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.”
"I would like to draw your attention to another item of our agenda, the expanded intra-CIS cultural ties. In May 2006, we signed an agreement with our CIS colleagues on establishing a special Cultural Cooperation Foundation. I would like to note that the Foundation has become an outstanding aspect of CIS cultural life in the past three years. Dozens of publishing and museum projects have been implemented. The Foundation has some interesting ideas on education, science, support for the media, sports, tourism and youth policies."
"In the long run, our countries are mostly united by a shared history and cultural heritage, a common information space, science and sports ties. This is why Russia has invariably supported and will continue to support expanded contacts between CIS nations and is ready to create the most favourable climate for the successful performance of the Cultural Cooperation Foundation."
“Today, a year after the start of the crisis, we are seeing the first signs of economic recovery, and we justifiably expect that the Russian economy will start gradually improving in 2010. I hope that the GDP will grow, even if just a little. The Ministry of Economic Development predicts growth of 1.6%.”
"Assuming that in 2010 budget revenues will make up 16% of GDP, or 6.9 trillion roubles, and expenses are expected to reach 9.8 trillion roubles, the budget deficit will stand at 2.9 trillion roubles, or 6.8% of GDP. Thus, the deficit will be less than this year's by 1% of GDP. In the current circumstances, I consider this an acceptable figure."
"The energy industry's investment programme in general. The programme prioritises reliable energy supplies and construction of new modern power plants. Notably, state-controlled companies must commission about two gWt of power-generating facilities in 2010. Private investors who have bought into the energy industry during the reform of utility giant Unified Energy Systems (UES) are planning to build another 3.8 gWt of power-generating facilities. The new owners of power-generating companies have pledged to implement investment development programmes and must, naturally, put them into practice."
"We need to continue searching for and selecting new promising projects, primarily in the regions - specifically those that require comparatively small resources, projects that rapidly pay for themselves and are capable of rapidly improving the socio-economic situation in specific cities. We must also replenish budgets and create additional jobs. Particular attention should be paid to single-industry cities."
"We talked about the need to employ new growth factors long before the crisis. In this sense, we invested our hopes in public-private partnership. Much has been done since then. In particular, we developed legislation for this joint operation, passed the law on concessions, special economic zones, and the Development Bank. We also adopted amendments to the Budget Code and formed the key institutions, including the Investment Fund, which we set up in 2005."
"Today, 21 projects of federal importance have been approved within the Investment Fund. Total allocations for these projects will amount to 54.5 billion roubles in 2009. Another 10 billion roubles will be invested in regional projects, which will be financed by the regions themselves. On average, the Novomoskovsk cluster has shown that each rouble invested from the federal budget brings in about 3.50 or even 4 roubles of private investment. In other words, the efforts of the Investment Fund have catalysed the investment activity of business, just as we hoped it would."
"The crisis has made its changes to our plans. First of all, we were forced to make some difficult decisions about concentrating investment resources on the projects that are almost finished and to postpone the beginning of many new projects. Secondly, we have taken the step of using Investment Fund resources to prevent the threat of mass never-ending construction projects, particularly in the regions of the Russian Federation. We have compensated the regions the lack of their own resources by using the funds of the Investment Fund."
"I would like to say that the use of public-private partnership allows us to use the resources and possibilities of the state, the regions and business, to lower the risks for project participants, to distribute zones of responsibility among them, and to balance their interests."
"As for Opel, I hope the contract is one of the first steps leading to European economic integration. Every cloud has a silver lining, and the crisis has laid bare many of the problems of mismanagement. This concerns many Western companies, among others, and General Motors is no exception."
"It might be easier today, however, to settle problems with countries with which Russia has lasting economic and political ties. Germany is Russia's principal partner in Europe and the world. Our number one partner in many respects. Exports to Russia have helped Germany retain several hundred thousand jobs. The fact is worth repeating: because Russia consumes German commodities and services, several hundred thousand Germans kept their jobs due to our partnership."
"Our main objective in the development strategy of the country is to diversify the economy and to enhance labour productivity and investment in the so-called human capital, that is, in education, healthcare, and so on. These key priorities have not changed, despite the crisis. Moreover, while trying to overcome the consequences of the crisis, we are paying more attention to these issues as our key priorities."
"We will continue our efforts to diversify the economy, to encourage the development of high-tech and science-intensive industries. We are already doing this, while at the same time tackling a two-sided problem, as I have said above, which includes measures to prevent increases in spending. However, we have not cut state investment in high-tech projects that rely on government involvement in these industries - in aircraft manufacturing, in space exploration, or in shipbuilding."
"I would like to say that we will honour all of our social commitments this year, regardless of the crises. We have indexed social allowances, just as we planned to do before the crisis, within the framework of legislation we adopted during the good years. We will index pensions four times this year."
"One of our tasks this year is to restore macroeconomic indices, lower inflation, and prevent the strengthening of the national currency to the levels we saw in previous years.<...> First of all, we must pay attention to macroeconomic parameters. Using this as the groundwork, we will try to ensure that long-term loans are available in the economy and at the lending institutions, so that we will be able to use internal financial resources."
"Our second task is to strengthen the financial system. This is an incontestable objective. We have made a decision to increase the authorised capital of national banks. We expect the number of banks to decrease in Russia. It will be a gentle, positive process that will strengthen people's trust in our financial institutions and will allow the economy to use these resources more effectively."
“The crisis has affected Russia very seriously. However, we see nascent stabilisation in the country, beginning in June, and economic growth, even if modest, of 1% monthly since June."
"In the realm of social policy, we have adopted a very important law called the Labour Code. I spoke about it with several of my counterparts from developed European countries, and they told me they would also like to have such a code in their countries. Their laws in this area are much more socialized. I think this was a great achievement on Russia's part. The current system protects workers' interests while keeping the labour market flexible, and at the same time makes demands on the workers themselves."
"On the whole, the situation on the labour market remains stable. Positive trends in industry and other spheres, and resumed production growth, even if minor, have had a positive effect on employment. In the last four months, the number of unemployed registered at the employment centres has decreased by almost 200,000 people."
"I am referring to the allocation of 4.9 billion roubles worth of subsidies from the federal budget to four major defence enterprises, which will help them to pay their debts, and keep their production lines and, I hope, their personnel. These enterprises are Uralvagonzavod, the Kalinovsky chemical plant in the Sverdlovsk Region, the Soyuz design and experimental bureau in Kazan, and the Krasnozavodsk chemical plant in the Moscow Region."
"A total of 150 billion roubles will be allocated for additional capitalisation of banks. Another 142 billion roubles will be spent on the resolution of other urgent problems. Out of this sum, 28 billion roubles will be spent on building and buying housing for servicemen. All in all, 71 billion roubles have been allocated for projects in the nuclear industry and aircraft building. In addition, 6.3 billion roubles have been appropriated for the conduct of purchasing and trade interventions in the markets of agricultural produce with a view to creating conditions for their work. These are not only additional expenses but also the funds that could be redistributed without prejudicing the implementation of the programmes for which they had been initially reserved."
"Without a strong, cutting-edge machinery manufacturing industry Russian economy will never be full-fledged, competitive and based on innovations, will never overcome its excessive dependence on raw materials. That was why we made decisions to develop and upgrade the industry even before the crisis. We have established major integrated shipbuilding, aircraft-building and military industrial companies."
"We should not forget the goals we must reach, notably, to maintain macroeconomic stability, keep the deficit at an acceptable level, reduce borrowing and preserve our reserves. We must pursue responsible social and economic policy. The Finance Ministry has drafted the appropriate proposals."
“In the last few months, we have been registering positive signs both from world markets and from the domestic economy. Starting in June, industrial production has grown by about 1% per month. Prices on our export commodities are also standing at a high enough, acceptable level.”
"Our economic (Russia and India) ties have been developing dynamically. Each year, the bilateral trade turnover expands by one third. Although the overall trade turnover does not yet match our potentials, we have succeeded in expanding it throughout January-June 2009 in conditions of the global financial and economic crisis. This is a rare occurrence in present-day conditions."
"I would like to once again underscore the special nature of bilateral relations which have evolved in this format for many decades. And we are very happy to note their current level. This particularly concerns the coordination of our positions, which coincide on numerous foreign policy issues."
"The automotive industry ended up being one of the sectors hit the hardest by the economic crisis. Sales of new cars dropped significantly not only in Russia, but all over the world. Only now have markets in individual countries started to recover.<.....> The transition to modern standards must be gradual. Russian auto plants must have enough time to upgrade their manufacturing capabilities and technology. And of course consumers have to be ready for this."
"Regarding imports, as I've already said many times, we will strive to have all import vehicles fully meet Russian standards. The new set of technical regulations is based on these specific principles, and I hope that its coming into effect will allow, among other things, improved traffic safety on our roads."
"As for the Nord Stream, I have reiterated on a number of occasions that certain parties would like to represent this project as part of an anti-Polish agenda. There is no anti-Polish implication here. I just mentioned the Russian pipeline on Polish territory. It's only natural that Russia and its European gas consumers would want to diversify gas transport systems. What's so extraordinary about that? It is common practice throughout the world."
"We realise that the Ukrainian economy currently consumes as much energy as it needs. We will proceed from that. As for the details, we'll leave it up to businesses to settle between themselves. We hope they will do so."
"I have mentioned that during the past two years Russian-Polish relations have improved, becoming friendlier and more business-like. You were right when you said that in the past our relations were not as cordial.<...> I am grateful to the incumbent Polish Government, specifically Prime Minister Tusk, for being a counterpart and a partner that I am happy to cooperate with. We can discuss the controversial issues of the past in a calm and benevolent atmosphere, free from political prejudices, as well as develop pragmatic relations in politics and in the economy today, all based on respect for each other's interests. I hope we'll be able to maintain this positive trend, which I mentioned in my brief remarks."
"Poland is doing well economically despite the global crisis. But this in no way means that we should not counter current challenges together. Their number exceeds by far the threats of the global financial and economic crisis. It is clear that we should join our efforts to overcome the current problems, and to avoid difficulties in the future."
"I would like to express my wholehearted gratitude to you for the efforts your Government has taken in the past years to promote bilateral trade and economic relations. Our trade and economic relations rose very high in 2008: Russia became Poland's second largest trade and economic partner after Germany."
"We must, of course, think about the victims (of World War II). Without a profound understanding of what has happened, we will be unable to build a truly secure world, eradicate the legacy of the Cold War, and remove the artificial dividing lines. I would like to note that my country does not only recognize the mistakes and tragedies of the past, but is making a practical contribution to building a new world based on new principles. It is due to the position of my country that the virtual and real Berlin Wall was brought down, and prerequisites were established for the building of a new Europe without dividing lines."
"It is important to understand that any collaboration with extremists, which in the Second World War meant Nazism and its underlings, leads to tragedy, whatever the motives for such collaboration. In effect it is not collaboration, but collusion aimed at furthering one's ends at the expense of others."
"True, there are historical problems, which we should carefully study. We should analyze everything, which eventually led to the outbreak of this tragedy on September 1, 1939 with the only purpose being to prevent a repetition in the future. Knowing the nuances and facts of history, and without imposing one's own views on each other, we will be able to rise above the problems of the past, and build a future together. Objective circumstances compel us to follow this responsible, common policy."
"We have spoken with Mr Prime Minister about continued work of the Difficult Issues Commission, which is studying historical events preceding World War II. One of the focuses of its work is studying the archives. There is one rule for such cases in international practice - all actions are carried out on the basis of reciprocity. It is probably natural that we are recalling history on this tragic day. But I would like very much, and I have discussed this subject at length with Mr Tusk today.... I cannot say that our views on this issue fully coincide, but we agree that we should look at the entire picture in all of its diversity."
"This year marks the 200th anniversary of Finland's inclusion in the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy, and it is a good occasion to admit that relations between our countries are at a very positive level. Even though there are problems stemming from the global economic downturn, life still goes on and so do our relations."
"I fully agree with you that Russia and Bulgaria have special relations. All the projects we have developed in the past are aimed, in part, at strengthening Bulgaria's status as a major energy centre in Europe, and a large transit partner. In fact, these projects are aimed at changing the geopolitical - in this context - status of the country and providing the possibility for additional revenue from commodities transit."
"Russian-Dutch trade and economic relations are developing very successfully. Bilateral trade reached a record of $62 billion last year, and reinvestment reached $45 billion. Direct Dutch investment into the Russian economy stood at over $30 billion. Our joint plan of action will expire soon, and it is high time to lay the foundations for our cooperation over the next several years."
"As you know, cooperation between some Russian and Ukrainian companies is so deep that these companies would go out of business without each other. They would have to close down. This applies, for example, to aircraft building, which has excellent cooperation prospects. Russia has adjusted its policy with regard to An-70. We'll see how we could implement this project. There is much to discuss here."
"I would like to draw special attention to the condition of school buses. I hold that both regional and local authorities need to monitor more closely the technical condition of vehicles and the qualifications and health of drivers, even more so since there are positive examples of such work in several regions which have led to a reduction in road accidents involving students."
"Only in the past year financing of general education increased by 120 billion roubles. The total funds allocated for the purpose were 738 billion roubles. The Ministry of Regional Development conducted a survey of how efficiently these funds were being used. The picture is far from ideal. According to analysis' estimates, the share of inefficient spending is around 19%. In terms of the total amount, this is 140 billion roubles. To give you an example, with this amount of money the salaries of teachers and educational administrators could be raised immediately by 25%. Or 300 new schools could be built with this money."
"The second decision concerns the ongoing experiment when the state supports the system of educational loans for students of higher educational establishments. Students showing good progress can now enjoy a number of privileges. One is the deferment of payments on the principal sum of the loan for the entire period of tuition at college or university. The state also plans to subsidise the interest rate on educational loans at three quarters of the Central Bank's refinancing rate."
"We should pay particular attention to the overall safety of students. This includes anti-terrorist and fire-prevention measures, observance of sanitary standards, and safety on the roads and in transport. In the last two years, we allocated 24 billion roubles for fire-prevention measures. This included bringing the share of schools equipped with fire alarms up to 80%. As a result, the number of fires reduced by 55%."
"As you know, the Federation now issues subsidies to the regions to pay remuneration to form teachers. To begin with, we decided to keep these subsidies and therefore these payments. But such a factor as differentials for length of service in the Far North and other areas with special climatic conditions was not taken into account until now when determining the size of these subsidies."
"Russia has maintained good and long-standing relations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Bank has invested over $11 billion in Russian projects, involving economic sectors highly important for the country. These include auto industry projects such as the launch of Volkswagen and Toyota assembly plants in Kaluga and St. Petersburg respectively, as well as power grid modernisation in certain Russian regions and a sewage treatment facilities project in St. Petersburg."
"I consider it expedient to draft a special federal targeted programme of reforming and modernising the housing and utilities sector in the period until 2020."
