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.”
“As a troika, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan can offer promising topics for further dialogue with the European Union and with individual countries and regional associations. Consultations are already underway on a free trade zone with the European Free Trade Association, and further down the road we plan to start negotiations on a free trade zone with the united Europe, with the EU.”
“In lifting the barriers within the Customs Union we will be careful to prevent any insurmountable barriers from being erected on the outer borders of the Customs Union. On the contrary, our main task is to ensure that by pooling their efforts all our countries would become integrated in the global economy more effectively and harmoniously – I stress, to become integrated with and not to fence itself off from the global economy.”
“This business forum of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was timed to coincide with a momentous date – the formation of the common customs space, the common customs territory which was completed on July 1. Customs offices on the borders between our three states have been removed. This is not just a formal lifting of administrative procedures. For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union the first real step has been made towards restoring the natural economic and trade ties in the post-Soviet space.”
“We want to be appraised of every possible perspective. Even if at first glance they seem incompatible and diametrically opposed, I believe that we should be aware of all possible approaches to these issues. Only by holding a broad professional dialogue will we be able to find balanced solutions and eventually guarantee an effective programme of national development.”
“It is very important to scrutinise what happened in the world economy – to study the circumstances in which the crisis unfolded, find a cure, and draft measures to preventing such adverse developments in the future. We must make our national economies reliable and productive, and protect them against all kinds of negative factors, risks, and potential pitfalls.”
“I would like to emphasise that the shortages of petroleum products and unstable prices should not stand in the way of economic growth or cause problems for the Russian people. We need a clearly understandable material balance of production and consumption for the main types of fuels and petroleum products.”
“We should seriously think about increasing refining volumes, specifically secondary processing, including such processes as isomerisation, reforming and cracking. We have taken a careful look into the latter here in Kirishi. All these processes make it possible to produce high-quality products that enjoy market demand. They ensure deep conversion levels and the world-class quality of our petroleum products.”
“As for our tax policy in general, we will not be increasing the fiscal burden. The government’s goal is to ensure a fairer distribution of the tax burden. This is why tax changes will concern, above all, the industries that work in a favourable foreign policy environment.”
“We have to accomplish a number of highly important objectives in the sphere of defence and law enforcement. Interior Ministry divisions will be financed completely from the federal budget starting with 2012. <…> Pay grades will be raised in two stages. First, this raise will encompass Defence Ministry military personnel, Interior Troops and Interior Ministry operatives. The pay grades of other security agencies personnel will be raised subsequently. Retired military personnel will see a one-time increase in pensions in 2012, regardless of their departmental affiliation.”
“We plan to increase federal budget allocations to healthcare. We will allocate 500 billion roubles for this purpose in 2012, which is nearly 7% more than this year. <…> We will also continue to increase maternity capital. We will index it, just as we planned to do when we first introduced this allowance. Maternity capital currently stands at 365,700 roubles; it will be increased to 430,000 in 2014. <…> In 2012, we will double subsidies to regions for the support of preschool education to 2 billion roubles. Furthermore, we plan to issue a 8-billion-rouble loan to Russian regions for the further development and modernisation of childcare establishments.”
“We are getting additional opportunities for resolving long-term strategic objectives. In this sense, the submitted budget is a development budget designed to stimulate quality growth and modernise the economy. At the same time, this is a socially-oriented budget with a direct emphasis on improving living standards and implementing large-scale programmes in demography, healthcare, education and pensions. Needless to say, these issues remain at the top of our list of social priorities.”
“We should strive to be a leader among world economies. Leadership would give us a sense of security. To gain and keep a leading position, we need to look to breakthrough ideas in science and technology. <…> We can gain a leadership role in the major sectors if we make the most of our past achievements as well as innovate proactively. This is how we can progress. So let’s make the necessary adjustments in our roadmap and go from here.”
“Today, Russian researchers are participating in four international megaprojects: the Large Hadron Collider operated by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research; the thermonuclear reactor in France (ITER); the European x-ray free electron laser; and the heavy ion accelerator in Germany. Russia contributes both intellectually and financially to international research.”
“Good infrastructure is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of Russian science and its ability to act as an equal partner in carrying out breakthrough international programmes, so that Russian and top foreign specialists will come to Russia in order to implement their ideas.”
“It is our common task to turn Siberia, the Far East, and the Baikal area into a leading investment centre. We need not just dynamic development, but rather accelerated development here.”
“We need real economic and social breakthroughs, and most importantly, we need to improve the quality of life in every region of Russia. For that, each region needs to uncover its potential, to use every competitive advantage it might have. We pay special attention in this respect to the Russian Far East and the Baikal area.”
“Today the country faces major challenges. We need a new industrialisation and millions of modern jobs, a technological breakthrough and a growth of economic efficiency, rapid development of the social sphere, improvement of Russian people’s living standards as the ultimate result and the main goal that we must work for. Improving the well-being of Russian families.”
“United Russia is undoubtedly the main consolidating force in our society which has to its credit key projects and initiatives in the social and economic spheres and in regional development. Without exaggeration – and I mean what I say – it is thanks to the party and its political position and organisational resources that so much has been accomplished in the country over the past ten years. That is an obvious fact.”
“We are against people being dragooned into the Front and against working in accordance with bureaucratic, “command” rules, against artificial buildup of party ranks and so-called participation. It can merely discredit the idea. The people themselves must be willing and their will should be expressed at the meetings of work collectives and in residential communities.”
“Relying on the experience of the national project, we are now launching regional programmes for upgrading healthcare. The regions of the Urals Federal District will receive an additional 50 billion roubles in 2011-2012 for their implementation, in particular for the repairs of hospitals and clinics, the purchase of new equipment and the introduction of modern medical standards. It is essential to support primary healthcare centres, especially in the countryside.”
“Affordable housing for people must be the main criterion of the effectiveness of our efforts. People must have an opportunity to resolve their housing problems. We must promote the construction of modern economy class housing and expand programmes for discounted mortgages for doctors, teachers, young families and young specialists. Of course, we will continue programmes designed to provide housing for northerners.”
“Last year Russia became the global leader in oil production, with over 500 million metric tonnes. We took over the first position, overtaking all other oil producing countries. I'd like to congratulate our oil industry for this result – 500 million tonnes of oil is exactly the quantity that we need to meet both domestic and export requirements, and we should maintain production at this level in the coming years.”
“Russia is a great Arctic power. We cannot do without a strong fleet of icebreakers. We will certainly replenish our fleet of icebreaker vessels. At least three of the new generation of nuclear powered icebreakers, as well as a series of icebreakers with conventional engines, will be built from 2012 to 2020. The commissioning of these vessels will ensure the stability of year-round navigation in the Arctic, ships safe pilotage from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. This is a major undertaking that is very important for the country.”
“We must substantially increase the potential of the railway transport in the Urals Federal District. Organising interregional and commuter passenger carriage is a priority. Train stations have already been refurbished in Chelyabinsk, Yaketrinburg and Kurgan. <…> By 2013 Yakterinburg’s transport hub will become a major international logistic centre.”
“It is necessary to significantly expand the economic base of the Urals Federal District, to ensure its stability by creating promising innovative centres, industrial clusters to support small and medium businesses, developing new sectors, for example, tourism, the nanoindustry, pharmaceutics and the services.”
“I am certain <…>that generations of Soviet, and later of Russian people, were raised on our remarkable animated films. These are great traditions. Our animated films are good and gentle, beautiful, colourful. They don’t just inform, but also educate, in the broadest sense.”
“I’d like to mention one more issue that is closely linked with the formation of a uniform system of interdepartmental electronic communications that will be used for providing government and municipal services to our people. <…>This is a complicated and very extensive effort. It is necessary to ensure the connection of different information systems to an integrated database. Digitising millions of paper documents will require time and big investments. This work must be done at a high level of quality.”
“One of them involves instituting criminal responsibility for collusions that limit competition – the so-called cartels. There will be a clear definition of what constitutes a cartel. In other words, the anti-monopoly bodies will not be allowed to make any arbitrary, broad interpretations on this score. Private companies will not encounter any additional administrative barriers.”
“In Russia, the national agricultural policy has always been more than pure economics. It has at all times carried social implications and in many ways determined the potential for the country's development in general. I am positive that if we join the efforts of the government, businesses and public organisations <…> we will be successful.”
“We fully understand that grain export is a strong motivating factor in production, increased harvests, and extended cultivation. It also implies growing investment into logistical improvements and port infrastructure in southern Russia and the Far East. Finally, it is a real opportunity to diversify the structure of Russian foreign trade turnover. According to experts, next year, Russia will be able to export up to 15 million tonnes of grain and retake its place at the top of the world’s grain exporters.”
“Only recently, many people did not take the suggestion seriously that Russia could be a viable exporter. We were net importers. Nobody believed that we could sell grain abroad. And yet we have managed to do so by bringing in harvests approaching 100 million tonnes. In 2007, Russia became one of the top three grain exporters in the world.”
“Today the call to “buy Russian” is<…> a reality: domestic products are returning to stores after a period in which imports had wiped them off the shelves. There are still plenty of foreign imports, but the situation is changing. More and more, people prefer domestic products that have an edge in terms of quality and environmental purity and that are natural products rather than some cheap synthetic surrogate brought in from abroad.”
“We are becoming the masters of our own food and agrarian market step by step. All this is the result of the development of the Russian agro-industrial sector – the tangible result of the work of Russian farmers, livestock breeders, and the food processing industry.”
“Come what may, we should switch to state-of-the-art equipment, which will be environmentally friendlier and more efficient. Such equipment demands high-octane petrol.”
“We must realise that attempts to distort history may have extremely serious consequences. In effect, the key principles of the contemporary world order may be put in doubt. This conceals very dangerous threats fraught with unpredictable consequences. The Russian state and our civil society must voice a firm, consistent and principled stance on such issues. This is how we will conduct ourselves.”
“It is our duty to cherish and defend the truth about the war, the priceless experience of allied partnership and genuine heroes, whom time cannot conquer. This is important for all of us, this is essential for the education and moral upbringing of future generations. Support for veterans, the widows of the homeland’s defenders, as well as everyone affected by the war must always be a priority in our work.”
“In addition to that, offshore and inland sea operations will be conducted only by those companies that, in addition to having the requisite technologies and specialists, have sufficient financial resources to prevent and clean up any potential oil spill and compensate for the damage done to the environment and to biological resources.”
“The tragedy that unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico last year is fresh in our memory. We remember the toll it took on the surrounding environment and on people. We need to be proactive and address all the necessary technical and financial issues in order to prevent anything of the sort from happening in Russia. Therefore, I propose to adopt a law listing all the requirements and responsibilities of those companies engaged in upstream and downstream operations in inland seas and on continental shelves.”
“We have big plans for development of the Pacific and Arctic shelves and certain areas of the Black and Caspian seas. <…> Let me point out that all such projects are carefully studied by environmental experts. Our basic requirements for Russian and foreign companies who plan to work in these areas include the use of the latest and most environmentally safe techniques in an effort to minimise their ecological impact.”
“Unfortunately, many pages were deliberately lost from that chapter of history during the Soviet period, and others were re-written to suit a primitive and simplified ideological agenda. We are now gradually reclaiming our full historical heritage, including some of the lamentably forgotten events of WWI. We must never forget those lessons but rather take a respectful and responsible attitude to our common past, without undue idealisation or ridicule.”
“Such large-scale projects as the Year of Russia in France and the Year of France in Russia have captured the interest of our people. A new initiative will start next year: the Season of Russian in France and the Season of French in Russia. Such undertakings help us to understand each other better and cherish our common history.”
“Historically, our bilateral cooperation has always been a positive factor in European and world affairs. Let me add that it has always rested on the approval of our people and our civil societies. We rightly take pride in our rich tradition of humanitarian, cultural, scientific, creative, and simply human contacts, and we are committed to continue pursuing them in the future.”
“A multi-party system is only just taking shape in Russia; the parties are growing stronger, formulating consistent political platforms and looking for their voters. But just as everywhere, a political force that has been in power for several years is a dominant force and bears responsibility for whatever is happening in the country.”
“Front must promote broader public support for decision-making at the federal, regional and municipal levels. The open discussion of major national and regional issues must become the norm for this national club, our front.”
“What is important is for our governments to create the best possible conditions for investment, for the movement of capital in both directions. To achieve this we must use our intergovernmental commission and the business council consisting of representatives of the leading Russian and Swiss companies.”
“Our actions are in accord with the ILO’s Decent Work agenda. We share its main premises and concerns, and, indeed, we are ready to promote them globally, which brings me to a concrete proposal: to hold a high-level international conference in Russia next autumn devoted to the implementation of the principles laid out under the Decent Work concept.”
“In the 21st century, human labour can no longer be viewed as merely a cog in the chain of mechanical production or a depersonalised tool for achieving economic targets. We need to rethink the fundamental role and value of labour. I would go so far as to say that contemporary societies and economies would not be able to develop sustainably if human capital were not given precedence and if conditions were not created for each individual to fully realise their economic potential.”
“We should not just provide jobs but improve workers' professional skills and create conditions for people to acquire new, more needed, more prestigious, and better-paid jobs. Labour mobility must be encouraged.”
"One of its (Government programme “Russian Culture”) main elements will be the development of museums in Russia and the preservation of museum collections. Under the programme, the material and technical base of federal and municipal museums will be strengthened, some of the museum items will be restored, and conditions for the safety and accessibility of exhibits will be created. <…> I think it would be proper to form an interagency commission to ensure the preservation of the museum collections of the Russian Federation."
