Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Governor of Primorye Territory Sergei Darkin
Transcript of the start of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Darkin, you know that I signed a Government Executive Order providing that the share received by the Russian Federation from the implementation of product-sharing agreements for the Sakhalin 1 and Sakhalin 2 projects, should be received in the form of natural gas, which will then be used to supply the Primorye Territory, particularly Vladivostok. To make this arrangement effective, local and regional authorities must make the necessary decisions regarding low-pressure gas networks to ensure their smooth operation. How are you planning to organise this work?
Sergei Darkin: Mr Putin, first of all many thanks for the Government Order, we have started preparatory work. In line with your instruction, we are working with Gazprom on the construction of gas supply system for the cities. This includes, of course, Vladivostok and regions of the Primorye Territory. We began this work two years ago, and as it stands today design schemes for the main gas pipeline to Vladivostok, to Russky Island have been completed. According to the agreement with the design institute that we signed last week, this year we shall have all design schemes ready for the gas supply system for the whole Primorye Territory. This is a new undertaking for us, since there has never been a gas supply network in the Primorye Territory. We are very grateful to you, Mr Putin. I am confident that we will succeed. We have a year to complete design works for the project and begin supplying gas to the cities and regions in the Primorye Territory. We do not yet know how much this will cost, but I think that we will be able to find the money for it from our local budgets.
Vladimir Putin: And in your opinion, how are the preparations for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum coming along?
Sergei Darkin: Preparations for the APEC summit are going according to the agreed schedule. Construction works at some sites have already begun, design works are underway or almost completed on other projects which are being financed from various sources. We are certain that we will be ready by 2012. We will do our best to make the APEC summit a success. But of course the main thing is that we will build the Far East Federal University, and will completely modernize Vladivostok's infrastructure, which in the long term will be a great help not just to us but to all residents of the Far East.
Vladimir Putin: So work is progressing?
Sergei Darkin: Yes, work is underway. There are some contentious issues here, which we are settling as part of our regular contacts with the Government. Mr Shuvalov is monitoring the work, and Mr Stepashin was here not long ago. We ask to leave us all the summit sites, and find understanding so far. There are some problems with the cost of the projects, but we have suggested several cost cutting measures. I think that the money that has already been allocated by the Government is more than sufficient for us to be able to complete all construction for the APEC summit on time. We will even try to make savings.
Vladimir Putin: That's good.
