MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's budget posted an estimated surplus of 1.782 trillion rubles ($72.7 billion) in 2007, compared with 1.992 trillion rubles ($81.3 billion) in 2006, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
Russia's budget surplus stood at 5.9% of GDP in 2007, the ministry said.
The ministry said payments to the Stabilization Fund, set up to accrue surplus oil revenues as a safeguard against financial upsets similar to the 1998 financial crisis, stood at 1.903 trillion rubles ($77.7 billion) in January-December 2007.
As of January 1, 2008, Russia's Stabilization Fund stood at 3.85 trillion rubles ($157 billion).
