Russian economy minister warns of crisis in 2005

If the pace of administrative reforms is not increased and state involvement in the economy is not reduced radically, Russia risks sliding into the abyss of an economic crisis as early as 2005, German Gref, minister for economic development and trade, told students at the Academy of National Economy in Moscow on Wednesday. Analysts share the minister’s apprehensions. As early as next year Russia may see developments which in the long run could trigger a world economic crisis, Gref said yesterday. In this connection, the minister emphasised that the pace of administrative reforms should be radically increased. In his opinion, protracting the implementation of reforms for decades is impermissible. Unless the reforms in social, housing, banking and law enforcement spheres as well as the administrative reform, launched by Vladimir Putin’s government, are quickened, ''no further progress will be possible in the transition to a market economy,'' Gref said. Especially dangerous is the situation in the real estate and investment markets. Those markets are overheated, German Gref warned. Market analysts, on the whole, share the minister’s apprehensions.