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 are determined to step up cooperation in advanced technologies and science, including in purely scientific areas such as the International Laser and Cyclotron Centres currently under construction in Bratislava. We welcome the Slovak Government's decision to continue this project and ensure that it receives proper funding. For our part, we will do everything possible to complete this project successfully."
"Increasing work on infrastructure is also on our agenda. Possible projects include extending the railway from Kosice to Bratislava, with a branch to Vienna. <…> This project involves one more country: Ukraine. <…> The project has been progressing at a good pace so far. We have noted Prime Minister Fico's remark that this project is critical for Slovakia, not only in terms of building a railway but also due to the possibility of expanding the country's transport capabilities, which means increasing the capacity of ports and airports, directing cargo traffic through Slovakia to southern Europe, and using the transport capabilities of Slovakia proper. This issue will be thoroughly discussed and implemented as a part of a wider programme."
"Until recently, trade between Russia and Slovakia was distinctive for its positive growth, increasing more than threefold within the past five years. The global financial and economic crisis has certainly affected trade, and this year it will face a considerable decline. There is only one solution: We must restructure our trade and economic cooperation, and decrease its dependence on external conditions. This can be achieved by expanding business connections, investment partnerships, and cooperation in high-technology industries."
"Russia will continue supplying oil to the Slovak market and transporting it through Slovakia. In this respect, the project to extend the Druzhba oil pipeline from Bratislava to the refinery in Schwechat, outside Vienna, appears especially promising, although it requires further study by all those concerned."
"I have just discussed the Pedagogical Researchers national target programme with the Education Minister. Some money from it can be used for grants for young teachers-for instance, a thousand two-year grants, worth half a million roubles apiece, or 250,000 roubles a year. But let me repeat that only a portion of young teachers will qualify."
"Teachers need not only basic education, but also continuing postgraduate education that takes into account their personal needs and the specific situation at their schools. That is why it is essential to modernise education for teachers, in order to give them access to all the latest achievements of pedagogical sciences and all available technologies. Teachers' websites, online forums to discuss teaching methods, and everything else that helps teachers deserve our every support. These matter the most to teachers in rural and remote areas."
"Schools should be able to attract the most skilled individuals, who want interesting and highly sought after jobs with clear career prospects and good remuneration. The Russian regions are introducing a new system of funding for schools based on the number of pupils. It promises a notable increase of teacher's pay, mainly for the most experienced teachers."
"Education opportunities at Russian schools have increased considerably as of late with new computer classes and the installation of up-to-date equipment. In fact all schools, even rural schools, have been computerised and given access to the Internet."
"South Stream is becoming truly pan-European and a major energy project. We signed a concluding agreement with all the European partners that are necessary for the implementation of this project."
"Even though not everyone may like it, we live in a unique time, which is characterised by cross-cultural exchange. Those of us in politics and economics call this era of global cross-cultural exchange. The same thing is taking place in popular youth culture. But what we have seen today is not merely mass culture, but something individual that requires great skill and creativity. In my view, any phenomenon, regardless of its national origin and name, always deserves the support of society and the state if it meets two criteria: first, if it requires talent, and second, if it requires creativity."
"We must encourage the construction of affordable, comfortable, energy efficient, eco friendly housing. We could make low-rise construction one of our priorities. It is essential to develop an industry of building materials and introduce relevant technology. We must adopt standards and determine the price range of economy-class housing as soon as possible. Smart general plans for property development will help reduce the costs of housing construction."
"We must pull our people out of the slums. This is one of our major social and political tasks. This is simply our duty to our citizens who still live in such miserable conditions."
"Housing is one of the most important economic and social issues. It has remained more urgent in Russia than in any other civilized country for decades.The provision of housing for war veterans and army servicemen is a priority, and as we have promised, we will do everything in 2010 to fulfill these government commitments."
"Russia has never and will never, I would like to draw your attention - will never - disrupt supplies. Transit country problems are alone to blame for whatever disruptions there are, but I rely on Ukraine-our partner, friend and main transiter-to comply with its contractual obligations in conformity with last January's agreement. There is a contract for natural gas supplies to Ukraine and another, with a ten year term, for Russian natural gas transits to Europe. Every obligation is to be complied with. Russia will not be the cause of any problem if the transit countries are true to their pledges."
"Extending the Druzhba (Friendship) Pipeline is also bound to promote our energy cooperation. We discussed this idea in detail today. I am referring to the branch of the pipeline from Bratislava to the oil refinery in Schwechat, near Vienna. Our Austrian and Slovakian partners will work together on this project. This will require a certain amount of effort on our part as well as additional study, but we are ready to work together."
"Despite the reduction in trade, Austrian investment in the Russian economy has remained steady. By the beginning of this year, it amounted to almost four billion dollars. We welcome the efforts of Austrian businessmen to continue to expand their presence in the Russian market."
"The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics also require us to improve border infrastructure, including by constructing, rebuilding and reequipping checkpoints on roads and railways, and along waterways and air traffic routes. Providing checkpoints with up-to-date communications systems and a new generation of passport control equipment for the Olympic Games is also a high priority. We must ensure that participants of and visitors to the Olympic Games can cross our borders quickly and easily."
"Highly complicated processes in terms of administrative, financial and law enforcement issues. This Union faces many challenges. I think all of you clearly understand that if we eventually manage to bring this work to its logical end, this will be the first real instance of integration in the post-Soviet space. For its part, the Russian Federation is prepared to go its part of the road and fulfil all of its commitments."
"The required level of APG utilization should be no less than 95% by 2012. Oil producers that do not fulfill this requirement and continue to burn it off in flares will have to pay huge fines for excessive air pollution. Oil companies must also have positive stimuli for developing APG processing. For example, electricity generated from APG could have priority access to the country's power grids, which would encourage oil producers to invest in the construction of new generating capacities."
