Russia can weather any oil prices, economy's dependence on fossil fuels decreasing - Novak

MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - Russia will survive any decrease in oil prices, as the dependence of its economy on fossil fuels is decreasing, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Al Arabiya.

"In general, strategically, our economy's dependence on hydrocarbons, on oil, on gas, is decreasing. While before, for example, budget revenues consisted more than 50% from sales of our energy resources for export, now they're less than 30%," Novak said.

"We will live through any prices," he said when asked if low oil prices are bad for Russia.

Various economists "change their assessments ten times a year," they just "adapt their forecasts to the facts," Novak said.

"Last year our economy grew by 3.9%, more than the global average, more than Europe and the United States. In the first seven months of this year, our economic growth rate was 4.4%. And we will do everything in order to ensure the growth of our economy and improvement in our citizens' living standards in any situation, under any conditions," Novak said.