{1}Russians prefer market economy, poll shows:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 17:43:53.The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) has released data on the type of government Russians want to have in their country in the future. Presently, as was also the case a decade ago, public opinion gives preference to a democratic market economy. Although the number of supporters of this approach has decreased from 48 to 42 percent, the share of promoters of a socialist government with communist ideology is almost three times smaller, at 16 percent (down from 20 percent in 1997). Somewhat more popular is the position that Russia should have a unique form of government, with 21 percent of respondents voicing their support for this viewpoint. A marginal 3-6 percent believe monarchy to be ideal for Russia.
The poll was conducted on August 18-19, among 1,600 people in 153 locations in 46 regions and republics of Russia, with the margin of error under 3.4 percent.
{2}Russia-US high level group on US missile shield to meet soon:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 13:51:19.The meeting of the high-level Russian-US group on the US National Missile Defense (NMD) system is expected to take place in November, Igor Neverov, head of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told journalists today. He did not specify the dates of the meeting, nor the place. Neverov pointed out that it was important to receive suggestions from the US on the deployment of elements of the NMD before the meeting.
{3}Russia’s gold and currency reserves surge:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 10:25:32.The Bank of Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves amounted to $447.9bn as of November 2, 2007, up $6.6bn, or 1.5 percent, from the previous showing. Combined with a $16.5bn rise on October 5-26, the reserves have climbed a total of $23.1bn, or 5.4 percent, in 20 days.
This rise in gold and currency reserves may be attributed to a sharp upsurge in the Central Bank’s foreign currency acquisitions on the domestic market. As a result, the reserves have reached their all-time high and Russia has been able to somewhat narrow the huge gap separating it from China and Japan, the world’s leaders in terms of gold and foreign exchange reserves.
Russia’s reserves have increased by more than $144.2bn since the beginning of the year, which is $29.3bn greater than the Bank of Russia’s forecast for 2007.
{4}Russia suspends arms treaty:
RBC, 07.11.2007, Moscow 13:51:53.The Russian State Duma has suspended Russia’s participation in the Treaty on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), although the President has the right to resume the country’s participation. The bill was ratified unanimously (418) and will come into effect once it has been published.
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Kyle