ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN

Vladimir Putin has surveyed the progress on housing construction, examined displays detailing plans to construct housing and transmission lines and talked with village residents affected by the fires.

The prime minister's visit to the village of Verkhnyaya Vereya could be viewed online on the prime minister's web site: following Putin's order, web cameras were installed on construction sites in the regions affected by fires.

Transcript of Vladimir Putin's conversation with the village residents:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon!

Remark: Hello!

Vladimir Putin: I must have met with many of you on July 30, yes?

Remark: Yes, you did.

Vladimir Putin: A month and a half has passed. I see that your mood has changed.

Remark: It has. You can see it in our faces.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I see. Someone told me - I cannot remember who it was - that their house burned down and their property was destroyed, unfortunately. I said, "Things will get better." The answer I got was, "Things will not get better." But I think I was right.

Remark: Still it's unfortunate.

Vladimir Putin: Of course it's unfortunate. These were your possessions, which you've had for dozens of years and, in some families, for several generations.

Remark: And some built their houses only seven years ago, and it all burned down suddenly. It's terrible.

Vladimir Putin: This is why everything is being restored. Although it's too bad the houses burned down, the new ones will surely be better.

Remark: Time will tell. We will move into these houses, and you will come visit us next year. You promised to come to the housewarming.

Vladimir Putin: Ok.

Remark: It is comforting that when we talked - by the way, we talked on July 30 at this very place - you promised to monitor the process. And you've come. It is great to know that you keep your word. And you also promised to come to the housewarming party!

Vladimir Putin: Ok, I'll come. I will come and see the houses when they are finished. I have already seen the model house here: it has furniture, a telephone, internet and television with 100 channels, which is a rarity for many towns.

Remark: Will they be in every house?

Vladimir Putin: Every house, yes.

Remark: People say that they 21st century village will be more developed, closer to a town.

Vladimir Putin: You used to not have gas here, but we built almost 90% of the gas supply system...

Valery Shantsev: A water supply system was installed...

Vladimir Putin: No, 90% is...

Valery Shantsev: ...the main network...

Vladimir Putin: The main, high-voltage grid, then the mid- and low-voltage. The gas supply system will be installed in each house... Water supply... Yes, everything is here. I think that the governor did a good job with furniture suppliers: a 30% discount for furniture is significant. But I know that you also have sponsors here, rich sponsors - a metallurgy plant.

Remark: Yes, they promised to help, discussed furniture and outbuildings...

Vladimir Putin: United Russia also made a contribution to this...

Remark: United Russia, yes.

Remark: A large contribution...

Vladimir Putin: A large contribution?

Remark: Yes, they were great. They took part in the construction. We discussed everything, as there can always be disputes and nasty problems, to tell you the truth. We resolved the issues of raising the foundations with United Russia. Since we live in a village, we need space for storing vegetables and pickles. We spent a day discussing this issue, and the next day...

Vladimir Putin: The buildings were raised by two metres.

Remark: The issue was resolved the next day. We came to them the next day, and the issue was already resolved.

Vladimir Putin: I talked to Valery Shantsev, and he supported this idea: this money is nothing for the budget, but it can drastically change the life of a village.

Remark: And we really need it.

Vladimir Putin: I know that refrigerators, TV sets and other appliances are being installed in the new houses...

Remark: And a washing machine as well.

Vladimir Putin: A washing machine will also come in handy.

Remark: Sponsors help us.

Remark: We would like to thank you from for the bottom of our hearts for what you did for us.

Vladimir Putin: You're welcome. I hope you will be happy.

Remark: Mr Putin, I traveled over 200 km to come to meet you.

Vladimir Putin: Where did you come from?

Remark: From Nizhny Novgorod. I care about orphans, about the Pochinki Children's Asylum, where I used to live. We met two times with you in the chairman's room. I have a letter for you, two letters: one from me and one from them.

Vladimir Putin: Ok, well. This is not relevant to this situation, is it?

Remark: No.

Vladimir Putin: It's not related at all?

Remark: No. I could tell you a lot, but you are a busy man.

Vladimir Putin: I will find time for you to tell me about it.

Remark: I can wait until you are free.

Vladimir Putin: I have to fly to another region, but I will find you.

Remark: I hope you will help us.

Vladimir Putin: I will read the letters, don't worry.

Remark: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Not at all.

Remark: Mr Putin, we also have a problem. We have submitted the necessary materials about our school to a deputy of Governor Shantsev. We expressed our gratitude and raised the school issue ...

Vladimir Putin: He has just shown me the development plans for this community. I believe that these plans will please you, too. A small sport facility is planned for the recreation ground - they will get the whole thing into shape and set up a good small stadium. The plans also include three shops and a post office. All in all, complete infrastructure, including a rural health post and a kindergarten.

Valery Shantsev: And also a cultural activities centre.

Vladimir Putin: Yes. However, you still have to look into this issue. You do want your children to get a high-quality education, don't you?

Remark: Sure we do.

Vladimir Putin: To achieve this, a good education centre is needed. There is a simple solution for this issue. There is a school, a big and a good one, under construction not far from here, isn't there? The only issue is to deliver the children there comfortably and safely. I asked: "Are there roads in place?" Yes, there are. If anything else is needed, they will do it. All that is needed is a good bus and the roads, that's all. And the teaching staff.

Remark: We have wonderful teachers of our own. We want so badly to have our school in our community.

Valery Shantsev: Each school has a school bus.

Vladimir Putin: As far as I understand, these teachers will also be employed?

Valery Shantsev: Yes.

Remark: Still we want so much to have the school in our community. This is very important for us. And thank you very much again.

Vladimir Putin: You still have to discuss this with the regional authorities because this should be a truly high-quality school rather than simply the good school that has been there for a long time. This school should give your children a chance to get a good education and a good start in life.

Remark: You're right. We fully agree with this.

Question: Mr Putin, is it possible to build a separate building for the library?

Anton Averin: There will be a new library.

Valery Shantsev: The cultural activities centre will include a library.

Question: This cultural activities centre will get a new building, won't it?

Valery Shantsev: Yes, a new building that will house just these two.

Question: A cultural activities centre and a library?

Valery Shantsev: The library will have an area of 170 square metres.

Remark: I'm very grateful. Thank you.

Question: What will be done with the forests?

Vladimir Putin: We will restore them.

Valery Shantsev: The work in the forests have already begun.

Vladimir Putin: We will set aside 2.5 billion and 5 billion roubles next year for restoring the forests and improving wildfire protection. Part of this money will be used here.

Remark: May I say something, Mr Putin?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please.

Remark: Mr Putin, I would like to express my gratitude to Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Valery Shantsev. I had spent more than a month pleasing with the administration of the Vyksa district and trying to get individual housing. And now, after my meeting with the Nizhny Novgorod Region governor, I have individual housing being built for me. Thank you very much.

Valery Shantsev: We had to decide and so we decided.

Answer: I spent over a month on it.

Vladimir Putin: You know, I remember our conversation on July 30. Mr Shantsev did not say much then, but he got an earful.

Valery Shantsev: Yes, I had a hard time.

Vladimir Putin: However, I never doubted that the regional authorities and experienced officials would do everything according to current standards. This is how it is being done.

Remark: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: You're welcome.

Question: My question is this: we have proven that we owned the property and now we are proving that we have actually lived here. There have been negative court decisions. We have lived here for nine years. We managed to get a home built for us. And what about the compensation? Neither myself nor my child haven't received anything.

Vladimir Putin: I don't get it. Is a house being built for you?

Answer: Yes, it is, but we haven't received the compensation.

Vladimir Putin: What compensation? The 200,000 roubles?

Valery Shantsev: For lost property.

Remark: We haven't received anything for the property we lost to the fires.

Vladimir Putin: Why?

Answer: They tell us to prove that we...

Vladimir Putin: To prove that you lived there?

Remark: Yes. Some people have already got rejected. And if the court refuses me as well? They told me that even if the entire community said that we lived there that would not be proof.

Vladimir Putin: This sounds strange. How many positive decisions have been taken?

Valery Shantsev: The courts have heard 363 cases and ruled positively in 298 of them.

Vladimir Putin: If you feel that the court decision on your case is unfair you can appeal to a higher court. I will definitely discuss this with the chairman of the Supreme Court. I am sure that Vyacheslav Lebedev, the chairman of the Supreme Court, a very experienced official, can hear such cases at the highest level and take a fair decision.

Remark: We will go through a second hearing?

Vladimir Putin: I have no right to interfere with a court decision. The court is an independent institution. But I have no doubt that in the end the decision will be fair. I'm ready to discuss this issue with the Supreme Court's chairman.

Remark: Mr Putin, will our homes be built on time?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I have no doubt about it. However, Mr Shantsev (addressing Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Valery Shantsev) 406 homes have to be rebuilt here or more?

Valery Shantsev: As of this day, 406 homes.

Vladimir Putin: How many foundations have been laid?

Valery Shantsev: About 148 foundations.

Remark: We are concerned about it - the construction is still underway and what if the rainy season begins?

Vladimir Putin: Modern technology allows for construction in any weather, even in winter and in frost. The new houses, as you see, are prefabricated rather than built on the spot. This is high-quality production. I have just spoken to the builders, and you can talk to any of them yourself. They say: "We have been building these houses for several years already. This winter we visited some houses which had been built two years ago. These houses retain heat very well even in severe frost."

The governor has promised to finish this work by November 1, but I know that the builders have been tasked with completing work by October 25.

Remark: Mr Putin, may I have your autograph, please?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please. Was it you I talked with?

Remark: Yes, we spoke.

Vladimir Putin: Well, you look better now, you have bought some new clothes.

Remark: We were coming straight from a burnt down village then.

Vladimir Putin: Good luck to you!

Remark: You are invited to our housewarming party in November. And thank you for everything!