Last year's birth rates in Russia best in quarter century – Medvedev

[Crvena zvezda]

Last year's birth rates in Russia best in quarter century – Medvedev

01.02.2008, 18.41





NOVOCHERKASSK, February 1 (Itar-Tass) - Russia had the best birth rate showings in 2007 over a quarter of a century, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday as he visited the city of Novocherkassk, historically the capital of the Don area Cossacks.

"I'd like to relate some encouraging information to you," Medvedev told a session of the Council for Promotion of Self-Government. "The Russian Federal Service for Statistics released a report today that we've reached the best birth rate over the past 25 years – this is to say, the best even versus the Soviet period, which we thought to be a satisfactory one."

"Let's not stop at this /achievement/," said President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the session.

[Savorgnan]

I'll remain cautious, but if it's true, that's great news.