MOSCOW - A routine meeting of Russian president Vladimir Putin with key ministers left many questions unanswered. Vremya Novostey online edition made an attempt to analyze Russia’s economic policies based on what it heard from the cabinet yesterday.

First of all, Putin demanded that the government follows macroeconomic indicators, though in our country this is something that has to be achieved rather than simply maintained, the newspaper wrote. The cabinet seems to be unable to ensure the desired GDP growth and inflation level now. As the President listened to economy minister German Gref’s speech he urged everybody to stick to economic policies followed in the past five years, during the time of exile prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

If so, why would Putin dismiss Kasyanov, Vremya Novostey wonders. In addition, both Kasyanov and his successor Mikhail Fradkov are blamed exactly for the lack of clear and consistent economic policies. So, it remains unclear, which economic policies the government shall choose.

Closing the cabinet meeting President Putin said he was glad to see a consensus between the ministers, despite all arguments in the past. It’s worth mentioning that the government reached a consensus over just one single program, i.e. the support of Russia’s industrial export, which in fact has never been something to argue about.