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
“Support from Russian citizens has always helped us, and I’m confident that the government’s future line-up will rely on the people. We must never forget about the needs of ordinary people. We must always remember how government-level decisions influence the lives of all ordinary Russian citizens.”
“Droughts and other emergencies occur practically every year. The current situation is not an exception. We have been developing mechanisms of protecting farmers against such risks. I am referring above all to insuring crops. Federal and regional budgets allocate sizeable amounts to develop it every year. In 2009 the federal budget will allocate 2 billion roubles. Already 970.9 million roubles, almost one billion, are in the accounts of regions. Moreover, new rules for compensating the cost of crop insurance came into force in 2009. The federal budget reimburses to farmers 50% of their insurance premium.”
“As I have already said today, the general performance of the Russian agricultural sector has been high and even shows a better ability to withstand the global economic crisis than some of the other sectors. Support of agriculture is undoubtedly one of our priorities. The funding of that sector has increased significantly in recent years. We have substantially increased the capital of Rosselkhozbank and Rosagroleasing. The decision to raise to 80% the level of subsidies for part of the cost of interest on loans, including loans taken out to buy fuel and fertiliser, went a long way to help agriculture.”
“Of July 1 fuel and lubricants will be sold to farmers at a 10% discount on the wholesale price. I ask the Ministry of Energy to report on how that agreement is being fulfilled and how the declared quotas of fuel and lubricants are being used.”
“The Government is doing a lot of work to regulate the grain market in order to stimulate production. The mechanism of grain intervention is being used actively. In all, 8 million tons of the 2008 harvest have been procured at the cost of 38.6 billion roubles. That has kept prices at an economically valid level and prevented a fall in farmers' incomes.”
“The gross yield of grain is expected to be around 85 million tons, which will more than cover our domestic needs and will enable us to continue grain exports. The export potential of around 20 million tons will remain through the current and the next years. The Agriculture Ministry says its will be even bigger, 22 to 23 million tons.”
“Upgrading environmental standards, if the industrial facility already exists, should be a smooth process. We should consider the current economic and social environment, setting feasible periods for giving up outdated technology and for dealing with social issues which emerge while industries are upgraded. And we should create new jobs where the old ones are cut."
“Expanding cooperation with public environmental organisations is one of the most important points of the environmental protection measures package prepared by the Government. I guess you already have the draft of this document. After our meeting today, the necessary changes will be made, and I will put my signature on it.”
“We therefore pay attention to environmental programmes in our key strategy documents, including the Long-Term Development Concept until 2020 and the Guidelines for Government Action until 2012. It's about improving the law, measures to reduce industrial waste, waste recycling development and the revitalisation of polluted areas.”
“The environmental-economic mechanisms, many of which were formed back in the Soviet era, still exist today but they are certainly far out of date. The current system of environmental control often falls below world standards. There is no motivation for manufacturers to introduce environmentally-friendly technology or to reduce emissions. In the near future, we need to develop and introduce such mechanisms. Additionally, we need to thoroughly study ways to tighten sanctions for environment pollution.”
