Draft Budget 2nd Reading will probably pass Friday

In the opinion of the State Duma (lower house) chairman Gennady Seleznyov, the second reading of the draft federal budget for the year 2001 "is not likely to be easy", but he is "deeply convinced that the document may be passed by deputies”,news-agency “RIA Novosti” reports. Gennady Seleznyov emphasized that it was extremely important that prior to the Friday pleanary sitting the cabinet would meet deputies in the lower house to inform them on how the government plans to distribute additional expenses, in case those emerge, to specific branches of economy. The draft budget in the second reading will be reviewed by lawmakers at the State Duma’s plenary sitting due on October 20.