Russian elections will necessarily create favorable conditions to undertake a decisive all-out effort to push forward economic reform. This will be our second chance , so to say, a second phase of reforming which must be deeper and go much further. It should also take into account past mistakes of our own and on your part as well. In this connection the unique expertise of the US-Russian Business Council will be in high demand. The expectations in Russia are high and the stakes are even higher.
Stability is priority of the day.
Russian people and the Russian state face a challenging opportunity, though a very promising one, to decisively move on in making our country prosperous, economically sound and strong. The new President of Russia is to form a new pro-reform Government capable to work effectively and constructively with the new Duma. Its underlying principle is to ensure stable political and social environment. The State should act as a guarantor of fair and equal rules of the game for all economic operators. So, the necessary ingredients for a breakthrough seem to be there, including the political will to make tough decisions.