Huge
economic crisis: Medvedev
Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW: Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev admitted Russia was facing an “unprecedented” economic
crisis amid fears that its fallout may be as devastating as the breakup of the
Soviet Union 17 years ago had on the country’s economy.
At a meeting of
regional legislators, Mr. Medvedev called on them to come up with new ideas for
coping with the crisis. He also said the lawmakers should not be shy to
criticise the measures taken by the government.
“Debate is
admissible and even necessary… It should not surprise anyone that [government]
policy is subject to criticism.”
There is nothing
wrong with supporting government policies either, he said. Mr. Medvedev himself
rapped the government, led by his predecessor Vladimir Putin, last month for a
slow response to the crisis, which he described as “unacceptable.” Russia’s GDP
contracted by 2.9 per cent in January and is estimated to have further declined
by 4.7 per cent in February. Energy-dominated exports collapsed by over 50 per
cent in January.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/14/stories/2009031454651500.htm
Russia could deploy
bombers to Cuba and Venezuela
Russia is considering using bases in
Cuba and Venezuela where it could deploy strategic bombers capable of carrying
nuclear missiles.
Continues
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4996821/Russia-could-deploy-bombers-to-Cuba-and-Venezuela.html
Russian president
orders military rearmament
The Russian president, Dmitry
Medvedev, has ordered a 'comprehensive' military rearmament after accusing Nato
of once again encroaching on Moscow's sphere of influence in the former Soviet
Union.
Russia to re-arm
military as Nato expands
Reuters
Tuesday, 17 March
2009
President Dmitry Medvedev, who seeks to
improve chilly ties with the United States, today said Russia would rearm its
military and boost nuclear forces because US-led Nato is expanding towards
Russia's borders.
"Attempts to expand the military
infrastructure of Nato near the borders of our country are continuing," Medvedev
told an annual meeting with the Defence Ministry's staff.
Continues
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-to-rearm-military-as-nato-expands-1646800.html