OREANDA-NEWS. October 17, 2008. The President asked that urgent measures to address the problems with airline passengers be taken and instructed the government cabinet to look into the situation surrounding prices for airline fuel, including through antitrust regulation.

As he reported to the President on the state’s defence order, Sergei Ivanov noted that the order will increase between 2009 and 2011 in light of the adoption of the state armament programme and recent developments in the Caucasus. He said that additional funds are being allocated for purchasing sophisticated weapons, especially aviation, as well as to social programmes and, in particular, for the construction of housing for military personnel.

The Deputy Prime Minister called the situation in the Russian defence industry both stable and dynamic and stressed that the industry is producing increasing numbers of products for civilian use, including high-tech equipment.

Dmitry Medvedev drew the attention of the cabinet to the necessity of re-equipping the Russian Navy.