2003 budget draft to be passed on December 11

The budget draft for 2003 will be considered on the fourth and final reading at a plenary session of the State Duma on December 11. The decision has been adopted at today's meeting of the State Duma Council, Alexander Zhukov, the Chairman of the State Duma Budget Committee, told journalists today. According to Zhukov, deputies of the lower house of the Russian parliament will not introduce amendments to the bill.

The deputy also said that at the December 11 session the State Duma would discuss basic directions of the state monetary and credit policy in 2003. Zhukov did not rule out the possibility that Chairman of the Russian Central Bank Sergey Ignatyev would participate in the plenary session.