Chubais reassured by Yavlinsky's reaction to the appeal to merge SPS and Yabloko parties

Anatoly Chubais, a leader of the Union of Right Forces (SPS), has expressed satisfaction with the first reaction of Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of YABLOKO party, to his appeal to merge the two parties. Mr Chubais had sent a letter with a relative proposal to the YABLOKO leader on Wednesday morning. Anatoly Chubais, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Russia's Unified Energy Systems Co, said this at a news briefing that took place on the company's premises Wednesday.

Mr Yavlinsky replied that he agreed with the SPS leader's assessment of the political situation in Russia.

Mr Chubais said the YABLOKO leader had hardly ever agreed with him before.

This is not the legal unification of the two political parties that he is proposing ahead of December 7 (parliamentary elections). However, Mr Chubais is certain that after the elections the unification will be the two parties' "major objective." "It is simply inadmissible to continue a senseless competition," he said.