Russian finance minister says economy will recover in 2010. - Although the green shoots of recovery are still fragile, the Russian finance minister Alexey Koudrine is forecasting that the country will return to growth in 2010, despite a sharp fall in the price of fossil fuels, which account for half of Russia's foreign currency earnings. In 2009, after two disastrous quarters when GDP slumped by nearly 11% in annual terms, Russia is expected to emerge from recession in the third quarter. Judging by the unemployment and household earnings data, growth is expected to have returned to above zero in August. (I.L./transl.fl)