MOSCOW, February 12, 2004. (RIA Novosti) - The government will be increasing financial allocations in support of culture, Russian incumbent President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting with his authorized representatives.
"There are some beneficial cultural spheres, where market relations can be developed. However, as a rule, culture needs support on behalf of the government. The financial aid in support of culture will be allocated by the state budget and increased," Vladimir Putin said.
"We need culture as much as we need to breath," Vladimir Putin stressed. "Culture is what we base our lives on and our state system," Mr. Putin said, having pointed out that Russia is a multiethnic and multi-confessional state.
"We have to preserve all that wealth and heritage - linguistic and cultural, and no doubt we have to multiply it," the Russian President said.
