VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. We all know what has happened recently in Kyrgyzstan. Nevertheless, whatever happened there is an internal Kyrgyz affair.
At the same time, the social and economic situation there is critical, and so I have asked you all to work out some options for addressing these issues. I know that you met with a delegation from the interim Kyrgyz government today.
What came out of this meeting, and what can you all suggest? Please, Mr Kudrin, go ahead.
Alexei Kudrin: Mr Putin, due to the current situation in Kyrgyzstan, the customs and tax revenues the government uses to pay for its social and economic expenses have slowed to a trickle.
In this context, I think we could provide humanitarian assistance in the form of a $20 million grant to make immediate social payments. In addition, Rosselkhozbank (the Russian Agricultural Bank) is ready to give a preferential loan worth $30 million to its counterpart in Kyrgyzstan.
In addition, we will soon be ready to reconsider our monetary and credit policies in the mid-term perspective. We will study these issues further.
Vladimir Putin: Are you talking about ties with the Central Bank of Kyrgyzstan?
Alexei Kudrin: Yes. We will have to involve this bank in our work. Our Central Bank will assess the situation in terms of the balance of payments, the capital inflows and the ability of the Central Bank to increase liquidity in the economy.
We will look at these issues in the near future.
Vladimir Putin: Good. Mr Sechin, please take the floor.
Igor Sechin: Mr Putin. During our consultations with the Kyrgyz delegation, we have drafted the following proposals: a proposal to establish a working group consisting of representatives from our two countries' ministries of energy to specify petroleum product demand, and a proposal whereby Russian oil companies would provide up to 25,000 tons of petroleum products in the next few days for the spring planting season in Kyrgyzstan, pending an official request from that country. These petroleum products would mostly be diesel fuel and petrol for the spring planting season.
We are also planning to step up our work in the electric power industry.
Vladimir Putin: We have some big projects there, Kambarata, for one...
Igor Sechin: Kambarata, the Verkhne-Narynsky hydropower cascade. These are very important projects because electricity prices have increased considerably in Kyrgyzstan due to recent developments.
Vladimir Putin: Okay. Now, Ms Skrynnik, could you please tell us about your proposals for agriculture.
Yelena Skrynnik: Yes, we have been working on them. It is necessary to provide Kyrgyzstan with 1.5 thousand tons of seed, which we are ready to deliver as humanitarian aid. We are also ready to do everything to increase the import of Kyrgyz agricultural products into our country, including the import of fruit and vegetables.
Vladimir Putin: Which are our main imports from Kyrgyzstan, correct?
Yelena Skrynnik: Yes, they export about $200 million worth of fruit and vegetables to us.
Vladimir Putin: $200 million worth of what?
Yelena Skrynnik: Fruit and vegetables.
Vladimir Putin: Over what period? Per year?
Yelena Skrynnik: Yes, per year.
Vladimir Putin: And we are going to donate 1,500 tons of seed to them as humanitarian aid?
Yelena Skrynnik: Yes, one thousand, five hundred tons of seeds for the autumn planting season.
Vladimir Putin: According to a statement by the interim government, their treasury is empty. The current leaders claim that their predecessors have stolen and destroyed everything. This is not for us to judge, but we have always had special relations with the Kyrgyz people, and it goes without saying that we now must support our friends in Kyrgyzstan during this difficult time for them.
In this context, I'd like to ask you to prepare relevant projects and government resolutions so that we can implement all of your proposals by the end of this week. I'd like you to remain in contact with the interim Kyrgyz government and promptly make decisions with your Kyrgyz colleagues to meet their needs. Let us assume that the situation will return to normal, while bearing in mind that it is very difficult and that, if necessary, we can provide further support.
