Finance Minister on budget execution

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin is confident in the execution of the 2003 budget, despite the sharpening of the situation around Iraq. He voiced his opinion to journalists in the House of Government today responding to an RBC question. "We are ready for any possible scenario", he declared. At the same time he refused to make a forecast for oil prices in the event of the Iraqi war.

The minister added that "the Iraqi factor" had been taken into account when preparing the government programs on social and economic development of the country.