Career notes: Probably deciding factor in Yugoslav war when he agreed to back Chernomyrdin's plan to threaten to stop sending gas to Serbia unless Milosevic signed the peace deal...Through Gazprom, controls a 30% stake in NTV...In latest of many clever tax-avoidance schemes, was allowed last year to sell 2.5% stake on behalf of the state to German partner Ruhrgas in lieu of paying taxes...Sworn enemy of Sergei Kiriyenko, who tried to force him to pay taxes last year, and also hinted at unseating him... Job may be in trouble--rumor has it that Chernomyrdin, who he replaced, is going to take his old job back.