Komsomolskaya Pravda: "Putin Permits Kudrin to Spend a Night at the Museum"
Meanwhile, he sent Yelena Skrynnik to the Russian regions to ensure there is enough petroleum and diesel fuel for farming.
Vladimir Putin held a government presidium meeting on Thursday. He opened the meeting with, as he described it, a pleasant announcement. The Nord Stream pipeline's offshore section has been completed.
"[The construction] involved a large group of highly skilled specialists from many countries. Not a single environmental problem occurred," the prime minister said.
The pipeline's first branch will start delivering natural gas to Europe this year, namely to Germany, Belgium, Denmark and the UK. Alongside Gazprom, Nord Stream shareholders include companies from Germany, France and the Netherlands. "This is a large international company," Putin noted.
Later, the prime minister enquired about current affairs. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin informed those present that amendments had been introduced in the State Duma to make pregnancy, baby delivery, child care, unemployment and burial allowance tax-exempt. Kudrin admitted that there had been some misunderstanding among the expert community about these amendments.
"Either you are not good at writing or they are not good at reading," Putin said. "You must keep the public fully informed about the plans of your ministry."
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin spoke about petroleum. He said that the fuel situation was stabilizing. Putin tasked him to collect comprehensive data for the entire country and to monitor any violations along with the Federal Antimonopoly Service.
The Prime Minister instructed Minister of Agriculture Yelena Skrynnik to travel to Russian regions to deal with fuel problems on the ground.
"With your support, we will identify the amount of aid the regions need," the minister said.
"You can be assured of my support," Putin replied. "I'm hearing from the regions that only 30% of the total volume has been made available at discounted prices. Here, I hear reports that everything is in order, while regions say they have no gasoline. I need you to look into the situation on the ground."
Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev reported that on May 18 in Moscow and May 25 in St. Petersburg, the Night at the Museum events will take place for the fifth time. Half a million people are expected to take part in it. The Tretyakov Gallery and the Hermitage will open their depositaries. Exhibitions will be held at Kuskovo and Tsaritsyno. Even the Moscow metro has joined in, with the Kropotkinskaya metro station hosting a concert.
"People will come from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and then attend the concert at Kropotkinskaya," as Avdeyev affectionately described.
"I understand that you are advising everyone to go to a museum that night," the prime minister said, as he addressed the ministers: "Who wants to go?"
Alexei Kudrin raised his hand.
"The Finance Ministry has to do work," Putin pointed out.
"On Sunday, then," Kudrin replied.
The prime minister identified the main issues on the presidium meeting agenda as those of the Customs Union between Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan that was launched last year. Trade between the member countries has grown by 28%. A single market will be set up in 2012 so that goods, services, capital and workforce can move freely. Enterprises of the three countries will receive equal access to state and municipal procurement programmes. According to the prime minister, the Customs Union will help bring the countries even closer to each other.
The prime minister also touched upon issues concerning the Arctic. Russia will set aside 20 million euros for Arctic programmes and the protection of the region's unique environment.
"The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable parts of the planet," the prime minister said. "Arctic resources have been abused. As a result, huge amounts of waste have accumulated around Arctic settlements, mineral deposits, former military bases, ports and airfields. We have decided to carry out a general clean-up of Russian Arctic territories," he concluded.
By Larisa Kaftan
