MOSCOW, December 15 (Itar-Tass) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is proud that Russia has become one of the world biggest grain exporters, which never happened before, Putin said in a question-and-answer interview broadcast live on Thursday.
In the past the Soviet Union and then, Russia used to be heavy grain importers, buying grain in Canada, the United States and Australia. "In the past decades one could not even imagine it; nonetheless, today we are the third world biggest country in the volume of exported grain," Putin stressed. He praised the work and talent of Russian workers in agriculture and underlined the importance of state support, which "was no last factor promoting this accomplishment," Putin said. In 2011 Russia restored its export potential after an embargo was first imposed in 2010 which was subsequently lifted, he said.
It was the prime minister's comment on a statement made by Duma MP Valery Yakushev- a labor veteran who had worked at the 'Uralvagonzavod' plant in Nizhniy Tagil for many years. Yakushev touched upon the most pressing problems Russia faces - beginning from rallies to public utilities tariffs and the importance of developing agriculture. Yakushev appealed to the Russian people, urging them not to inflict grief upon Russia or call for any great revolutions. Yakushev urged "to drop bureaucracy and stop cheating people" in his appeal addressed to the government chairman.