A government meeting was opened, dedicated to the issue of scenario conditions for the functioning of the Russian economy from 2001 to 2003. In March, GDP growth amounted to more than 6%, and in general, about 8%for the first quarter, Vladimir Putin said at its opening. "This is not just stable, it is a huge growth.

Arnold Harberger (adviser to the IMF, the WB and a number of governments, professor of the University of California), today gave a lecture at the Economic Champion of the Moscow State University yesterday for seminars and the Center for Strategic Development, gave a lecture at the Economic Champion of Moscow State University. Harberger emphasized that Russia should learn to extract competitive comparative advantages from world trade.

The deputies adopted in the second reading the first three chapters of the general provision of the Administrative Code, our parliamentary correspondent reports - those that were not difficult to accept. Since it was decided even earlier to consider amendments for chapters (in total amendments about 3 thousand), how and when to approve the remaining chapters, the Council of the Duma will decide on Tuesday.

Colonel Budanov could become a "victim of a conspiracy of militants" - the authorities of Buryatia believe; Petersburg can become the cradle of the fourth revolution; Mass circumcision of the visors of the entrances has begun in Pauttsovsk. About the possible and impossible - in the press review of the whole Russia agency.

Oleg Mironov, the Commissioner for Human Rights, gave today a press conference at which he advocated contacts with Maskhadov. Having supported the actions of the federal troops in the destruction of the bandits, Mironov expressed the opinion that Maskhadov could become the “second shamil” and call on the Chechen people to lay down their weapons.

The conference "Russia 2000: New Reality - New Opportunities" is taking place in London. Various representatives of the Russian political and economic elite are present.

Anatoly Chubais, speaking at the conference "Russia 2000: a new reality - new opportunities", spoke out to reduce the share of state regulation in the economy. First of all, he considers it necessary to limit the intervention of the authorities in the relationship “manufacturer-seller-buyer”, reduce the number of civil servants and increase the salary of those who remain.

The vacancy of the executive president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is still free. Former bank manager Keler took the post of director of the IMF after long disputes of the funds of the fund. The situation that is now developing around the post of head of the EBRD is very reminiscent of the recent intrigue with the appointment of the director of the IMF. The governments of European states cannot agree in any way.

Today, at a court session in the case of Platon Obukhov (diplomat accused of espionage in favor of British intelligence, the Mi-6 department) took place embarrassment. There, without asking anyone, Professor Hoffmann came, and stated that Obukhov was insane. On October 15, 1998, the expert commission of the St. Petersburg Psychiatric Hospital has already given an imprisonment, recognizing Obukhov to be sane.

The Georgian police detained a man in the car of President Eduard Shevardnadze today a bag with four checkers. It turned out to be a resident of Tbilisi Artem Bagdiev, who was already recognized as insane. Today, in Georgia, Joiseliani, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison, in particular, for organizing an attempt on the same President Shevardnadze in 1995, was released in Georgia.

Khanty -Mansi mystery: what to do when one voter has three votes at once, and the other only one? The Mordovian government takes on the debts of enterprises; Severodvinsky shipbuilders were carried away by the cutting of diamonds; "Serov Metallurgical Plant" - a potential source of flood and an inexhaustible source of scandals; St. Petersburg pensioners do not want to recognize themselves as poor and wretched. Read about this in the news review of the agency "Russia. Regions".

The first deputy chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Valery Manilov, said that since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation in Dagestan and Chechnya 2144 military personnel died, 6325 were injured. The number of a united group in the North Caucasus is now 80 thousand people. According to the general, "this number is sufficient to complete the tasks."

The circulation of the newspaper "My Capital", known for its critical position in relation to the governor Vladimir Yakovlev, was arrested in St. Petersburg. The editor -in -chief of the publication Alexei Sarna believes that the reason was the publication of a number of materials proving the connection of the governor with organized criminal groups, as well as a number of extremely unfavorable assessments of his activities given by Vladimir Putin.

According to Lukashenko, an agreement between Russia and Belarus on the placement of a thousands of military groups on the western border still exists, despite the fact that the Russian side denies this. He, in particular, claims that specific documents have been developed on the structure, staffing, number and dislocation of the group.

In Italy, the next government crisis - the Prime Minister Massimo d'ALEMA resigned. This is due to the fact that the levocentric coalition supporting him was defeated by local elections. Italian President Adzelo Champi accepted the resignation of the prime minister and asked D'Alam and his ministers to fulfill the current duties before the formation of a new office.