Russia has common borders with NATO and European Union, Fradkov says

"The State Borders of the Russian Federation" federal targeted program should take into account that Russia now has common borders with NATO and the EU, prime minister Mikhail Fradkov said on Wednesday in the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian parliament).

In addition, the program should be coordinated with the concept of the common economic environment, being created with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, the prime minister believes.

"Regrettably, but the process of forming the federal targeted program is being dragged out despite the fact that it should proceed actively," the prime minister stressed. According to him, one billion roubles (about $35 million) were earmarked last year and the same sum was allocated this year for financing the programme.