State Duma approves Overchuk as Russian deputy PM

MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - The State Duma has approved Alexei Overchuk as Russian deputy prime minister.

The Duma voted on Overchuk's candidacy based on his report at a meeting on Monday.

In his report, Overchuk presented a program of principal areas of the government's activities that he would oversee, which concern Russia's involvement in integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union, cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, state policy in the field of Russia's foreign relations, and international development efforts.

Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin urged parliamentarians to work together with the government more productively.

"You should agree it's important for us to make sure that people coming to our country to work should know the Russian language and respect our traditions and our culture. We share the same history, and I think nobody has forgotten it. At least the history on which we lean. But to this end, we should work with countries that we deem friendly and provide conditions there for studying the Russian language and learning what they'll find useful in their life for self-fulfillment here," he said.