WASHINGTON (Itar-Tass) - Russia and Switzerland have
adopted a new protocol to the existing agreement on avoidance of double
taxation.
"This document will amen the agreement on a number of positions,"
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on
Saturday during the ceremony of signing the document in Washington.
First of all, according to Kudrin, the protocol refers to "a number of
requests the Russian tax services related to investigations of tax
evasion." Besides, "it extends capabilities of taxation."
"Thus we are moving towards further cooperation in this sphere",
Kudrin said.
From Switzerland's side the document was inked by Head of the Federal
Department of Finance Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. She stressed that the
document "contains no provisions about exchange of information on tax
matters."
Later, talking to reporters, she said that Switzerland is at the stage
of signing similar documents with approximately two dozen countries.
"Russia is among them," she said.
The parties also signed a Memorandum on understanding about
consultations in finances between the two authorities. Kudrin said that
"this will improve cooperation between our ministries." He assured that
"we will support in solving a number of issues." They include "regulation
of financial markets and the banking sector, as well as consultations on
international issues, in particular, to combat the crisis and ensure
financial stability."
The agreement between Russia and Switzerland on avoidance of double
taxation with respect to income and capital taxes came into force in 1995.
The protocol, which was signed now, as experts say, will allow Moscow to
receive information about Russians who evade payment of Russian taxes in
Swiss banks.