Of the 200 million deciliters of alcohol consumed by Russians each year, an estimated 70 million deciliters comes from imports. Officials claim illegal imports account for 30 million deciliters of the imported alcohol. At some facilities on the Black and Baltic Seas, figures were down by 80-90 percent. The Committee says Russia has little chance of meeting last years figures of 4.2 million tons. In 1991, Russia's catch figures were listed at 6.9 million tons.
Officials blame shortages of materials and cash caused by the national debt crisis.
There was a 4 percent increase in the price of salt, a 3 percent increase in the price of pasta and vegetables, and a 3.7 percent increase in the price of food. Russian and American analysts have characterized these protectionist tariffs, enacted to boost floundering Russian producers, as detrimental to reforms and potential investments. The EU also plans to extend a 100 million Ecu aid package to Ukraine. Estonia -The Estonian Privatization Agency plans to privatize another 56 enterprises. Up for bids is a uranium plant in Sillamae formerly owned by the Soviet military-industrial complex and several smaller companies.