INTERVIEW WITH THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO IN VIEW OF UNIDO DIRECTOR GENERAL CARLOS MAGARINOS' VISIT TO RUSSIA. MON NOV 10 2003

Q.: UNIDO Director General Carlos Magarinos will visit Moscow in the next few days. What will be on the agenda of his talks with Russian colleagues?

A.: During Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Carlos Magarinos' visit to Russia, scheduled for October 12th, the development of a system of efficient management of globalization processes will be discussed. This task is becoming a priority for the UN and its special institutions. UNIDO's assistance to countries with transitional economies in using the opportunities of globalization -- especially international trade and investment -- is important to Russia.

Q.: How important is cooperation with the UNIDO to Russia?

A.: Russia has always supported UNIDO as a leading international organization for industrial development. Russia intends to continue contribute to its strengthening. During the crisis of 1997-1999, a number of large donors left UNIDO, Russia maintained its support for UNIDO. That support played a significant role in UNIDO's survival.

We are satisfied with the results of our interaction (1999-2002 Cooperation Program) with the Organization. It reinforced Russia's national expert potential, prepared industrial investment projects and worked out the methodology of net production, certification and quality control.

Due to UNIDO's unprecedented reforms over the last five years, it has strengthened its role as a leading UN special institution for industrial production modernization. Carlos Magarinos' book, "Reforming the UN System: UNIDO's Need-Driven Model," summarizes the experience acquired during the reforms.

Fulfillment of the UNIDO Director General's initiative to hold roundtable discussions on topical Russian economic development problems in spring 2004 is very important to Moscow. The discussions will involve UNIDO experts in order to work out solutions for the tasks of doubling the country's GDP and ensuring the ruble's full convertibility as outlined in Russian President Vladimir Putin's address to the Federal Assembly.

We welcome Carlos Magarinos' initiative to create an UNIDO's supported technological cooperation program between Russia and Central and Latin American states. We hope that industrially developed countries will join the program.

Q.: What, in your opinion, are the most promising directions in developing Russian-UNIDO relations?

A.: The Russia-UNIDO cooperation program for 2003-2005 signed on June 27, 2003, opens new prospects for our interaction. UNIDO experts estimate the total cost of the projects in the program at $14 billion. Priority, at both federal and regional levels, is given to assistance small and medium businesses, attraction of foreign investment, increase of the science and technical sector's investment attractiveness, restructuring and technical re-equipment of agricultural enterprises, development of environmentally friendly productions and implementation of technologies.

We see good prospects concerning mobilizing additional financial resources, technologies and expertise for the organization's projects in strengthening cooperation between the UNIDO and private business as, companies have joined UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's initiative, Global Compact.