
MOSCOW — The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service sees no reasons for preventing Gazprom and Rosneft from merging, deputy head of the service Anatoly Golomolzin has told journalists. Earlier, head of the Russian Industry and Energy Ministry Viktor Khristenko announced that the merger mechanism had been approved and the deal was to be completed by June 2005. The Russian government is expected to approve the merger mechanism, proposed by Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller. The merger stipulates the swap of 100 percent in Rosneft for 10.7 percent in Gazprom and the separation of Yuganskneftegaz to form a spin-off company.