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**Firm's hopes lie with visit of PM**
*SCOTT CROWSON*
CALGARY —The owners of a Calgary-based oil company in Siberia are regaining control after about 20 heavily armed men seized control of Yugraneft's office late last month.
Norex Petroleum has secured its field operations and prevented the bargain-basement sale of its crude production, said chairman Alex Rotzang.
Contacted yesterday la Russia, he said the firm's best hope now lies with Prime Minister Jean Chretien. A government spokesman said A prime minister win try to persuade President Vladimir Putin to put an end to such activities when the two meet Friday in Moscow.
The group that took over the office June 29 justified if actions by citing a court order that authorized installing new management following a shareholders' meeting. Norex was banned from participating in the vote, even though it owns 98 per cent of Yugraneft. Mr. Rotzang said the courts and sheriffs seem to support the takeover.
Both Norex and the Canadian embassy in Moscow have said the seizure was based on a fraudulent shareholders' meeting. But Norex may be gaining the upper hand now.
"We've sent guards to the camp," Mr. Rotzang said. "The hoodlums with machine guns are staying outside the perimeter. They're disrupting the business but not to a great extent. They're just intimidating Russian employees."
He added that Canadians working at the camp are not in immediate danger.
*Special to the Citizen*
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