16:10

RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER MIKHAIL KASYANOV CONVERSES WITH UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR MARK MALLOCH BROWN

Unofficial translation from Russian

At the Government House, Russian Federation Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov had a conversation with Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program.

In the course of the meeting the sides discussed basic issues in the further development of Russian cooperation with the socioeconomic organizations of the United Nations system. Kasyanov expressed Russia's interest in expanding this cooperation and increasing its effectiveness.

Also, they exchanged views on the possibilities for UNDP assistance to economic reforms, including in such priority fields as housing and utilities, power and railway transport.

Kasyanov noted the vigorous UN activity in Russia's regions and reaffirmed interest in further expanding its geography. He also expressed satisfaction with the first successful steps that had been taken in establishing UNDP project activities in the North Caucasus and, in particular, in Ingushetia.

Hope was voiced that as infrastructure, job creation and small business assistance projects are beginning to be realized there, other initiatives would follow in the same direction.