YAKUTSK. Nov 17 (Interfax) - The government should retain control over strategic companies, bearing in mind the favorable situation on the diamond, oil and gas markets, Chairman of the State Duma Natural Resources and Nature Usage Committee Natalia Komarova told the Yakutia media.

"Such strategic companies as Gazprom, ALROSA and Rosneft should be controlled exclusively by the government," she said.

"The federal government is working for the benefit of the entire Russian society, so it should be in command," Komarova said.

"The government may reduce its influence on these companies in the future, when the situation alters. But we are interested in the preservation of state control now that the situation on the oil, gas and diamond markets is favorable and the country collects maximum revenues," she said.