Federation Council Approves 2002 Federal Budget

The Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, at its last plenary session this year on Wednesday approved the 2002 federal budget. There were 132 votes for, two against, and four senators abstained. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, who attended the session, thanked the senators for their "constructive support" for the main financial law of the country, which will now "ensure consolidation of efforts to implement the budget." Now the budget will be submitted to the president for approval.