Medvedev sees food ban benefits domestic market

A year-long ban on food imports from Western economies will benefit Russia's agricultural market, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday.

"I see certain positive aspects in it. There should be a certain competition on the market," RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as saying.

Medvedev also said the embargo should not hit Russian consumers and affect food markets. "Certainly, it should not lead to deficit or price growth," he told a government meeting.

Noting that Russia has to take these reprisals, the prime minister said he hoped they will not last long.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich also said the food market was constantly under monitoring, and the import substitution issue will be resolved within two or three weeks.

Earlier this month, Russia banned import of fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish from the United States and its allies in retaliation for their sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Moscow has been negotiating with alternative sources of agricultural supply, mostly from the Latin American countries, Turkey, Egypt and China.