Natural monopolies should coordinate their activities in Russia, economic forum participants believe

Participants in the Baikal economic forum underway in Irkutsk have discussed Wednesday development strategy of natural monopolies of Siberia and Far East.

Valentin Mezhevich, Federation Council member from Irkutsk region and deputy chairman of the Federation Council commission for natural monopolies, informed RIA Novosti that monopolies have an explicit influence on national defence and the socio-economic stability of the country. Specifically, non-coordinated implementation of major export projects can weaken Russia's stands in the market of Asia-Pacific countries, the senator stressed.

That's why it is expedient that the federal and regional state power bodies form a single policy together with natural monopolies' members, Mezhevich noted.

Participants in the forum advocated establishment of a coordinating council at the Russian government. It was recommended that it should comprise representatives of executive and legislative power of different level and management of monopoly structures.

It was also proposed to work out measures on a legislative basis for government support of infrastructure development of natural monopolies of Siberia and Far East and establishment of single energy-transportation corridors.