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.”
“At a time when domestic producers are forced to slash production, I think it especially unacceptable to spend federal funds purchasing foreign cars and trucks. Let me emphasise that I am referring to so-called "direct imports" here.”
“As for the new assembly plants recently established in Russia by major foreign automakers, we also regard them as part of the domestic auto industry. In this sense, I am making no distinction between Volkswagen, Renault, Ford and Toyota plants, and Russian VAZ and GAZ. Foreign assembly plants operating in Russia are entitled to government support as much as local manufacturers - naturally, assuming they comply with the required domestic content agreement.”
“Many manufacturers chose to suspend vehicle assembly in December 2008-January 2009. The industry's problems stem from plummeting consumer and commercial demand. Therefore, government action in this case should try to mitigate this alarming trend. To begin with, I think the Government, natural monopolies and preferably the largest private companies should purchase predominantly domestic products.”
“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.”
“We should curb any attempts to sow religious and ethnic strife in this country. These actions should be viewed as a direct threat to the territorial integrity and unity of our state.”
“As you know, the federal budget has entirely funded ambulance and school bus programmes as national priorities, though they legally belong to municipal affairs. I deem it necessary to help cities with modernising other municipal transport-passenger and special. I have given necessary instructions to the Economic Development, Regional Development, and Finance ministries.”
“We will also discuss strengthening the financial basis of local self-government today. I think we should ponder the prospects of passing additional sources of tax revenues to city halls. The Government is analysing relevant initiatives.”
“Moreover, an additional 50 billion roubles have been reserved in next year's budget to conduct active policy in the labor market. All these funds will be transferred to the regions through the channels that you are already familiar with, but they are designed to fund concrete programmes to create jobs and organise public works. These programmes should be drafted with the active participation of local authorities by February 1 of next year.”
“To support people who are facing problems with jobs, we have raised the maximum unemployment benefits to 4,900 roubles per month and provided for a number of measures to help families who find it difficult to meet mortgage payments. I will also add that people who have lost jobs or had their wages considerably reduced because of layoffs will be allowed to delay interest payments on mortgages or the principal debt if the time has come to pay off loans.”
“I want all tasks, in particular those concerning the forthcoming budget expenses, to be prioritised in a more precise manner. We reiterated on several occasions that we are not going to save on priority national projects - they remain one of the key areas of our activity in the social sphere and in some branches of the economy. But that does not make redundant the need to justify expenditure.”
"We have discussed on a number of occasions the need to optimise and increase the efficiency of budgetary expenses. We have allocated huge funds for priority national projects, and they should work with maximum efficiency - to both address social problems, and, which is of vital importance under the current circumstances, to stimulate demand in the economy."
“It is necessary to regulate the grain market. For that, the Agriculture Ministry should greatly increase the effect of purchasing interventions. With that end in view, we have agreed to increase the authorised capital of Rosselkhozbank once again-by 45 billion roubles this time, after this year's recent 35 billion roubles. The money will expand grain purchasing interventions and so help farmers with sales and improve their financial standing.”
“We need to retain the volume and terms of agricultural crediting. As I have said, this will promote cattle breeding, dairy production and other essential projects, and guarantee spring sowing. Agriculture needs roughly 400 billion roubles worth of loans-half of them short-term, and the other half long-term, up to 850 billion grand total. It will take 72.3 billion roubles to finish livestock unit construction. That, too, demands Government support.”
“We have determined to subsidise agricultural loans, or farm production will drop. The matter came under detailed discussion yesterday, too. As you know, subsidies presently cover two thirds of interest. The Central Bank has increased its refinancing rate, so commercial bankers are also sending rates up. The entire national economy is under that burden, and it should be distributed between all branches more or less evenly. Still, we should make agriculture an exception, as in previous years, to ease pressure on it. We have agreed to subsidise 80% of agricultural credit refinancing.”
“The decision on new poultry, meat and pork quotas mentioned today has been signed. Our talks with foreign suppliers took six months and were very difficult. We have come to an agreement at last. Extra-quota meat import tariffs will rise substantially, while poultry meat quotas will be reduced by 300,000 tonnes, etc. The figure corresponds with annual Russian production increase. That is what we will focus on. We must guarantee that increase-it is crucial.”
“New farm leasing terms are entering into force. They have been extended from 10 to 15 years, and advance payments of up to 7% of leased equipment cost have been abolished. Now, the first instalment should be made 12 months after equipment is received.”
“When preping and approving new targeted programmes proceed from the real economic situation, selecting elements of the new programmes carefully, and trying to find the most rational and economically justified ways of implementing them.”
“I'd like to tell you that we have long set ourselves the goal of launching a commodities and raw materials exchange for trade in oil and oil products. We were planning to do this in St. Petersburg, and would like to discuss with you potential cooperation. Maybe, it makes sense to open a subsidiary of this exchange in Kazakhstan, say, in Alma Ata or Astana, or wherever you suggest. At any rate, the closer our cooperation here, the better it will be for both of us.”
“You are aware that we have cut foreign labour immigration as a forced and temporary measure. We are reducing the original quota declared by the regions by half. Let me stress that this move is prompted by labour issues inside the Russian Federation. I hope you will understand the rationale behind the decision. At the end of the day we are all interested in a civilised labour migration policy.”
