|
Headlines
Market news and breaking stories live from Dow Jones Newswires
Market Commentary
A technical analysis commentary of the major markets, only from INO
Smart Scan
A premium service, alerting you to changes in the market by web and email.
Extreme Futures / Stocks
Extreme Markets from all exchanges, updated throughout the trading day.
|
| |
|
Trade Triangle Technology, Advanced Charts, SmartScan, Trading Workshops.
The premier online video learning platform for traders.
Daily Portfolio Scan and Analysis
|
| |
|
Medvedev Calls For Radical Economy Reform In Russia 8 days ago
(RTTNews) - In a far-sighted as well as reality-based state of the nation address, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for profound reform of the economy, shifting its focus from Soviet-era energy and heavy industry toward investments in information technology, telecommunications and space.
His second annual address since taking over as President from Vladimir Putin was focused on transforming Russia into a more modern and open country by introducing sweeping reforms.
Putin was present in the Grand Kremlin Palace Thursday to listen to Medvedev's speech, which implied deep criticism of his predecessor.
He began the speech, which remains to be turned into reality in a power-centered Russia, by saying,"We haven't managed to get rid of the primitive structure of our economy."
Noting that Russia's economy had been much harder hit by the global crisis than the "other key nation," Medvedev said "More than one million Russians were at risk of losing their jobs, and pressing social issues needed to be addressed.
"We can't wait any longer. We need to launch modernization of the entire industrial base. Our nation's survival in the modern world will depend on that," he added.
According to Medvedev, the country's giant state corporations had "no prospects" and needed overhauling to improve management and competitiveness. Their accountability and transparency must also be addressed, he added.
Indicating opening up of the Russian corporate sector, Medvedev said independent auditors should examine them and they should either be closed down or turned into companies with shareholders.
"Instead of a primitive economy based on raw materials, we shall create a smart economy, producing unique knowledge, new goods and technologies useful for people," Medvedev said.
He said Russia's national welfare and its role in the international arena should no longer be determined by the Soviet-era achievements.
"Oil and gas industry complexes, which provide the lion's share of budget income, nuclear weapons that guarantee our security, industrial and housing facilities - this all was made mostly by Soviet specialists....Though it keeps our country afloat, it is rapidly becoming outdated," he said.
Medvedev said his vision of the country's future was based on "firm conviction in the necessity and possibility of Russia acquiring global superpower status on a principally new basis."
The powerful Russian leader sounded liberal when he said, "Instead of an archaic society, in which leaders think and decide for everybody, we shall become a society of intelligent, free and responsible people."
At the same time, he warned that any attempt to disrupt national stability with "democratic slogans" would be stopped.
Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was a relentless critic of the Kremlin, was shot dead in her central Moscow apartment building in October 2006. Three men, charged with her murder, were acquitted earlier this year after the court found them not guilty.
In a pre-empted move ensuring tight Kremlin control over Russian politics, the Central Election Commission rejected the list of candidates submitted by the "Other Russia", an opposition alliance co-led by former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, for participating in the country's parliamentary elections in 2007.
A set of laws initiated by Putin narrowed the country's political field to only those supporting Kremlin-backed forces.
Elected the youngest President of Russia in 2008 with an overwhelming majority, Medvedev is hoping to put a personal stamp on a presidency which has so far stayed in the shadow of Putin, under whom he worked as the Prime Minister.
Medvedev promised a pragmatic foreign policy that would focus on improving Russians' living standards. He called for a "joint reliable platform" to strengthen Europe's security, saying such a body would have prevented its war with Georgia last year.
The President emphasized that his call for reforms are based on an article he published in September calling for change, as well as e-mails and discussions with Russians from all walks of life.
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com
Copyright(c) 2009 RTTNews.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved
< Back to News Index
|
