On the visit programme are talks with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Duma (lower parliamentary chamber) Speaker Boris Gryzlov, Vice-Premiers Galina Karelova and Vladimir Yakovlev, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Minister for Economic Development and Trade German Gref, Minister of the Russian Federation Stanislav Ilyasov and Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov.
Mark Malloch Brown plans to visit the Bryansk region (Central federal district) to get familiar with progress in the implementation of the UNDP project on the support of children's rehabilitation centre "Radimichi".
Besides, his schedule includes a routine meeting with the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Arkady Volsky, and chiefs of Russian companies participating in the project on a global agreement on universal values and principles, initiated by the UN secretary-general.
The UNDP is now maintaining about 50 projects in Russia (support for democratic processes, management improvement, backing of small and medium business, environmental protection, development of the North Caucasian region, etc.) About $15 million donor funds are to be raised. The targets and parametres of UNDP non-political free aid are defined by the Russian government. It is Russian experts who are to be involved above all in such UN programmes targeted at national performers.
