VICE PREMIER ZHUKOV NAMES FOUR STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE GOVERNMENT

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov has named the four strategic goals of the government - to raise living standards, to maintain high economic growth rates, to create the basis for continued progress, and to ensure national security. The latter is a specific goal that can be attained by the operation of law enforcement and security ministries and departments and will be discussed later, he said.

The government has met today to discuss plans and indices of the federal ministries and departments. The goal of raising living standards (quality of life) includes the improvement of the material situation of people and their security and satisfaction of their social and spiritual requirements. "This first goal is bigger than the other goals and determines the algorithm of their attainment," said the vice premier.

The second goal - to maintain high economic growth rates - provides for raising the role of domestic factors in economic growth, developing free and competitive markets, ensuring macroeconomic stability, improving the investment climate, creating new production entities, and raising the competitiveness of the Russian business.

The third strategic goal of the government - to create the basis for continued growth - includes the development of research potential and infrastructure, natural and mineral resources, and state management, as well as to ensure the reproduction and development of labor potential.

According to Mr. Zhukov, all ministries and departments formulated their goals and geared their operation to the fulfillment of these federal goals.