Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov informed the President on the country’s economic development results. Industrial output growth came to 5.9 percent for the first three quarters of 2005. Consumer prices rose by 0.3 percent for the first 17 days of October.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported on the results of his visits to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in particular with regard to the creation of the Eurasian Economic Community Executive Committee working group that is to work on the practical issues relating to Uzbekistan’s accession to the organisation. Mr Lavrov also spoke of his upcoming talks today with his Iranian counterpart on the Caspian Sea issue.
Mr Putin instructed Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, as well as the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank to prepare a package of anti-inflationary measures.
The President particularly stressed the importance of national projects in the social sphere, healthcare, education, housing and agriculture and called on the government to coordinate the work of the various levels of state power to reach the set objectives.