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
“As you have seen and heard today, a gas pipeline to Tskhinval has been launched today. As I have already said, it was laid in a record short time along a complicated alpine terrain, and rids the republic of its dependence on gas supplies via Georgia. This was also Russian gas but it was supplied via Georgia. Now South Ossetia itself can become a transit country for Georgia.”
“There was no other way of ensuring this stability but to recognize the independence of both republics, because we realized that the current Georgian political leaders will not leave them in peace. It is necessary to establish the conditions for ensuring reliable security for the long term.”
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Russia is also supporting Georgia. I'm sure you know that Georgia is receiving no small amount of assistance through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We are an active member of the IMF, and regularly make serious contributions to this international organisation, which are then distributed among the distressed countries, Georgia included. This shows once again that we are not interested in humiliating Georgia, and we are not interested in having losers and winners here.”
"Much has been done since then for developing full-scale relations between Russia and South Ossetia and for consolidating their legal foundation. In September 2008, we signed a Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, and last April, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Protection of South Ossetia's State Frontier. The Russian border guards have assumed responsibility for securing peace and tranquility in the region."
“Russia has appropriated about three billion roubles - 2.8 billion roubles, to be exact - for supporting the republic's budget this year, and another 8.5 billion roubles for restoring the infrastructure facilities. Out of the 8.5 billion roubles, 3.5 billion roubles have been spent. Let's see what can be done in the remaining months of this year. We have agreed with the republic's President that if some funds are not spent, we will not rush to meet the deadline for spending them. The main task is to guarantee the quality of construction.”
“We will continue to pursue our social policy. Let's put it blankly, we will continue to pay retirement pensions, as we have done starting from 2003, based on my decision. More than 1 billion roubles have been allocated for these purposes this year. And next year payments will remain the same. No changes are expected.”
"We all know quite well that since 2003 Russia has been providing assistance to Russian citizens who live in Abkhazia, paying pensions and several other allowances. I understand perfectly well that this assistance is only a response to the heritage of the past. Our main goal is creating a self-sustained economic system in Abkhazia."
“Why could Abkhazia be interesting for Russia in terms of economy? The first point, which is obvious, is tourism. I have just visited Turkey and met with Prime Minister Erdogan, a good friend of mine, and with President Gul as well. We discussed different fields of co-operation. Two-and-a-half million Russian tourists visit Turkey every year. Turkey is a big country and there are a lot of modern hotels there. And one million Russian tourists visit Abkhazia. The figure is comparable with that of Turkey. One million! That's what we have under current circumstances, when far from everything has been restored, neither in Gagra, nor in other resorts. Imagine what will happen if we restore everything.”
“As for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, well, speaking of the Abkhazian budget, this year we allocated funds to the tune of 2.5 billion roubles to support the Abkhazian budget. And these are only the funds allocated to support the budget; there are funds allocated for other purposes as well. Next year the figure will be approximately the same, just a little bit smaller. But, next year we are going to allocate considerable funds for security purposes, specifically, for our military base in Abkhazia - about 15 billion roubles. This money will be used to reinforce the border and to create an up-to-date border - not the Maginot Line, but a border - to enable normal communication with both Georgia and Russia, to create modern infrastructure, to equip the border and to equip border troops, to upgrade the military base. All in all, it will take 15-16 billion roubles.”
“There are infrastructure projects regarding transport, border crossings with Russia, as there are weak points there. To be frank, we have not found any specific financing sources so far, but still motorway and bridge construction, railroad restoration between Sochi and Sukhumi, marine transportation between Sochi and Sukhumi - all this will require another 4 billion roubles. This is a rough estimate. I would like to repeat that we have not yet found sources to finance infrastructure projects, but the expenses have not been calculated yet. The calculations are being done now by the experts. And we will continue to do it.”
