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Russia's Zubkov confirmed as PM Russia's Zubkov confirmed as PM
(about 2 hours later)
Viktor Zubkov has been confirmed as Russia's new prime minister and has pledged to wage a war on corruption.Viktor Zubkov has been confirmed as Russia's new prime minister and has pledged to wage a war on corruption.
The lower house of parliament voted 381 to 47 to approve his nomination, submitted by President Vladimir Putin in a surprise move on Wednesday.The lower house of parliament voted 381 to 47 to approve his nomination, submitted by President Vladimir Putin in a surprise move on Wednesday.
He told MPs that corruption "permeates our society" and a law was needed to fight it systematically.He told MPs that corruption "permeates our society" and a law was needed to fight it systematically.
Mr Zubkov, 65, also said his priority would be ensuring stability and innovation in the Russian economy.Mr Zubkov, 65, also said his priority would be ensuring stability and innovation in the Russian economy.
He pledged to develop Russia's "traditionally strong sectors" such as the aircraft industry and shipbuilding.He pledged to develop Russia's "traditionally strong sectors" such as the aircraft industry and shipbuilding.
Mr Zubkov is a former financial crime investigator, who has also worked as a state farm manager.Mr Zubkov is a former financial crime investigator, who has also worked as a state farm manager.
He also served in the St Petersburg city administration, where he was a colleague of Vladimir Putin.He also served in the St Petersburg city administration, where he was a colleague of Vladimir Putin.
He has not ruled out running for the presidency next March to succeed Mr Putin.He has not ruled out running for the presidency next March to succeed Mr Putin.
Coercion not enoughCoercion not enough
"What could ruin Russia is lack of professionalism and corruption," Mr Zubkov told MPs in the Russian state Duma. "What could ruin Russia is lack of professionalism and corruption," Mr Zubkov told MPs in the Russian State Duma.
"Corruption permeates our society. That is why of course measures need to be taken, and the sooner the better.""Corruption permeates our society. That is why of course measures need to be taken, and the sooner the better."
The new prime minister said in Russia "we speak a lot about corruption, yet there is no clear-cut definition of what corruption is, and nobody knows how to fight it".The new prime minister said in Russia "we speak a lot about corruption, yet there is no clear-cut definition of what corruption is, and nobody knows how to fight it".
Corruption should be inadmissible at any level Viktor ZubkovRussian prime Minister Corruption should be inadmissible at any level Viktor ZubkovRussian Prime Minister
He said a law was needed to set up a body like the department he once headed (Rosfinmonitoring - the Federal Financial Monitoring Service) to be able to "to deal with corruption issues regularly, on a day-to-day rather than ad hoc basis". He said a law was needed to set up a body like the department he once headed (Rosfinmonitoring - the Federal Financial Monitoring Service), "to deal with corruption issues regularly, on a day-to-day rather than ad hoc basis".
And he suggested that the body could resemble the National Anti-terrorism Committee. And he suggested that the body could resemble the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
"Corruption should be inadmissible at any level, be it municipal, regional or federal," Mr Zubkov said, warning that repressive measures alone could not root it out."Corruption should be inadmissible at any level, be it municipal, regional or federal," Mr Zubkov said, warning that repressive measures alone could not root it out.
"Society itself should fight corruption... Society should work together with the law-enforcement agencies. Only then could this system sort out this issue.""Society itself should fight corruption... Society should work together with the law-enforcement agencies. Only then could this system sort out this issue."
Among his government's priorities, Mr Zubkov listed:Among his government's priorities, Mr Zubkov listed:
    • keeping inflation down and preventing sharp rouble fluctuations
    • keeping inflation down and preventing sharp rouble fluctuations
    • government help for Russia's defence industry to recover from years of neglect
    • government help for Russia's defence industry to recover from years of neglect
    • Russian oil and gas, forest, fish and other natural riches should bring more revenue
    • Russian oil and gas, forest, fish and other natural riches should bring more revenue