Russian Cabinet, despite Duma, insists on privatizing large companies

The Russian Cabinet still deems it necessary to privatize large state-owned enterprises, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. The Cabinet will be insisting on the privatisation of large state-run enterprises, he said. Mr. Kudrin is of the opinion that a bill keeping the article on privatisation will be opposed mainly by the Communists. In the meantime, the Russian parliament (the Duma) has just approved in the final reading a bill on the 2000 budget containing the clause banning the privatization of large state-owned companies. The bill is now to be submitted to the upper house, the Federation Council.