Komsomolskaya Pravda: “Putin calls on United Russia members to report their expenses”
Vladimir Putin, who heads United Russia, called such measures a cornerstone of political and economic stability. Delegates from all regions of the Central Federal District attending an interregional partisan conference in Bryansk applauded the prime minister.
"Thank you. But I would like to say that we are not yet doing enough. We need professional specialists and increased labour productivity [...] We must look to the future," he said.
According to Vladimir Putin, 2011 was a highly important time for the country, due to State Duma elections scheduled for December and Russia's entry into a period of post-crisis development.
The prime minister discussed United Russia's achievements in great detail, also listing various areas for improvement, including extremely low public sector wages.
United Russia and the government now plan to solve the neglected issue of misled housing construction shareholders.
"I would like to ask regional leaders to become actively involved in this work," Putin said. "We realise where and how responsibility is being distributed. We've got to solve the problems of an overwhelming majority of misled shareholders by July 1, 2012. And the issue must be settled completely by late 2012."
Putin also reminded the delegates of perennial hikes in the cost of municipal utilities.
"Why? Why must this be done? It appears that someone merely wants to finance affiliated companies," Putin remarked indignantly.
The prime minister also gave significant mention of corruption.
"There should be no come-and-go people or dead weight among our candidates. What we need are decent, professional, and efficient officials. Much is being said about the purity of party
ranks and the crackdown on corruption. Such statements are correct. Apart from income declarations, expenses should be assessed. We should think about the relevant instruments [for doing so]," he noted.
The prime minister was well-disposed towards United Russia members and joked around with his colleagues. When he was briefed on a blood purification project, Putin inquired: "Won't leeches cost less? I've heard that leeches inject a special attenuant."
"They suck out blood," the speaker replied in a puzzled tone.
"First they inject, then they suck out," Putin laughed but promised to support the project.
Numerous projects due to be implemented by United Russia in the Central Federal District were unveiled at the conference. The Kalanchyovsky transport hub project on Moscow's Komsomolskaya Square seems to be the most ambitious venture. Designers hope to begin construction on this ultra-modern transport hub, Europe's largest, in 2016.
There are plans to invest heavily in Central Russian infrastructure. The state will allocate 61 billion roubles for highway construction, and another 50 billion roubles will be spent on airport modernisation.
The conference also discussed the reform of the Interior Ministry, another highly important issue. Some delegates complained about the abbreviations of new agencies.
"Their names are less important than their substance," the prime minister replied, adding that the reform of the Interior Ministry prioritises restructuring and that few former divisions will remain.
"Society will judge this work by its results. We must strive to attain those results," Putin instructed those present.
And, in principle, that doesn't only apply to the new police force.
Andrei Ryabtsev
