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.”
“That all political structures must be absolutely equal in this entity [Russian Popular Front]. United Russia, the trade unions and youth organisations must all carry equal weight. There should be no senior or junior partner, and everybody, and this is important, would have the opportunity and the right not only to articulate their ideas and suggestions for the best, most effective development areas for Russia, but would also be able to put forward their own candidates, which would remain independent, but which would win parliament seats on the United Russia party list and, once there, would work together.”
“Once young people get involved in the development and adoption of nationally-important decisions, we’ll have more opportunities to do away with the chronic problems of Russian society. <…>I believe that these new recruits will help us go beyond the mere adjustment of our industrial and social policies and help us give a fresh start to the development of our human capital.”
“The idea is to set up an agency for strategic initiatives to promote new projects. The agency will report to the prime minister. It will operate as a public service body in its initial stage, but later, we will consider integrating it into the government structure. This agency would not just draft proposals on what needs to be done and what needs to be changed but would include people who implement innovative projects themselves.”
“I will explain them now to you. I want to note that selections to the State Duma candidate pool must be completed before August. We then need to discuss the candidates, so that the electoral list can be finalised in September at the party congress. The selection procedure should not only involve party members, but non-affiliated United Russia supporters, trade union members, members of women's and youth organisations, public associations, citizens who take the initiative, who are actively engaged. In short, all those willing to have a direct influence on government policy through United Russia in the State Duma. What am I suggesting and how do I propose we do this? Essentially, I propose creating what in political practice is called a broad popular front.”
“I’d like to emphasise the necessity of responding immediately to any cases of an overly bureaucratic, formal attitude to veterans. It is inadmissible to make them go in circles in search of documents for apartments, social payments, medical services and health resorts. <…> Workers of public and party agencies should not delay at all. They should be able to see these problems and act in advance. They should come to people who need support, and deal with urgent problems that affect the interests, rights and living standards of our people.”
“We will continue developing an easily accessible and affordable infrastructure for sports and recreation, opening new stadiums, swimming pools, sports and fitness centres all across Russia. In all, we will be creating a modern national fitness system.”
“Once young people get involved in the development and adoption of nationally-important decisions, we’ll have more opportunities to do away with the chronic problems of Russian society. <…>I believe that these new recruits will help us go beyond the mere adjustment of our industrial and social policies and help us give a fresh start to the development of our human capital.”
“We’ve decided to create six special economic zones for tourism and recreation in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District. Some 60 billion roubles in federal allocations will be channeled into their development. <…>In order to build a powerful tourism industry, we should raise the quality of hospitality services, train competent personnel, develop effective marketing techniques, create a comfortable environment [for operators and tourists], and improve the accessibility of the region.”
“We should pool our resources and capitalise on newly available opportunities. We should build a solid foundation for subsequent sustainable development. Just as in the rest of Russia, we intend to make a genuine infrastructural breakthrough in the south and secure the area's effective integration with regional and international trade and investment projects. <…>We will build coal, grain, oil, container and passenger terminals, retrofit the Novorossiysk and Rostov transport hubs, and construct new ports, such as Taman on the Azov Sea and Olya on the Caspian Sea. The latter will become an important link in the North-South continental transport corridor.”
“All industrial projects in the Russian Arctic are thoroughly reviewed for their environmental impact. This is our principled position, we will proceed like this in the future, and this fully accords with the Basic Principles of State Policy in the Russian Arctic adopted in 2008.”
“By 2012, we should create a common market with free movement of goods, services, capital and manpower. The common market will have uniform rules, unified legislation, coordinated tax, monetary and currency and financial policies, common principles that regulate natural monopolies, and a competition policy to ensure the equal, non-discriminatory access of the enterprises of the member states in the common economic space to the markets of goods and services and to state and municipal orders.”
“I have to stress that the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space (CES) are not an exclusive club. We are open to the accession of other countries, we are ready for closer cooperation with the European Union, including in the format of a constructive dialogue between the Common Economic Space and the EU.”
“It is necessary to make the most of the development institutions that have been set up expressly for the North Caucasus. They are designed to attract domestic and foreign capital to the region and to render expert assistance to the business community in implementing investment projects.”
“The federal programme for the North Caucasus development should become one of the main instruments of development in the region. It integrates major federal programmes that are already operational – such as the “Southern Russia,” “Development of the Chechen Republic,” and “Development of Ingushetia” programmes – along with new sub-programmes that are to be drafted for each region of the North Caucasus Federal District. In other words, after the adoption of this federal programme, all territories of the district will have their own development plans and will receive adequate federal support for their implementation.”
“Naturally, many items stored at the Hermitage are of global cultural significance. It is the pride of Russia, and we must make sure that this date is celebrated accordingly. I’m referring not only to the celebration but also to using this anniversary as an occasion to carry out a series of long overdue measures to strengthen the museum.”
“It is important that the interested companies take an active part in various arrangements for professional training. They could sign contracts with educational institutions, offer internships, and offer decent wages to their trainees to encourage talented young people to join them.”
“Modern systems use the latest safety methods. Our nuclear reactors can operate without external power for three days. That is quite enough time to react. Specialists say they can make them run on their own for five days, only it would cost more. It’s a matter of cost, that’s all.”
“As for nuclear energy safety, this is a cornerstone of that type of energy. Surely you know as well as I do that the inspections of our power plants by the International Atomic Energy Agency have shown that our safety standards are the best in the world. I am proud to say this and I am saying it with full responsibility.”
“We should primarily concentrate on the needs of our armed forces. I mean, it is not the fact that a company exists that is important. It is important that this company produces goods and services that meet modern standards – in the civilian sectors. In the defence sector, it is important that companies supply equipment that would meet the armed forces’ needs and help the country feel confident in the event of any conflict – local or international.”
