Gov't amends program on social and economic development

The Russian government has introduced considerable changes in the program of Russia's social and economic development in the medium-term perspective (from 2003 to 2005), Deputy Economy Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told journalists in Moscow today. According to him, on April 30 a new variant of the program was submitted to the President. The deputy minister specified that the new program had been cut by about 30 percent. In particular, articles concerning special economic zones, special non-commercial enterprises were removed from the program. Articles about administrative reforms and Gazprom restructuring were cut.

Dvorkovich noted that the government had not agreed to these changes with the Economy Ministry. He said the President is likely to be informed of these changes as the Presidential Administration had the original and the revised versions of the program.