Russia GDP growth to make about 4% in 2010 - Kudrin.

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's GDP growth will make
"about four percent" in 2010, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance
Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters here on Sunday.
"For Russian economy this year will be better than we expected. We
forecast a 3.3% GDP growth rate, but it will be about four percent,"
Kudrin noted. "A forecast for this year will be made in the next few
days," he said.
Kudrin also noted an improving situation in world economy in general,
noting that the world GDP growth forecast increased from four percent to
4.2%. Meanwhile, he acknowledged, "The way out of the crisis will be long
and not quite easy."

.Putin arrives in Italy.

MILAN, April 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
arrived in Milan on Sunday. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
welcomed his Russian counterpart at the airport. The Guard of Honour lined
up for the arrival of the Russian prime minister.
A military orchestra played the anthems of Russia and Italy. After a
short official welcome ceremony Silvio Berlusconi invited Vladimir Putin
to his personal residence in San Martino outside Milan. The prime
ministers of the countries will discuss the development of bilateral
relations between the countries at an informal dinner.
The major negotiations are scheduled for Monday. The prime ministers
will go to Berlusconi's new residence - Villa Gernetto near the town of
Lesmo. Several bilateral documents are to be signed, including that on
Russia's financial assistance in the reconstruction of architectural
monuments in L'Aquila, which was heavily damaged in a devastating
earthquake a year ago, as well as a protocol of intent for creating a
thermonuclear reactor in Russia.
The cooperation between energy, car-making and air companies of the
countries is high on the agenda of the negotiations.
The Italian visit of the Russian premier is a little bit private, as
Putin and Berlusconi have warm friendly relations. The Italian premier
will show to the Russian high guest his new house of receptions - Villa
Gernetto, which just the Croatian prime minister has visited before.
The Italian visit of the Russian premier was timed to the Italian
national holiday. Italy celebrates the 65th anniversary of liberation from
Nazism on Sunday. Silvio Berlusconi will celebrate this holiday with
Vladimir Putin on Sunday evening, the Italian press reported.

.Putin to visit Ukraine on April 26.

KIEV, April 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
will pay a working visit to Ukraine on Monday. He will meet with Ukrainian
President Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov.
The Ukrainian new leadership has intensified the cooperation with
Russia, the press service of the Ukrainian government reported. "The prime
ministers will hold already the fifth meeting for the past month," the
press service recalled.
Putin visited Ukraine last time in December 2006 in the capacity of
Russian president.
According to local observers, forthcoming negotiations will focus on
the implementation of the agreements, which the presidents of the
countries Viktor Yanukovich and Dmitry Medvedev reached in Kharkov on
April 21. Then the countries decided to extend the deployment of the
Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol for 25 years, and Ukraine was
granted a 30% discount on Russian gas price. Putin believes that the
agreements on the fleet and the gas price showed "trust and a feeling of
fellowship" between Moscow and Kiev. He is confident that "all this will
lay down foundations of Russian-Ukrainian relations, and much can be done
on this basis."
On Sunday, Azarov noted that the restoration of trust between Russia
and Ukraine and the Ukrainian leadership is the major result of the
Kharkov agreements.

.Without lower RF gas price Ukraine couldn't come to terms with IMF.

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Without the agreement with Russia
on a lower gas price Ukraine "could not have agreed on the parameters of
cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," Russian Deputy
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters here on
Sunday.
He called tangible "Russia's contribution in making Ukrainian economy
and budget balanced." According to Kudrin, Ukraine needed a lower price on
Russian gas, "without it Ukraine could not have agreed on the main
parameters (with the IMF)." "Currently they are not adopted, but there is
a good chance to resolve the task," Kudrin said with confidence.
The Russian vice-premier acknowledged that "the discount made for
Ukraine will affect Russian budget revenues, which will reduce to some
degree." However, all "will depend from how other sources of revenues will
compensate" for the budget losses, Kudrin underlined. "The oil price is
higher than we expected, and the GDP growth forecast is higher too.
Therefore, I hope that we will manage to find balance," Kudrin pointed out.
-0-baz


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