November 5, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 9, 1424

MOSCOW, Nov 4: Russia’s largest oil producer Yukos on Tuesday chose as its new chief executive a Russian-born American, who insisted the embattled firm would survive the arrest and jailing of its founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Simon Kukes, appointed to replace Khodorkovsky after his resignation from his jail cell on Monday, said Yukos had to draw a dividing line between the company and the billionaire tycoon.

“Mr Khodorkovsky was a very strong leader, but a team was set up with clear responsibilities. With his departure nothing will stop or change,” Kukes told a packed news conference in Moscow.

“This will all be resolved, it will calm down,” said the 56-year-old veteran oil executive.—AFP