Finance Minister comments on tobacco taxes

The federal budget will get revenues from excise taxes on tobacco in fullvolume in 2003, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin toldjournalists at a briefing organized in a break between government meetingsdevoted to the discussion of the 2003 budget draft. Kudrin pointed out thatall taxes on tobacco enterprises, except excise taxes, would be retained inRussian regions and republics. According to the Deputy Finance Minister, apartial compensation for regional budgets from the federal budget willremain for a year or two. .