12 Jul 2010 16:45

Putin: regions hit by drought will receive financial assistance

MOSCOW. July 12 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pledged budget loans to regions hit by drought.

"We will of course provide financial assistance to those regions that are suffering, we will provide budget loans," Putin said at a meeting of the government presidium on Monday.

The regions themselves must also provide budget resources to support agricultural enterprises that suffer losses from drought, he said.