“We should focus in particular on building modern border infrastructure in the Arctic. This will significantly fortify our military and border security and improve the protection of natural resources. As we agreed with the deputy prime minister in charge of this matter and the Ministry of Finance yesterday, we plan to allocate 134 billion roubles for improving the infrastructure of the Russian state border within the next nine years. This is a significant amount, and it should be used with the utmost efficiency.”
“However, we still have a lot to do. First and foremost, we need to significantly increase the capabilities of the border infrastructure. If we do so, it will help us a lot in our fight against terrorism, cross-border crime, smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and theft of biological resources. At the same time, the border should be open and accessible for all law-abiding people, and barriers must not be put up against legitimate business transactions, cross-border cooperation or the realisation of Russia’s vast transit potential.”
“As is known, a border checkpoint is the first impression a traveller gets of a new country, and these impressions should be positive; people should be able to pass border control as quickly and comfortably as possible. This issue is particularly important in the run-up to major political and sporting events held in Russia in the near future. I’m talking about the APEC forum in the Far East, the World Student Games in Kazan, the Olympic Games in Sochi, the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2016 and the FIFA World Cup in 2018.”
“In the past three years, 28 checkpoints have been commissioned, making it possible to accelerate and improve the quality of control procedures at the airports Sheremetyevo, Koltsovo, Sochi, Grozny, seaports in St Petersburg, Ust-Luga, Kozmino, here at the Kavkaz port, as well as on westbound highways. Another 19 checkpoints will become operational before the end of 2011. I expect the deadlines to be observed.”
“We are now implementing National Borders Federal Targeted Programme. The programme began in 2003 and must be completed next year - it is in force until 2011. Work along the North Caucasian section of the border has been fully completed: seventy-two modern border checkpoints have been built there. In effect, infrastructure along this section of the border has essentially been rebuilt. Needless to say, this has helped us enhance security in the region and eliminate many channels for supporting terrorists. Coast Guard systems have been reinforced, mostly in the Pacific, where the need to protect our economic and biological resources is most pressing. The Coast Guard received 46 ships and other vessels in 2009 alone. In general, we are improving the system for protecting the national borders, while focusing on addressing real threats instead of creating obstacles for regular economic activity.”
"We must seek due order on the external borders of the Customs Union. We will not allow any kind of gray zones for unscrupulous moneymakers to take advantage of. At the same time, honest businessmen must see all the advantages of integration and the Customs Union. This is even more critical given that we set ourselves a very important goal -establishing a common economic space, which we plan to go into effect on January 1, 2012. This suggests an even closer integration. I think comment is needless. A territory with a population of 170 million people could easily become an attraction for capital and high technology, which we have discussed so much recently."
"From January 1 to July 1, 2010, we plan to enact a common system for regulating foreign trade, validate the Union's Customs Code, finish moving checkpoints to the outer border of Belarus, and significantly relax our control at the Russian-Kazakh section of the border. Such integration will require close cooperation between Custom Union member states' law enforcement and supervisory agencies. Only by agreeing on a unified approach can we create an effective system of border control for the outer border of a common customs space."
"Areas near our borders face quite a few problems we must address, including the significant influx of immigrants from neighbouring countries, many of whom are not being properly registered and accommodated. Cross-border crime is also rising, and so are drug trafficking, the illegal arms trade, and poaching. These problems cannot be effectively resolved through the use of force alone. The situation can only be addressed through an integrated approach. We should begin by improving the social and economic situation in the areas and communities near our borders. We must improve their infrastructure, raise the living standards of the people living in these areas."
"It is our duty now to formulate a comprehensive policy for controlling customs tariff regulation suited to our post-crisis objectives. First of all, we should make our manufacturers more competitive. They should find it profitable to borrow foreign cutting-edge technologies, purchase the latest equipment, and thus promote the modernisation of Russian industry. Russian high-tech exports need comprehensive support. Our customs tariff policy should not be an obstacle to competition on domestic markets, and thus generate monopolies. We will closely coordinate our action with our partners in the emergent Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan."
“The struggle against terrorism remains a key direction in the work of security services. <…>We should concentrate on preventive actions. We should prevent the very possibility of acts of terror in Russia, and eliminate foreign sources of funding for the criminal mob. The FSB Frontier Guards bear special responsibility in this respect. It is necessary to continue comprehensive efforts to consolidate the state border.”