Russia has no problem with Abkhazia over spending of investment program funds - Surkov
SUKHUM. July 3 (Interfax) - Moscow has no problem with the spending of the Russian money coming under the investment program for the socio-economic development of Abkhazia, Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov said.
"Without nay compliments, there is no embellishment here. We see all information. We see in a transparent way how the Russian money is used, and we have no problem with that," he told reporters in Sukhum on Monday.
Responding to a question about the creation of favorable conditions for investors, Surkov said work on this is done daily. He said there are some restrictions, which are being removed step by step.
"There are infrastructure restrictions here: gas, electricity - these are objective steps, because of which one cannot hope for investment boom. This needs to be resolved and these issues are fairly capital-intensive," he said.
Besides, "there are issues associated with the desired liberalization of the real estate market," Surkov said.
"It is known that the real estate market here is quite limited. If this barrier was eliminated in a reasonable way, without risks to Abkhazia's sovereignty, I think it would give a powerful impetus," Surkov said.
Besides, "we hope that the experience of the investment agency, which contains budget funds and private investors' funds, will gradually produce a good effect and will create the necessary environment," he said.
"For this reason, every aspect of economic life needs to be improved, and investment will accumulate and grow, I have no doubt about that," he said.