Duma to consider 2003 budget draft on third reading today

The bill on the 2003 federal budget will be given its third reading at today's plenary session of the lower house of the Russian parliament. The budget draft was adopted on its second reading on October 18. According to the document the budget's expenses in 2003 will be 2.346 trillion rubles (about $73.716bn), including some 346bn rubles ($10.874bn) on national defense and 245bn rubles (about $7.7bn) on law enforcement and state security.

Deputies are to discuss financing within each industry today. The State Duma budget committee recommended deputies to adopt the country's main financial document on the third reading with 600 out of 3,500 amendments submitted for the third reading.