Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, speaking at the first meeting of the Cabinet, endeavored to reassure a population shell-shocked by a free-falling currency that his government will keep its interests close to heart.
"All the measures proposed are not an end in themselves but are aimed at creating a firm social base for reforms in the Russian economy and at serving the interests of the people," Primakov said in the televised address.
Among the actions he outlined were the payment of billions of rubles owed in back wages for members of the military, starting this month; for civilian government employees, in October and
crackdowns on tax cheats and illegal exporters of capital.
Primakov's incoming government, still incomplete, faces a dismal financial picture: a ruble that is only a shadow of its former self and inflation that reached 45.4 percent in the first three weeks of this month alone.
In return, Britain announced it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with Iran to an exchange of ambassadors.
09-25-98
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