#5518
[Second Issue of the Day]
#5
BBC Monitoring
Putin shows World Economic Forum his vision of the
Russian economy
Source: Russian Public TV (ORT), Moscow, in Russian 1200 gmt 30 Oct 01
[Presenter] The president has made some new statements on Russian economic policy. Today Vladimir Putin met participants in the itinerant meeting of the Davos forum. Details from Svetlana Sevastyanova.
[Correspondent] Vladimir Putin came to the Moscow itinerant sitting of the Davos Forum.
[Putin] It is good to see many familiar faces here in this hall and I don't just mean representatives of the Russian administration, of course, [audience laughs] but first and foremost our friends in business in Russia and abroad.
[Correspondent] Addressing representatives of the international business elite, the head of state noted in particular the need to create comfortable conditions for legitimate business, but at the same time, the president said, we should not be afraid to employ instruments which make business transparent to the state. Vladimir Putin said that a document setting up a financial intelligence agency had been drawn up and would be signed soon. In this connection he was asked about his attitude to the problem of maintaining banking confidentiality.
[Putin] Has it ever been? [Audience laughs and applauds] I believe we should none of us be afraid to use all possible instruments which make business transparent to the state. We should, in today's conditions, take another look at the world in which we live. We should firmly and clearly formulate rules under which the criminal elements, terrorists, the corrupt and so on and so forth are unable to function and don't feel that it's a free-for-all in Russia. In this respect I support the efforts the government of the Russian Federation has put into measures to stop the laundering of criminal gains.
[Correspondent] The president also talked about the sale of agricultural land. According to him, this issue should be resolved through consensus.
[Putin] We will be doing some more thinking about how to move forward gently on this, but we will move, I repeat once again, because the laws of the market should operate fully in this sector of the Russian economy, too. There are various ideas and concepts here. Despite the complexity of the process, we intend to involve everyone with an interest in the solution of this problem in the discussion, both those who advocate moving over to the market as quickly as possible and its critics. We will, in any event, be working for a degree of consensus in making this decision.
[Correspondent] President Putin assured participants in the forum that Russia will go on forcing the pace of reform, including on taxation. The president did not rule out the possibility of Russia cutting some taxes, including VAT. He also talked about joining the World Trade Organization [WTO]. Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to become a member of the WTO, but on the standard terms. In this connection, Russia has set a course of further integration into the world economy.
[Putin] We have taken a firm decision to move towards WTO membership, and this decision will be fulfilled. I must say that all our actions in this respect will be in accordance with Russia's national interest and the interests of the national economy.
[Correspondent] In addition, Russia can now manage without foreign loans and is paying its debts. However, the president said, we remain in touch with world financial organizations.
[Putin] We do not intend, figuratively speaking, to thumb our noses at them. We will remain in touch with the leading international financial organizations. We are counting on their assistance as consultants.
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