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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2005)
Putin promises benefit increases following protest BY VLADIMIR 1SACHENKOV THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin, seeking to assuage rising public anger, promised a moderate increase in pensions and blamed federal and lo cal officials Monday for failing to prop erly implement Kremlin reforms that cut off benefits to millions of Russians. Putin’s first public comments since the unpopular change took effect came hours after lines of police blocked hundreds of protesters from retaking a major intersection in central St. Petersburg that thousands of pen sioners had occupied over the week end, bringing traffic to a halt. Demon strators blocked major avenues and key highways in other cities. “The Cabinet and the regions have failed to fully implement the task we had discussed: in making such deci sions, not to worsen the position of those who need the state’s help,” Putin told Cabinet members in a partially televised session. A law that gives retirees, the dis abled, war veterans and others cash stipends instead of benefits, such as free medicine and public transporta tion, took effect Jan. 1, sparking the largest uproar in Putin’s five years in power. Large protests have spread to nu merous cities across Russia’s 11 time zones, including Putin’s hometown, St. Petersburg. Officials said the reform affects about 40 million of Russia’s 144 million people. Protesters say new monthly pay ments of about $10 are worth much less than the benefits, forcing them to have to choose between food, transportation and medicine. The Kremlin has described the so cial reform as a long-overdue effort to streamline and modernize the econo my, but many commentators now pre dict that Putin may respond to the crisis by firing government ministers. Putin defended the reform, saying its general concept was right and that the state can’t afford to maintain the existing unwieldy and inefficient social support system. Putin supported decisions by some local officials to issue subsidized trav el passes and also instructed the gov ernment to increase the average monthly pension by at least $7.14 in stead of the planned $3.57 — and to do it March 1 instead of April 1. Health and Social Development Min ister Mikhail Zurabov said pensions may be increased by $8.57. Protesters across Russia have de manded more, saying an average monthly pension, which is about $80, can’t cover the rising living costs. >20610 tool’s mm Restaurant and Lounge Authentic Chinese Cuisine Fresh, Quality Ingredients 947 Franklin Blvd. (near UO) • 343-4480 Individual, Family Style, Banquets to 100, Take Out Tues.-Thurs. 11-10:30, Fri. 11-11 Sat. 12-11, Sun. 11:30-10 021223 POSITIONS: Senate Seat 17 - Grad/Law Position Senate Seat 14 - Social Science Executive Programs Administrator Senate Seat #3 - PFC Senate Seat #4 - EMU Senate Seat #18 - Graduate/Law Administrative Assistant Accounting Coordinator Assistant EMU Board at large position Applications Available in ASUO Suite 4 Applications Due by 5pm January 21 st Contact ASUO at 346-3724 (AA/EOE/ADA) FOCCACIA SANDWICHES fresh made • vegetarian ■ turkey pesto ■ grilled upon request emu lower level 021091 University Commons • Uniformed security 7 days a week • Resident Amenity Cards • Security alarm system • Fully furnished • Monitored alarm system • Full size washer & dryer • Sand volleyball court • Heated pool • Caged basketball court • Private balconies and patios This is universiTY COMMONS apartments 338-4000 90 Commons Drive, Eugene, OR 974011 1, % & 4 Bedroom Apts. "Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" -MLK Jr. January 19, 20 ► EMU Concourse -► From 10AM to 4PM
