01 May 2004 15:28
Moscow mayor conveys greetings for 1 May, slams Health Minister
[Presenter] May Day celebrations began in Moscow early this morning. Over 70,000 people are to take part in the
morning public events, the Moscow mayor's office has said. [Passage omitted]
[Correspondent] Representatives of virtually all the leading political parties, including left- and right-wing ones,
are participating in the rally in central Moscow today. [Passage omitted]
It has been mentioned at the rally that minimum wage in Moscow is R2,000 [some 69 dollars], and this is the
capital's achievement. The Mayor of Moscow was the last to speak. His speech was the lengthiest and the most
emotional one. This is what he said.
[Luzhkov] Dear Muscovites! Dear working class, dear students! Enjoy the holiday! Enjoy 1 May! [Applauds]
We are celebrating the holiday of spring and labour. There are the two most significant and important holidays in
May: the holiday of the working class and Victory Day. There have not been more important holidays in Russia's
modern history.
[In a later report at 1000 gmt Russian Centre TV quoted Luzhkov saying the following: "In fact, he [Russian
Health Minister Mikhail Zurabov] has suggested that all the social laws, the laws on benefits for our older generation,
be buried. He did that ahead of Victory Day, the day of working people, washing his hands of those who fought for our
country."]
[Centre TV] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
