Grigory Yavlinsky, the leader of Yabloko and its parliamentary faction in the Duma, thinks that the arguments of the left wing who were advocating suspension of the examination in the second reading of the draft Land Code in the Duma did not convince the President.

"In my view, the President found their arguments less than persuasive," said Grigory Yavlinsky in his interview to the journalists on Thursday, July 12, 2001, sharing his opinion from the meeting of the leaders of deputies' groups with Vladimir Putin.

The greater part of the meeting was devoted to the problems of the consideration of the draft Land Code in the Duma. Grigory Yavlinsky also noted that the Yabloko and the Union of the Right-Wing Forces (SPS) factions held the same position, and also indicated the three key issues, which from their point view, should be dealt with in the new Land Code.

This means, above all, the "priority of the Civil Code over the Land Code, primarily Article 17 of the former." In addition, both right-wing factions insist that the new Land Code should contain firm guarantees for owners of land. And the third point is connected with the restrictions on non-judicial seizure of land, explained Grigory Yavlinsky.

In addition, Grigory Yavlinsky also said that he conveyed to the President Yabloko’s position on the package of draft laws on imports of nuclear waste into Russia. Grigory Yavlinsky stressed once again that the adoption of such laws represents "a dangerous adventure". "I handed to Vladimir Putin the opinion of 15 academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences who are against the imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia and present arguments for their position," said Grigory Yavlinsky.

Commenting on the statements made by Academician Zhores Alfyorov, the head of the special commission (this commission was formed by the President on Wednesday simultaneously with his signing of the package of laws of the imports of nuclear waste) who said that this commission will include only scientists and no politicians, Grigory Yavlinsky noted that "this means that this will be a senseless commission".

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

The Land Code

Nuclear Waste Bill