Russia`s aid for development up 250 percent in 2009 from 2008.

UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Itar-Tass) - Volume of aid Russia provided
for development purposes on the bilateral and multilateral basis in 2009
reached an estimated 800 or so million U.S. dollars, the Russian
Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said Tuesday.
He said it in a speech at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly
devoted to the financing of development.
The figure means that Russia increased the allocations for these
purposes in 2009 by 250% versus 2008.
"In spite of objective complications arising from the global crisis,
already now we're increasing persistently the allocations for development
to needy countries," Churkin said.
He indicated that work is underway on drafting the Russian national
program for assistance to international development on the basis of a
concept endorsed by the Russian President.
Implementation of the program, which is oriented at the CIS countries
first and foremost, will help strengthen Russia's donor-country capability
and will ensure the essential prerequisites for a more fruitful
involvement in international efforts in the field of development financing.
"Russia attaches priority to consolidating bilateral and multilateral
cooperation with the CIS, including in the format of the Eurasian Economic
Community /Eurasec/," Churkin said.
He recalled that Russia initiated for setting up of a new mechanism
for interaction with and assistance to needy countries - a $ 10 billion
Eurasec Anti-Crisis Fund where its contribution stands at $ 7.5 billion.
-0-kle