The new framework agreement between Russia and the European Union can be signed as early as in 2011, according to Kremlin officials. Sergei Prikhodko has suggested that it would be fully realistic to talk about completing the draft of the basic E.U.-Russia agreement in 2011.

Rosatom and officials from the United States Department of Energy have signed an executive agreement to work together in analyzing the methods of converting Russian experimental breeder reactors from highly-enriched uranium reactors to low-enriched uranium reactors.    

The government of Belarus would be prepared to conduct negotiations with American companies if it decides to reject the project plan proposed by Russia. At the same time, it is unclear if plans for cooperation will go forward in the aftermath of Belarusian presidential elections.

The Russian State Space Agency Roskosmos has agreed to sign a protocol with NASA in December to carry out joint space exploration programs. The new cooperation initiative was announced by the head of Roskosmos Anatoly Perminov.

The joint venture of GM and AvtoVAZ that has increased its production 50 percent by beginning second shift operations has announced a recall for 1 720 Chevrolet Nivas. The company now produces 200 vehicles per day. The identified defect is a faulty break fuel line.  

Norilsk Nickel increased its revenue from sales figure by 39 percent in the first three quarters under Russian accounting standards. The revenue totaled RUR 214.371 billion, according to the company’s performance statements.

Company Vysochaishy, operating under the brand name of GV Gold, experienced a slight decline in its net profit figure in the first nine months of 2010. The company registered a fall in net profits of 0.8 percent on a year-on-year basis to RUR 986.3 million.

The Severstal-controlled Canadian precious metals producer High River Gold registered a profit of C$ 25.8 (USD 25.5) million for the third quarter of 2010. The company’s net profit in the second quarter of the year was C$ 29.3 million, while its net loss in the third quarter of last year totaled C$ 4.6 million.

Russia’s Pharmsynthez is making plans to purchase European pharmaceutical companies. The company was expected to make the announcement as to the first transaction before the end of the year, according to the chairman of Pharmsynthez’s board.

In an interview with Larry King of CNN, the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said that he thinks the U.S. Defense Secretary Gates does not have a truthful picture of the state of democratic advances in Russia.

The head of the European Union on foreign affairs Catherine Ashton, as well as the representatives of the six countries that participated in negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program, conducted talks with the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.