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| Russia's Putin gives key speech | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving his annual speech to parliament, likely his last before leaving office. | |
| The speech, postponed by a day because of the death of former President Boris Yeltsin, is Mr Putin's opportunity to outline key policy objectives. | The speech, postponed by a day because of the death of former President Boris Yeltsin, is Mr Putin's opportunity to outline key policy objectives. |
| The contents of the speech have not been revealed but correspondents say it could give indications of his vision for Russia's future economic direction. | The contents of the speech have not been revealed but correspondents say it could give indications of his vision for Russia's future economic direction. |
| Mr Putin began with a moment of silence for Mr Yeltsin. | |
| In his state of the nation speech to both houses of parliament, Mr Putin is expected to set out his achievements and give some indication of his plans for his final year in power. | In his state of the nation speech to both houses of parliament, Mr Putin is expected to set out his achievements and give some indication of his plans for his final year in power. |
| The Russian leader is due to step down in March 2008, after having served two terms as president. | The Russian leader is due to step down in March 2008, after having served two terms as president. |
| Russia's growing economic clout means that its president will have an audience across the world, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow. | Russia's growing economic clout means that its president will have an audience across the world, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow. |
| Investors will be seeking clues as to the kind of climate they can expect after Mr Putin leaves office. | Investors will be seeking clues as to the kind of climate they can expect after Mr Putin leaves office. |
| Foreign ties | Foreign ties |
| There may also be foreign policy initiatives at a time when many believe relations with Washington have sunk to a post-Cold War low, our correspondent adds. | There may also be foreign policy initiatives at a time when many believe relations with Washington have sunk to a post-Cold War low, our correspondent adds. |
| Recently Russia has hit out at US plans to station anti-ballistic missiles and their radar in eastern Europe. | Recently Russia has hit out at US plans to station anti-ballistic missiles and their radar in eastern Europe. |
| On Monday, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov warned the plan could be a "destabilising factor that may considerably affect regional and global security". | On Monday, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov warned the plan could be a "destabilising factor that may considerably affect regional and global security". |
| There are also tensions with the European Union. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said last week that trust between the EU and Russia was at a low ebb, because of concerns over energy. | There are also tensions with the European Union. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said last week that trust between the EU and Russia was at a low ebb, because of concerns over energy. |
| In his last address, in May 2006, Mr Putin highlighted Russia's declining population as the biggest problem facing the nation. He also backed increased defence spending. | In his last address, in May 2006, Mr Putin highlighted Russia's declining population as the biggest problem facing the nation. He also backed increased defence spending. |