Kommersant: “Vladimir Putin smashed the crisis like a tractor”
When he attended a harvest festival at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre
Saturday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the "Golden Autumn" exhibition at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VVTs), where he was educated in the problems of tractor and other agricultural equipment producers. Kommersant special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov noticed that the Prime Minister deliberately avoided the word "crisis".
Every autumn the Prime Minister attends the "Golden Autumn" exhibition at the VVTs. As a rule, Mr Putin visits the "tractor show" and the "Pig-breeding" pavilion, where he makes sure to witness a pig race.
For some unknown reason, many people thought that after assuming his new post as Prime Minister, he would break with tradition and refuse to attend the harvest festival at the VVTs, regardless of the fact that this year the exhibition marks its tenth anniversary. Mr Putin, however, proved to be consistent: he came to the exhibition despite perhaps having no particular interest in the occasion.
The Prime Minister was to arrive at 12 pm. At 2 pm, a German man who was awaiting his arrival at a tractor with the impressive name "Buhler Versatile 4 WD", said to another German (completely sure that they were the only people around who spoke German), "He is two hours late!"
"Nothing of the kind," his colleague replied. "He will arrive at 12 pm sharp, according to German time."
The German's forecast was correct, and I finally understood: Vladimir Putin is never late; in fact, sometimes he even comes early. It is simply that he lives according to German time, which is two hours later than in Russia.
It is clear when he changed his biological rhythm: during his work in Germany. Since then, he has lived according to Berlin time. (Incidentally, everyone should switch to it - it would be far easier to live).
"Mr Putin!" former Governor of the Tula Region and Communist Party member Vasily Starodubtsev exclaimed, rushing up to the Prime Minister. "We will execute foodstuff security, under your leadership!"
"Ensure foodstuff security," Mr Putin corrected him (Mr Starodubtsev, a diligent agricultural worker, might have gotten used to executing the Foodstuff Programme, which is why he confused the two words). The Prime Minister went to the Kirovets-K9450 tractor, with a banner above touting it as "The best tractor of 2008!" It should have been specified that it might be considered to be the best tractor in Russia, but not in Belarus, where they will never admit that there can be anything better than the Belarussian tractor that stood in the neighbouring area.
"It is no worse than Western machines," Kirov Plant CEO Georgy Semenenko said confidently. I guess he might think his tractors to be the best in the world. "Even in its appearance. And it costs 30-40% less. It was assembled using Russian parts at a Russian plant! Only the engine, made by Mercedes, is not Russian," the CEO confessed. "But on the whole, this machine can be regarded as purely Russian."
Mr Semenenko appeared to be a brave man indeed.
"In truth, there are problems with purchasing our machines in rural areas," he told the Prime Minister.
"Why?" the latter asked in surprise.
"The financial crisis has taken a toll on business," the CEO explained to Mr Putin.
"Hey, come on," Agricultural Minister Alexei Gordeyev replied, nudging the CEO with his elbow. "Should you really speak about it today, at the anniversary celebration?"
"I just meant..."
"Forget it, I said," uttered Alexei Gordeyev in a threatening tone.
"... that the crisis is a time of new opportunities!" said Georgy Semenenko, finishing his sentence after all.
"Yes, right you are. You should use leasing schemes," Vladimir Putin said. "Cooperate more actively with leasing companies."
"Rosagrolizing once saved business in rural areas," Mr Semenenko said, "and we hope that..."
"I have already given an order to the Government," the Prime Minister replied (it's amazing that he should have done it so soon - I didn't see him leave at all during the conversation).
"Good. We don't want to yield the market to the Americans," Mr Semenenko sighed (he knew what tool to use to influence Vladimir Putin).
"Yes, but you should realise that the difficulty we are experiencing (apparently, Vladimir Putin deliberately avoids the word ‘crisis' in order not to mention the problem that is actually troubling everyone - A.K.) has affected both you and your competitors."
Thus, the CEO hit Mr Putin's Achilles' heel, but with a different effect than what he expected.
"Hello, Mr Putin," said actor Vladimir Zeldin as he came up to the Prime Minister. "You know, I opened this exhibition during the war, and I was invited to come here today, too (it should be noted that this time, it was Mr Gordeyev, Zubkov and Luzhkov who opened the exhibition - A.K.). Everything is perfect. You know, I often see you on TV (sure he does - A.K.). I have just seen the present you were given."
"How did you like it?" asked the Prime Minister, seemingly showing interest for the first time that morning.
"Oh, it's magnificent!" the famous actor exclaimed.
"You know, it was done to draw the public's attention to the problems of Siberian Tigers," the Prime Minister said abruptly. "It's a critical problem."
"No doubt!" Mr Zeldin agreed.
Mr Putin then went on to see other exhibits and made his next stop at the new Rostselmash combine.
"You have seen our previous combine, Mr Putin," the company's CEO Valery Maltsev reminded the Prime Minister. "You have even been in the cabin."
In fact, he even drove it; I shuddered remembering an event that happened two years ago, when Mr Putin confidently drove a combine to a place where journalists were standing, a move which he later called "training the press".
Vladimir Putin must have recalled that moment, too, since a kind of dreamy smile appeared on his face.
"This new machine looks like a spacecraft," the Prime Minister said looking at the combine.
"Thank you!" the CEO replied gratefully. "And here is a book for you, in which I have outlined my proposals. I have put a great deal of effort into it."
He handed over a thick book to the Prime Minister. The title read, "Real Industrial Policy".
"I really wrote it myself," the CEO murmured as the Prime Minister walked away.
He seemed to have a lot to tell Mr Putin.
At the "Pig-breeding" pavilion Vladimir Putin didn't have the chance to see pig races - something he was expected to watch with interest.
The pigs must have been tired of waiting, and ran their distance according to Moscow time.
