MOSCOW, August 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's government approved Thursday a draft program for the social and economic development of the Kuril Islands in 2007-2015.

Under the program, approved by the government in broad outline, about 17 billion rubles ($630 million) will be made available to spend on improving the socio-economic situation on the Pacific chain of 56 islands, a government source said.

Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref told a government meeting Thursday that an all-weather airport must be built on the Kurils.

"This year, an all-weather airport must be built on one of the islands," Gref said.