Medvedev pushes privatization program

GORKI, Russia, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- President Dmitry Medvedev is directing Russia's government to draft economic liberalization measures by March 1.

Speaking in Gorki after his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "I would like to draw the government's attention to the ideas I announced in Davos about the sovereign fund, and about acceptance of Russia's higher education diplomas."

At Davos, Medvedev presented a 10-point modernization plan including privatizing more state assets, ITAR-Tass reported.

"The list of strategic enterprises is to be cut by five times," he said. "Over three years, leading banking, infrastructure and energy companies will be privatized at the price of several dozens of million dollars."

He said Russia "will organize a sovereign fund that will share risks with foreign investors through joint investment."

Rejecting nationalization, Medvedev said, "Our approach is strategic, not populist."

The president said Russia will eventually triumph over corruption and hopes to join the World Trade Organization this year.