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September 20, 2001:
#5452 
#5453
[Second Issue of the Day]
#1
Russian Duma approves crucial land code
MOSCOW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament
gave its final approval to a crucial land code on Thursday, which aims to
lift a Soviet-era ban on land sales.
The land code, which steers clear of the key issue of selling farm land but
sets rules for selling other land to Russians and foreigners, is a highly
sensitive issue in a country once subject to forced collectivisation.
"This is a very important event for the development of civilised land
relations in the country. Approval of the land code creates conditions for
development of land relations," Trade and Economic Development Minister
German Gref told reporters after the vote.
The Duma backed the bill in the third reading, which is considered to be
largely a formality, with 257 votes for and 130 votes against and one
abstention.
The bill is now due to be submitted to the Federation Council upper house
and signed into law by president.
The code is a major part of President Vladimir Putin's economic reforms, but
it has roused the fury of the Communist Party and their Agrarian allies, who
fear the law would lead to the country being bought up by foreigners and
wealthy Russians.
Alexander Kotenkov, the president's representative in the Duma, reassured
Communists and agrarians that the code would not affect farming land.
"When you talk about millions of peasants who will suffer if the code is
adopted, you are not right. The code does not apply to them," Kotenkov
said.
However, the code's opponents urged the Duma to review its decision on the
code, but failed to initiate a new vote.
The bill, under discussion for seven years in post-Soviet Russia, passed its
first reading in June after debates in which parliament members came to blows
and Gref was prevented from speaking.
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