Vladimir Putin proposes a broad discussion of the measures already taken and new measures proposed for the annual stabilisation plan.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting on economic matters devoted to anti-crisis measures.
Mr Putin proposed a detailed review of all the anti-crisis measures and decisions implemented so far and, based on the results of the review, preparing a comprehensive document comprising both the decisions made and the new plans through end of 2009. The document, according to the Prime Minister, will be submitted to the State Duma together with the budget bills and will be published in the media.
"I think it should be discussed by the expert community, the trade union organisations, the political parties, including those in the Duma, the Public Chamber, and the business associations," the Prime Minister said. In this way, there will be many more constructive proposals. The programme of anti-crisis actions, according to Mr Putin, will continue to be periodically updated and corrected depending on how the economic situation in the world and in Russia develops.
Mr Putin reiterated that the proposed amendment of the budget for the current year would make it possible to direct almost 1.5 trillion roubles toward implementing anti-crisis measures while fulfilling all the Government's social obligations.
The Prime Minister cited some figures. For example, 379 billion roubles will be transferred to the Pension Fund and other off-budget funds. Additional support will be rendered to the banking sector, and additional 150 billion roubles will be transferred to the regions. Russian Railways transport monopoly will get 54.6 billion roubles, and 35 billion roubles of budget money will be used to provide housing for WWII veterans. Extra money will be allocated for other anti-crisis measures, including subsidies of loan interest rates.
Mr Putin recalled that the Government adopted its package of anti-crisis measures back in autumn of last year and the plan has been updated and improved ever since as a result of the dialogue with the regions, the business community, and the trade unions. Additional decisions were made to support individual sectors of industry, strategic enterprises, and socially vulnerable groups of citizens.
The Prime Minister dwelled on the current anti-crisis measures. Financing for programmes aimed at stabilizing the labour market has started. "We recently discussed this theme in Novokuznetsk," Mr Putin recalled. "I repeat, we expect the regional authorities to work actively to implement the employment programmes." Applications continue to be accepted for the use of "maternity capital" to redeem mortgage loans, and agricultural enterprises have already been given access to subsidized loans.
Mr Putin singled out the aviation theme, bringing some good news to the people of the Far East. The Prime Minister recently signed a Government resolution on the procedure of subsidizing airfares for people living in the Far East. It covers individuals under 23 and over 60, i.e. mainly students and pensioners. The subsidies will be made available on a seasonal basis.
"In the period between May 15 and September 15, Far Easterners will enjoy a seasonal discount of 50% on airfares to fly to Moscow, St Petersburg, and the Black Sea coast," the Prime Minister said, adding that the sale of the subsidized tickets will begin on April 1 of this year.
Alexei Ilyin