The tragic events in South Ossetia have exacerbated an already difficult situation on financial and other markets. Problems in the world economy, which is going through difficult times at present, are also having an impact on the markets, Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with business community leaders in the Kremlin.
Any military or political crisis inevitably creates economic problems and makes doing business more difficult, but Russia needs to continue regardless to work steadily on resolving the country’s priority development objectives, the President said.
Work will continue to reduce business risks and remove administrative hurdles. Moreover, conditions need to be created for a new wave of investment, Mr Medvedev said.
The country’s authorities will do everything necessary to continue mutually beneficial cooperation with Europe and the United States and will take measures to protect Russian business’ property abroad, because protecting Russian business interests both at home and abroad is one of the state’s priorities.
The President stressed that Russia remains open and ready for equal cooperation and so, despite the events that took place in August, the country’s economic policy principles will not change. At the same time, Russia’s system of government is such that no economic sanctions imposed from outside can force a change in Russian foreign policy.
Russia seeks neither confrontation nor isolation and does not want militarisation, a nationalised economy, and all the more so does not want an arms race. What country needs is order, and the state will ensure this order while maintaining the basic values, rights and freedoms, Mr Medvedev said, stressing that Russia has all the conditions it needs to achieve economic growth.