04 June 2004 21:48
Situation in Russia favors reforms - Zhukov (Part 2)
MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - The situation that has emerged in Russia since the presidential elections in March is
conducive to a whole series of reforms, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said at the Corporate Governance and
Economic Growth in Russia conference.
There are several factors already in place, above all the
"president's huge authority and rating." United Russia, a pro-
"Following the presidential elections the opportunity has arisen to conduct a whole series of reforms that would
have been impossible in past years," Zhukov said.
Administrative reform will be stepped up, cutting the number of
state functions and at the same time reducing the number of state
presidential party, has a constitutional majority in the State Duma. The country is also in good financial condition
and the Russian budget is in good shape, Zhukov said.
"These preconditions make it possible to carry out important, sensitive and long overdue reforms in the social
sphere," Zhukov said, adding that this, above all, concerns reforming the system of concessions, which formed in
the early 1990s and was not financed in practice.
Zhukov said that starting in 2005 Russia will delegate powers between different levels of government - the federal,
regional and local. All government powers will be distributed among these levels and their overlap will be brought to a
minimum. Revenue will be divided among different levels of power in similar fashion.
institutions. A new system for budget planning will be introduced along with this, which will be oriented on the
performance of ministries and offices. This system is planned to be introduced in 2006, Zhukov said. [RU ASIA EUROPE EEU
EMRG FIN] pr rm
[Interfax] |
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