President Medvedev appoints new agriculture minister

GORKI, March 12 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev appointed on Thursday Yelena Skrynnik, who previously led a nationwide agricultural development program, as agriculture minister.

Skrynnik, 48, replaces Alexei Gordeyev, who has been appointed governor of the Voronezh Region in western Russia.

"I wish you success, and realize that we are now in a very difficult situation - the financial crisis has aggravated a range of problems that had been brewing in agriculture for decades," Medvedev told the new appointee. Among the main challenges, he singled out the lack of affordable credit.

Medvedev said he has personally known Skrynnik since he was in charge of a national agro-industrial sector project, dealing with agricultural equipment supplies.

Skrynnik pledged to ensure the "open, clear and effective" running of the ministry.

"The vital thing is not to lose touch and connection with the land. The ministry needs regular, continuous contacts with agricultural producers," she said.