U.S. state department to wait for outcome of Yukos affair

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell raised the issue of Yukos in talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28 and 29, the State Department's press service reported.

The United States' "basic concerns [about Yukos] remain respect for the rule of law and due process without influence from political considerations," the press service reported.

"An appearance of lack of due process," the press service said, "and possible threats to private property rights put the international and domestic business communities on their guard and raise questions about Russia's respect for investment rights and willingness to seek equitable solutions that promote business development."

The subject was not raised during Mr. Powell and Mr. Lavrov's meeting at the Asean summit in Jakarta.

"I'm not a lawyer; it has not unfolded completely," Mr. Powell said. "And so therefore, I think it would be not appropriate for me to comment on a case that is ongoing and not yet resolved."

"But I'm not in a position to make judgments about what actions the Russian government is taking right now concerning assets of Yukos and other actions they're taking with respect to charges being brought against individuals who were associated with Yukos," he said.

"And I think we'll just have to wait and see it fully played out and see whether it met what we think are international standards of transparency, accountability and the rule of law," he said.