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.”
“We intend to pump 10 billion cubic metres of gas along the Hungarian stretch. The entire South Stream is designed for 31 billion, but it might be more. Construction is estimated at 10 billion euros now, but we might do with less as construction material prices are plummeting. There are no problems with financing, though energy prices are dropping and there are other economic problems-in particular, shrinking volumes. There are no problems, either-at least for the time being-with attracting money to this and similar projects.”
“To overcome the negative consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, we should take effective joint actions to rehabilitate the global financial and investment system. Likewise, we must maintain and, if possible, enhance the level of trade and economic relations and cooperation in other spheres of bilateral relations. To attain this objective, we should act with maximum trust based on a positive approach to the partners' interests. I am convinced that if we follow these guidelines, Russia and Hungary will make a befitting contribution to European economic stability.”
"The amendments proposed by the Ministry of Finance serve to regulate the use of the Reserve Fund to cover the budget deficit that we will have to face over the course of the next few years. We have made a calculated decision to use the available reserves on a large scale, despite a drop in budget revenues, so as to fully adhere to the Government's social commitments and to fund anti-crisis measures."
“As we have said on more than one occasion, we will not reduce the budget's expenses in 2009. On the contrary, they will be slightly increased even further, because we will have to spend money on anti-crisis measures. In addition, the draft grants broader rights to the regional authorities for supporting municipalities.”
“Mr Medvedev chaired a meeting of the Anti-Corruption Council. A detailed analysis of draft legal norms, which would make it possible to identify at the early stages loopholes used by dishonest officials, is designed to become a major element of our fight against corruption. Our goal is to make sure that provisions of laws, delegated legislation and regulations should rule out any ambiguity or free interpretation, and should impose clear and transparent administrative procedures.”
"Today, I'll sign the Government decree on the transfer of 19 companies (from all basins - the Baltics, the Volga Region, the Far East, and the North) to the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). I'm hoping that its establishment will be completed by April 1, as we planned."
“We are also planning to launch a new federal targeted programme. I'd like to remind you once again that we have preserved almost all high-tech programmes despite the streamlining of our budget. Moreover, we have left their funding virtually unchanged. The budget provides 136.4 billion roubles for a federal targeted programme to develop civilian shipbuilding, including 4.2 billion roubles for this year. This sum will not be reduced. All in all, 17 million roubles will be allocated for civilian shipbuilding and will be used in full.”
“So, what will we spend on the high tech spheres of the economy? There are about 300 billion roubles left. If we add Vnesheconombank's credit portfolio, and its 300 billion roubles are federal money, we'll have almost 600 billion. Banks receiving federal support will give us roughly 200 billion roubles. All in all, we'll have 800 billion roubles for high-tech spheres.”
“About 110 billion roubles will be spent on shipbuilding this year. It goes without saying that this spending must be effective. Shipbuilding should constitute restructuring in this context.”
“One final point. In 2009, we are launching a new, 8-year federal targeted programme called "The Development of Civilian Marine Technology". We often say that by the time it emerges from the current difficult economic and financial situation, our economy should be more modern and competitive. Some might ask, how can this be achieved? Well, programmes such as this are part of the answer.”
“We have many shipbuilding facilities, but unfortunately, they can hardly be called modern or efficient. They are in need of sweeping modernisation and wherever practicable, they should be converted to serve other needs. At the same time, practice shows that the most effective projects are "green field projects". In the shipbuilding industry, a breakthrough investment project of this sort that would raise the industry to a qualitatively new technological level must be the creation of new shipyards geared toward meeting civilian needs.”
"At present, the USC has a blueprint of the programme of civilian shipbuilding. The main targets are as follows: building fishing vessels, about 265 units; development of the Russian transport system under that programme, 791 vessels; planned commissions by Gazprom and Rosneft, 307 vessels before 2030."
“All organisational measures to reform the shipbuilding industry must be completed by April 1 of this year, and by that time we should complete the formation of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). Secondly, the production programme of the United Shipbuilding Corporation should be developed and approved by that time, too. The main emphasis should be on producing a range of competitive civilian ships that will be in demand in the market. We should realistically assess our potential and occupy the niches where we can offer competitive and even exclusive goods.”
"The United Russia party maintains permanent contacts with trade unions, business communities and public organisations. Regional public reception offices are working actively. This is a very serious feedback channel allowing us to expose and analyse emerging problems and to prepare our own proposals on additional anti-crisis measures. Naturally, all of them must be duly coordinated with experts and specialised departments. I know that you have prepared the relevant proposals."
"I want to once again stress that the party's prestige depends on effective law-making activities and its ability to explain the essence of specific decisions and the motives of such decisions in every particular situation to every person. We must also be convinced that we have chosen the right road and are implementing the right measures."
"I want to note that the United Russia parliamentary party has railroaded high priority anti-crisis legislation through the State Duma. Moreover, the Duma United Russia deputies have submitted many of these bills at the Government's request."
"Our political forces-I mean legal forces-have been extremely responsible up to this point, and I expect them to continue thus in the future. We cannot, must not, and will not limit legal protest - that is, in the forms stipulated by the law of the Russian Federation."
"The state cannot afford to keep the entire economy afloat out of its own purse. This is especially true of the export-oriented economy, whose partners are cutting imports. Such support would be a big blunder because we would not be able to cope with our social pledges, about which another colleague has asked, where both pensions and wages are concerned. The money would be squandered to no effect."
"We have not given up earlier announced construction programmes. Work on the Housing Programme is underway. Relevant allocations amounted to 75 billion rouble, if I am not mistaken. We have cut it by 15 billion but are adding another 40 billion out of the Housing and Public Utilities Fund, which we earlier intended to use up in 2010-2011. It's forty billion, just think! We are also working to extend government contracts with the Defence Ministry and for population groups whose accommodation is the duty of the state. We will do it all. As for extra measures, they demand further study."
