ation and Liberal
Democratic Party of Russia)

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: APEC, ARF (dialogue partner),
ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), CIS,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, G- 8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy
Viktorovich USHAKOV FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 consulate(s) general: New
York, San Francisco, and Seattle telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701,
5704, 5708 chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Alexander VERSHBOW embassy: Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099
Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (095) 728-5000 FAX:
[7] (095) 728-5203 consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok,
Yekaterinburg

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,
and red

Economy Russia

Economy - overview: A decade after the implosion of the Soviet Union in
December 1991, Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market
economy and achieve strong economic growth. In contrast to its trading
partners in Central Europe - which were able to overcome the initial
production declines that accompanied the launch of market reforms within
three to five years - Russia saw its economy contract for five years, as
the executive and legislature dithered over the implementation of many
of the basic foundations of a market economy. Russia achieved a slight
recovery in 1997, but the government's stubborn budget deficits and
the country's poor business climate made it vulnerable when the global
financial crisis swept through in 1998. The crisis culminated in the
August depreciation of the ruble, a debt default by the government, and a
sharp deterioration in living standards for most of the population. The
economy subsequently has rebounded, growing by an average of more than
6% annually in 1999-2001 on the back of higher oil prices and a weak
ruble. This recovery, along with a renewed gov