Putin says Russia's economy two-thirds recovered

GENEVA (AP) — Russia's economy is recovering, but remains well below the level it was at before the global financial crisis, says Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, addressing a U.N. labor meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

Putin said Russia has "managed to recover two-thirds of our economy, but still we have not reached pre-crisis levels." The Russian economy contracted by almost 8 percent during the recession.

He added that the economy — the world's sixth-largest — would reach pre-crisis levels by 2012, eventually rising to become one of the world's top five.

Putin also called for "a more fair and balanced economic model," as nations gradually recover from the world financial …