The Russian government hopes to eliminate its budget deficit earlier than expected, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"The budget deficit cutting policy will be continued in the future. The deficit will be below three percent of GDP in 2013, and then we'll manage to reach a zero deficit, or even earlier," Putin told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Russia's federal draft budget for the next three years stipulates a 3.6 percent budget deficit in 2011, a 3.1 percent deficit in 2012 and a 2.9 percent deficit in 2013.
MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti)