MOSCOW, March 5 (UPI) -- New Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov promised a 'war on poverty' after being confirmed by the State Duma Friday.
"I see the improvement of (the) quality of life as the main task of the (new) government. It means decreasing poverty, raising living standards and providing security," Fradkov said in a speech to the Duma, the main chamber of the Russian parliament, carried by Channel One TV and monitored by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
"These efforts must be accelerated and the efficiency of (the) work of the executive power must be sharply raised," he said. "We need to act to secure steady economic growth using all market instruments, implementation of structural changes and protection of competitive goods and services. ... All the reforms must serve this goal."
Fradkov was the surprise pick of President Vladimir Putin after he fired previous Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.
