ENI's CEO estimates South Stream investment value at 20 bln euros.

VENICE, December 12 (Itar-Tass) -- The chief executive officer of
Italy's ENI energy company, Paolo Scaroni, estimates the overall
investment value of the South Stream gas pipeline construction project at
20 billion euros. He was speaking at a gala ceremony on Friday timed for
the 40th anniversary of the first Soviet-Italian gas supply contract.

Gazprom's deputy CEO, Alexander Medvedev, who was present at the
ceremony, said for his part that in his opinion it was too early to name
even the forecast value.
"We are still in the phase of feasibility studies, and the forecast
value will be named only when this work has been completed. Apparently,
Mr. Scaroni has done some internal research with his experts. We are
unprepared to name our figures yet," Medvedev said in reply to a question
from Itar-Tass.
Gazprom and ENI are partners in laying the South Stream gas pipeline
under the Black Sea. Negotiations are in progress on the participation of
France's Electricite de France as a minority stakeholder in the
undertaking. Its share may range 10-20 percent.

.Week after Perm nightclub fire more funerals due Sat.


PERM, December 12 (Itar-Tass) -- It is one week since the midnight
fire disaster at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm. Over a hundred victims
who perished in the blaze have been buried here and in other cities. The
list of fatalities keeps growing. More funerals are due in Perm on
Saturday.
Several steps of the stairway leading from a nearby public garden to
Sovetskaya Street, opposite the charred nightclub building, are covered
with flowers. More flowers are on the perimeter fence surrounding the
garden. Mourners found no better place where to leave the bouquets - the
spot beyond the perimeter cordon posts is the closest to the former club.
Over the past few days the stairway has turned into an improvised popular
memorial.
The perimeter tape and police posts were removed days ago, but several
police vehicles are seen every day in front of what used to be one of the
city's most popular entertainment joints. The building has been mothballed
for the whole period of the investigation. The question if it can be used
further on, and in what capacity, will be decided after the required
forensic tests have been completed, the Perm Territory's branch of the
Prosecutor-General's Office Investigation Department said.
The original list of four persons, accused and remanded in custody in
connection with the tragedy, has been completed with more names. A third
criminal case has been opened over the Lame Horse nightclub disaster, this
time on negligence charges. The central figures in the latter case are the
Perm Territory's chief fire safety supervision inspector, Vladimir
Mukhutdinov, and inspector of the Perm city's fire safety watchdog,
Natalya Prokopieva. The woman has been taken to a neurology department of
a local hospital.
The Lame Horse nightclub went up in flames in the small hours of
Saturday, December 5. It is suspected that faulty "cold" fireworks, used
during a stage show, set fire to the plastic ceiling, and the fire almost
instantly spread about the room, leaving very few chances to those inside
to escape. Many visitors suffered grave burns and poisoning with toxic
fumes.
The death toll currently stands at 142. Doctors at hospitals in
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk and Perm are struggling for the lives
of 89 patients.


.Turkmenistan marks Neutrality Day Dec 12.


ASHGABAT, December 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Turkmenistan on Saturday is
marking the 14th anniversary of its neutral status. On December 12, 1995
the country's neutrality was recognized by the UN General Assembly in a
special resolution.
"The policy of positive neutrality is a major factor for Turkmenistan'
s growing authority in the international scene," President Gurbanguly
Berdymuhamedov said on the eve of the date, as he received congratulations
from the Cabinet of Ministers. "This is seen in the fact that over a very
brief period of time our country was twice elected deputy chairman of the
United Nations' highest forum - the 62nd and 64th General Assembly
sessions."
"Turkmenistan's constructive initiatives have repeatedly met with wide
support and recognition of the world community," he said.

.Independent Abkhazia to hold first-ever presidential election.

SUKHUM, December 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Abkhazia, a tiny newly-independent
seaside republic on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea, will be
electing its president on Saturday. On the list of candidates there is the
incumbent, Sergei Bagapsh, 60, the holder of advanced science degrees in
philosophy and economics Vitaly Bganba, 54, former vice-president,
51-year-old Raul Khadzhimba, general director of the state-run Abkhazian
Shipping Company, 59-year-old Zaur Ardzinba, and chairman of the Economic
Development Party, owner of the daily Ekho Abkhazii and Abaza TV
television channel, 49-year-old Beslan Butba.
Bagapsh and Butba were both nominated by political parties, and the
three other candidates, by groups of activists. All candidates have their
own candidates for vice-president, whom they are free to nominate of their
own accord.
Abkhazia has approached the presidential election with revised
election legislation. For the first time ever the voters will be obliged
to present the passport of the Abkhazian citizen, which began to be issued
in 2005. By now about 162,000 citizens - 90 percent of the population -
have the green-cover identification document. Approximately 74,000 of the
new passport holders are ethnic Abkhazians. Also, the passports of the
multi-ethnic republic were issued to more than 32,000 Armenians, about
18,000 Russians, 2,000 Ukrainians, and also to Abazians, Greeks and even
one Nicaraguan.
The passport of each voter who has cast a ballot will be marked. The
Central Election Commission hopes this will prevent double voting.
The 174 polling stations in 35 constituencies will be open from 08:00
till 20:00. For the first time ever Abkhazian citizens resident outside
the country will be able to vote, too. Polling stations for them have been
opened in Moscow and Cherkessk. Seven thousand copies of ballot papers
have been delivered there. The Central Election Commission says it has
over 127,000 names on its lists. The Abkhazian law establishes a turnout
requirement. The election will be recognized valid only if more than 25
percent of the electorate have cast their ballots. According to local
political scientists, the turnout may prove as high as 70 percent. The
Abkhazian voter is invariably very active.
By the law those contesting the presidency are to have the republic's
citizenship and be 35-65 years of age. The residence qualification is five
years. Command of the state language is mandatory. Back on November 6 all
candidates had to face a panel of philologists to take a language test.
The president is elected for a term of five years and can hold it for more
than two times in a row.
To emerge the winner the candidate is to collect 50 percent plus one
vote. If the winner fails to be identified in the first round, then a
run-off is due in two weeks' time. The winner is determined by a simple
majority vote.
The Opposition, which failed to come to terms to present a common
candidate and had to propose three, insists a run-off will be inevitable.
It has warned in advance that it will call in question the results of the
voting and stage protest actions.
According to the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry, about 100 foreign
observers from 20 countries will keep an eye on the elections. Russia's
delegation is the largest - 18 representatives of the Federal Assembly,
members of the Public Chamber and the Central Election Commission,
including CEC chief Vladimir Churov. Also present at each polling station
will be observers from each candidate.
More than 100 journalists from various countries will be monitoring
progress in the voting at the international press-center, which has just
opened in the Abkhazian capital. CEC chief Batal Tabagua promised that
early returns will be announced after 12:00 of December 13.
Under the Abkhazian parliament's decision this is going to be the
first election scheduled for a Saturday. All of the previous ones were on
Sundays.
It is already known that there will be no exit polls after the polling
stations have been closed. The reason is Abkhazia does not have either
state-run or independent sociological centers capable of coping with this
task yet. As for statistics that will be arriving from the candidates'
election teams, they will be not trustworthy for more than apparent
reasons.
Law and order will be maintained by a total of 700 police, who have
worked a stricter service schedule since December 10, Abkhazia's Interior
Minister Otar Khetsiya said.
Russia's ambassador to Abkhazia, Semyon Grigoriev, has expressed
Russia's attitude to the election once again.
"It has been stated more than once that our country has no preferences
regarding the forthcoming election. But this does not mean that Russia is
indifferent about the election in Abkhazia. Our country's main interest is
it should be calm and agree with all democratic principles," the
ambassador said.

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