(18 Feb 2000) Russian/Nat
Russia's acting president Vladimir Putin has visited the Siberian city of Irkutsk for a meeting with influential regional governors aimed at improving the region's economic performance.
The tour of an orphanage and memorial, however, had all the hallmarks of an election campaign in the run-up to the Presidential ballot in March.
Putin and Communist party chief Gennady Zyuganov are considered the top two contenders to the country's highest executive post.
Officially, Putin is visiting Siberia as prime minister and acting president, but the trip has all the features characteristics of a campaign stop in the run up to the March 26 Presidential ballot.
After a brief tour of the city, complete with the breathtaking view of Lake Baikal, Putin visited the city's Orphanage No. 1 to hand out gifts to children.
Two children with birthdays received special presents - a coveted Barbie doll for the girl and a radio-controlled toy car for the boy.
Addressing a gathering of Siberian governors and other top executives in the Siberian Agreement Group, Putin said the region is rich in mineral resources and has skilled labour, and yet its economic achievements are still very modest.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The lag is in the quality of life. According to statistics, about four million people live in dire poverty. Their income is below one half of the subsistence level."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting President of Russia
He expressed hope Siberia will be able to turn out high-tech machines and enough farming produce in the near future.
Putin then paid his respects to those who died when a cargo plane crashed in a residential suburb of Irkutsk.
He laid a wreath at the memorial and attended a brief ceremony carried out in keeping with Russian Orthodox Church tradition.
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