Komsomolskaya Pravda: Vladimir Putin: “If necessary, we can tackle problems of any complexity at the highest levels”
The government is considering how to modernize the Armed Forces.
Vladimir Putin began his visit to his native St Petersburg at the Admiralty Shipyards, the oldest in the country. The Prime Minister was invited to launch a new tanker.
The first ship built there was launched by Peter I.
"The tanker is named after the outstanding actor Kirill Lavrov. I personally knew him and he was a true patriot of Russia," Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in his opening address. "Seamen say that how you name a ship determines how it sails. That means that this ship will do credit to its name and do good work in the Arctic."
The seamen from the tanker asked permission to launch the ship. At that moment, a bottle of champagne was smashed against the side of the Kirill Lavrov, and the huge 34-metre-long ship with its deadweight of 70,000 tons began gliding down towards the water. Within minutes, it was seaborne in the Gulf of Finland.
After the ceremony, Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting to discuss the problems of the Armed Forces. He reminded those present that the Armed Forces must be more compact, mobile and combat-ready, and that the share of modern weapons should increase to 70% by 2020.
"Our civilian shipbuilding already produces modern weapons," Mr Putin said. "The tanker launched today is an example. In other words, if necessary, we can tackle problems of any complexity and at the highest technological levels. A similar leap forward must be accomplished in building naval ships. It is necessary to prepare a long-term programme for the sector within a brief space of time."
The Prime Minister warned that the realistic capabilities of the state to finance the sector must be taken into account: "All the programmes should be clearly structured and determined by priority; otherwise, as occasionally happens here, the money will be wasted."
Increasing local content in production is another challenge facing the sector. Mr Putin stressed that there was nothing wrong with our shipbuilders using imported technology and parts. But he said that in the future conditions should be created for Russian ships to be built from 100% domestic materials and units.
* * *
IN THE MEANTIME
The Prime Minister issues orders to save the buildings of the Bolshoi Drama Theatre and the Russian Geographical Society.
KP has reported that several days ago Vladimir Putin congratulated People's Artist Alisa Freindlikh on her birthday. On that occasion, Alisa Freindlikh told the Prime Minister that the actors of the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre had to perform in a building that threatened to collapse. Yesterday, the Prime Minister looked for himself at what was happening to the theatre building. He was taken through the theatre's corridors, shown the peeling walls with gaping cracks in them.
"The Bolshoi Drama Theatre is one of the oldest and best loved theatres not only in St Petersburg but throughout Russia," Putin told the actors over a cup of tea.
He said that the Emergencies Ministry experts had already examined the building and would report back on its state before December 25.
"We are not going to discuss it in detail now because Alisa Freindlikh has to go on stage, and she has to put on her makeup," Putin said.
"I could go on stage without makeup if only the issue with our theatre is solved," the actress laughed.
Later, the Prime Minister said that it had been decided to allocate 200 million roubles to the repair of the building next year. Subsequently, a large stage would have to be found to which the theatre would move while the repairs are underway.
The Prime Minister then headed for the Russian Geographical Society to find that it faced the same problems. Mr. Putin was shown some unique documents, etchings, and a gaping hole in the ceiling.
"This etching shows that song writer Vladimir Vysotsky was wrong when he sang that Captain Cook was eaten up by cannibals," said Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu with a smile as he pointed to a picture in an old book. Rather, it showed the English explorer wrestling with aborigines.
"Why couldn't they eat him up?" Vladimir Putin quipped.
Then the Prime Minister was shown the first Russian dog atlas. "Are there Labradors in it?" asked Putin, who owns a Labrador by the name of Connie.
"Of course there are," those present answered in chorus.
"Well, Mrs Matviyenko, the building has to be restored," Vladimir Putin said addressing St Petersburg governor Valentina Matviyenko.
"Yes, of course," Mrs Matviyenko replied.
Nigina Beroyeva
