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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Medvedev calls for economy reform | Medvedev calls for economy reform |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for profound reform of the economy in his annual state of the nation address. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for profound reform of the economy in his annual state of the nation address. |
| The Soviet model was no longer working, he said, and modernisation based on "institutions of democracy" was needed. | The Soviet model was no longer working, he said, and modernisation based on "institutions of democracy" was needed. |
| Russia could not blame external factors for the economic crisis, he added. | Russia could not blame external factors for the economic crisis, he added. |
| The nation had to shift from its oil and gas-based economy and raise Russia to a "new, higher level of civilisation". | The nation had to shift from its oil and gas-based economy and raise Russia to a "new, higher level of civilisation". |
| "Instead of a primitive economy based on raw materials, we shall create a smart economy, producing unique knowledge, new goods and technologies, goods and technologies useful for people," he said. | "Instead of a primitive economy based on raw materials, we shall create a smart economy, producing unique knowledge, new goods and technologies, goods and technologies useful for people," he said. |
| Modern and open | Modern and open |
| "Instead of an archaic society, in which leaders think and decide for everybody, we shall become a society of intelligent, free and responsible people." | "Instead of an archaic society, in which leaders think and decide for everybody, we shall become a society of intelligent, free and responsible people." |
| A year ago, in his first such address, Mr Medvedev made a surprise announcement about deploying missiles close to Poland. | A year ago, in his first such address, Mr Medvedev made a surprise announcement about deploying missiles close to Poland. |
| This time the focus was on transforming Russia into a more modern and open country by introducing sweeping reforms. | This time the focus was on transforming Russia into a more modern and open country by introducing sweeping reforms. |
| Government had to become more transparent, he said, and issues of corruption and accountability had to be addressed. | Government had to become more transparent, he said, and issues of corruption and accountability had to be addressed. |
| Giant state conglomerates had to be overhauled and investment increased in areas such as information technology and telecommunications. | Giant state conglomerates had to be overhauled and investment increased in areas such as information technology and telecommunications. |
| Putin's shadow | Putin's shadow |
| Over one million Russians were at risk of losing their jobs, he said, and pressing social issues needed to be addressed. | Over one million Russians were at risk of losing their jobs, he said, and pressing social issues needed to be addressed. |
| "We can't wait any longer. We need to launch modernisation of the entire industrial base. Our nation's survival in the modern world will depend on that," Mr Medvedev said. | "We can't wait any longer. We need to launch modernisation of the entire industrial base. Our nation's survival in the modern world will depend on that," Mr Medvedev said. |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, says that there is much in this which implies deep criticism of Mr Medvedev's mentor and predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now prime minister. | The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, says that there is much in this which implies deep criticism of Mr Medvedev's mentor and predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now prime minister. |
| The president is keen to prove he is his own man and has his own identity as a political leader rather than remaining in Mr Putin's shadow. | The president is keen to prove he is his own man and has his own identity as a political leader rather than remaining in Mr Putin's shadow. |
| But the question is whether the president can deliver on his pledges and bring about real significant political and economic reform, our correspondent adds. | But the question is whether the president can deliver on his pledges and bring about real significant political and economic reform, our correspondent adds. |
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