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Old December 27th, 2019 #41
Alex Him
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Meeting with leadership of the Federal Assembly



Vladimir Putin met with the leadership of the Federation Council and the State Duma to discuss the lawmakers’ performance in 2019 and outline priorities for the development and improvement of legislation next year.



December 24, 2019 - 18:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ms Matviyenko, Mr Volodin, colleagues,

We traditionally meet at the end of the year to look at what has been done over the past twelve months and decide on our priorities for next year.

But first, I would like to thank you all, all members of the lower house and the upper house alike, and all your colleagues in the regions for their constructive and substantive work in the outgoing year 2019.





The laws and regulatory acts adopted this year concerned, in fact, all the key segments of life in our country – social issues, demographics, politics, the economy, security, and protection of the country's sovereignty.

Constructive work has been done on the federal budget law, which is very important. Further funding was secured for national projects. Resources were earmarked for launching primary healthcare modernisation programmes. That work was important and largely unexpected for parliamentarians. They had to examine, analyse and review all these documents quickly, cover to cover, and make corresponding, crucial decisions, calmly and competently. I think the capabilities of the Council of Legislators should be generously employed here. And, it is important to pay attention to feedback – I mean keep control of how our decisions will be implemented.





Among next year’s priorities on the legislative agenda, I would like to highlight improving the business climate and the creation of effective tools to attract and protect investment that help create new jobs for our citizens.

We also need to revise and update the rules and procedures for control and supervision to be able to apply the so-called regulatory guillotine – we have discussed this many times.





An open, broad and vigorous debate is necessary when discussing key draft laws that are important to the people, society, business and the regions. It is necessary to consider all opinions and nuances, to guarantee a system-wide approach and the unity of legal regulation and, of course, consistency in achieving national development goals which are primarily about the well-being of individuals and families in our country.





These goals should unite all constructive and responsible political forces regardless of ideological or fleeting disagreements. There are disagreements, and always will be, but the interests of Russia and our people must always be above fleeting political circumstances.





People expect from each of you, parliamentarians, an honest and effective representation of their interests, adoption of smart and fair laws aimed at positive and tangible changes in the life of every person.

People evaluate the parliament and the Government, and the governance system in general, its ability to hear and to listen to them and make the necessary decisions, by specific results.





Colleagues,

Next year marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We need to come up with ways to provide additional support to our veterans. Please see to this. As you know, things get done much better and faster when a deputy or a senior regional or federal official is personally involved in dealing with a particular issue. We need to think what else we can do for the veterans.





In the international parliamentary dialogue, it is imperative to be decisive and firm when upholding the truth about the war, the victories, the grave losses and trials of our people and the sacrifices that our people put on the altar of victory over Nazism.

I am aware that the Russian parliament always acts in a tough and uncompromising manner when it comes to sacred historical memory, and I want to thank you all for this.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62404






Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin held the traditional New Year meeting with Government members. The participants of the extended meeting reviewed the year and discussed cabinet plans for the future.



December 25, 2019 - 14:00 - Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Prime Minister, colleagues,

Traditionally we meet on the eve of the New Year and sum up some results, although the main ones are reviewed in other formats: at industrial and public meetings and with the media.

Nevertheless, at these meetings we also recall what has been done, what we have failed to do and where we should go. Of course, one positive thing we must note is the establishment of a good macroeconomic base for development.





Of course, this is a unique result. There has never been anything like this in our modern-day history. The Government and the Central Bank have reached the lowest level of inflation: about three percent.

We have discussed this many times at our working meetings, as well as about the fact that perhaps we should not try to achieve what we have today, but maybe invest more money in the economy, so that it develops a little faster. However, all this is just guesswork, while it is obvious that the macroeconomic foundation gives us an opportunity to develop.

Soon we will decide what comes next. But it is clear that the growth speed we have achieved is not enough. We know this all too well and have discussed this plenty of times. We must do everything that we can to speed up economic growth and improve its structure and quality.





The national projects and development targets are all about this. Together, we will work towards achieving these goals. Of course, this has also been said many times; this is not the main goal. The main goal is to improve people’s lives.

There also are tasks concerning the real income of the people. But there were also tangible results over the past year; I mean the infrastructural development, first of all. We are implementing large infrastructural projects. And, of course, this is a good base on which to develop certain key sectors of the economy. I am certain that the main results related to the quality of life of Russia’s citizens must follow. In the last quarter of 2019, even starting from the third quarter, we can see a certain increase in people’s income and real wages.

This trend must be preserved and intensified. We know that increasing people’s income is among the main tasks in this sphere, including for categories of people with the lowest income. This is the number one priority.





This is related to another important task, addressing the demographic problems, because, as a rule, the main burden falls on families with children. We should never forget this. All our next steps in the social sphere must be matched with the results we expect to achieve when addressing benefits for families with children.

This is a large complex. The Government always has a lot of tasks. The Government almost never has days off. The service desk works nonstop, constantly. And the colleagues who are present here – I know this from my own experience, from speaking with you – are always on duty, always in touch, always thinking about what should be done immediately to bring the quality of our work to a new level.

I would like to thank you for all the joint work over this past year and wish you all the best in the new year.

Happy New Year!





Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev:

Mr President, colleagues,

I would like to thank the President for reviewing the Government’s work. These meetings are a good tradition that makes it possible to sum things up, which the President has just done.

It is true that 2019 was the beginning of quite a difficult transformation process in the economy and the social sphere as well as of work on the national priorities and national targets. All the deputies and ministers present here tried to make their contribution to addressing these tasks.

I proceed from the fact that this work is difficult, but it has received a good boost. The implementation of the national projects is proceeding as scheduled. Today, after this meeting, which is celebratory to some degree, there will also be a working meeting of the presidential council at the Kremlin, where my colleagues will report their results and which tasks remain still to be solved.





Next year, many things must be done to decrease the level of poverty, which the President has just mentioned, to develop the social sphere, support families with children and develop the economy in the broad sense of the word; I mean attracting investment, developing the infrastructure, lifting administrative barriers and addressing an entire range of tasks concerning the business climate. The Government will have to work on all this.

Mr President, on behalf of the Government I would like to once again thank you for the attention you have given to the Government’s activities, for staying in touch with us and for making speedy decisions if necessary.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy New Year on behalf of the Government, and to get some rest, if possible.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62408






Meeting of Council for Strategic Development and National Projects



Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects in the Kremlin.



December 25, 2019 - 17:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The meeting participants discussed the dynamics and indicators of the national projects’ implementation and their financing. In particular, they focused on the results of the national projects in the social sphere, transport infrastructure, the digital economy and industry.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, at this meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects with Government ministers, governors and heads of agencies and business organisations, we will discuss how our plans are being implemented, which goals and limits we have achieved and where we have problems.

I would like to begin by saying that the development of the economy, infrastructure, demography, healthcare, environment and culture are, of course, the most important areas.

National projects are a unique tool, as we all know and understand. There has never been anything like this before to achieve the goals in the spheres I have listed.





Even the fact that these projects have been launched means that Russia’s capabilities have grown significantly, and that we are addressing tasks at a completely different level. We must, and what is most important, we can do it.

Preparations for this work began in the middle of last year. We put in place a legislative and methodological base and launched the mechanisms of cooperation between government agencies, businesses and the people. A lot of effort and time has been put into this.





Today, at the end of the year, the first results of the national projects’ implementation can be summed up. We certainly have results. About a million Russian families with children received support under the so-called demographic package of measures – these are payments for the first and second children, soft mortgage loans and mortgage subsidies for large families.

An ambitious nursery programme is being implemented. We are doing our best to solve this important and sensitive problem for families, for young mothers. Over two years, almost 54,000 additional places were created in nurseries, and the remaining deficit will be completely eliminated by 2021. But let me remind you that as of December 1, 2019, the nursery waiting list included 194,210 people. When the programme was launched on January 1, 2018, the figure was 272,255 people.





Over 2,000 schools received high-tech equipment for educational programmes for digital and humanitarian areas this year. The transition to a new promising model of network school education has begun, when teaching is carried out using the infrastructure of universities, businesses and technology parks, that is, the efforts of all these institutions are brought together.

The system of preventive medical check-ups has been launched throughout the country, and for the first time they include mandatory cancer screenings. This year, about 60 million people have had these check-ups.

Resettlement of unsafe housing residents is carried out ahead of schedule; I have already mentioned this recently in one of my public speeches. The plans for the year were to resettle a little more than 8,000 people, but in fact about 30,000 people received new housing.





Almost 14,000 kilometres of regional and local roads were repaired, which is almost three times more than last year. We cleared 24,000 kilometres of coastline and adjacent water areas of rivers and lakes, including the Volga River, Lake Baikal and our other unique water sites.

I would like to thank the volunteers, about a million people, for their active and direct participation in this work. Of course, all these are individual examples, but they show that the general direction of movement and the mechanisms for implementing the national projects were chosen correctly.

At the same, we have not done everything we planned. Some important indicators have not been reached, above all a decrease in the mortality rate. In general, there has been a decrease, but there are issues requiring special attention, such as deaths from cardiovascular and oncological diseases. We hoped to achieve this, but have not done it so far.





Over the course of 10 months, 579.9 out of 100,000 died from circulatory diseases with the expected number being 575 per year. It is close, but still the target indicator has not been reached. The same goes for deaths from tumours: there were 203.2 per 100,000 with the expected number of 199.5. It is also close, but the indicators have not been reached.

The support of exports is another area requiring greater effort. I am now talking about issues concerning the economy and industry. This year’s export was almost $8 billion short of plan.

Of course, price factors, the situation on the market and many other things played their role here, this is true. I have a report here from experts – both government and independent experts – that shows that this mostly happened due to objective circumstances. However, this means that the measures taken to encourage exports must be more effective, profound and thorough.





And, of course, the main and key results we still have to achieve is to really improve people’s lives, to make changes that all citizens would feel. I am not sure most people feel this now. Various public opinion polls also prove this, including polls from the agencies we cannot but trust, such as the Federal Guard Service.

The results of the 18 months of work show us several system-wide problems, and I would like to talk about them in greater detail.

First, failures in the readjustment of the governance system. For the first time we are changing the way government bodies work all across Russia. We are promoting the project approach based on the achievement of specific targets and results.





Second, the tasks and steps we must accomplish in order to achieve these goals have been formulated. Finally, money has been allocated especially for these goals and responsible officials have been appointed. We have never done anything like this on the scale of a state programme. Some federal officials in the regions are not used to such work, and we have never practiced this before.

In this sense, there are proposals to correct the key indicators in the projects. Let me say this once again, we will not do this, because we must not lower the level we set to achieve these goals. Just one step is enough to let everything go. I do not believe it viable to revise the national development goals. Any attempt to lower the indicators to work as we often worked would be harmful and unacceptable.





I would like to note once again that breakthroughs in the work of the government agencies and new up-to-date approaches at all levels of management are the most important thorough results of the national projects. The second system-wide problem is that cooperation between federal and regional bodies is not good enough. Let me remind you that the majority of the tasks stipulated in the national projects are executed in the Russian regions.

There are projects where more than half of the expenses are at the regional level where the money is invested. Just for reference: the share of regional budgets (of course, it is not just regional money but also transfers from the federal budget which are spent locally) in the Safe and High-Quality Roads national projects accounts for 94 percent (a high number, 4.2 trillion overall), 58 percent in Housing and Urban Environment and 57 percent in Education.





Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that agreements with the regions are signed and money is allocated, and our federal colleagues believe that their relations with the regional officials are over. At the end of the year, the region must report to them, and that is it. I believe this approach is wrong.

I would like to repeat once again, the federal authorities must stay in constant contact with their colleagues from the regions and municipalities. They must assist them in solving problems and provide support in difficult and non-standard situations. We need close cooperation on a daily basis, full partnership and readiness to work together in a new and more effective way.





The third problem is the irregularity of financing for the national projects, the inflexibility, I would say, and sometimes the rigidity of this mechanism.

Let me remind you that unprecedented funds have been allocated for these projects. This year 1.75 trillion rubles were allocated from the federal budget alone. However, our colleagues from the ministries and regions often say that budgeting procedures are awkward and overly bureaucratic. Resources are provided irregularly and shifted towards the end of the year, and these problems have not been eliminated even with the introduction of the e-budget.

For example, the cash execution of national projects totalled 74.8 percent as of the end of November. It is unclear whether this is good or bad, perhaps it is fine if we keep in mind what happened with budget financing in previous years. But one of such key areas, practically the main one or at least an extremely important one, is the digital economy, with cash execution totalling 27.3 percent, while that of the environment amounts to 39.8 percent.





I draw your attention to the need to improve the financial mechanisms of national projects. I know that at the end of the year, this is no surprise, at the end of the year the flywheel spins faster, but we need the whole system to work rhythmically throughout the year. It is necessary to improve this mechanism, to propose convenient solutions for the executors, for their steady and precise work on schedule.

Next. The national projects are a huge resource for the development of domestic industry and the creation of new high-tech production in Russia. Trillions of rubles are allocated for the purchasing of machinery and equipment. These funds, as we agreed, should mainly work in the country’s economy and contribute to its qualitative growth.

Instructions towards this end were issued back in 2018, but only now is there an understanding of how to organise this process. As a result, we have almost lost this year because we took too long to collect our thoughts. Let me remind you that very soon it is necessary to adopt all regulatory changes, and in the first quarter of next year we must launch a mechanism to control and monitor equipment procurement under national projects, so that it is transparent who buys what, where and how.





We can largely help solve the task of defence industry enterprises’ diversification using these resources, and we must do so. Obviously, there must be competition and we should not forget the best examples offered by the global market. However, first and foremost we must support Russian producers and encourage the best international standards so that once they become established on the domestic market, they would be able to offer their products on the global markets. We must use the mechanism I have already mentioned, support of exports.

Of course, the national projects must focus on Russians and Russian families. Their interests, needs and problems, which concern people the most. Let me repeat, people do not always and everywhere feel the results of the national projects, even where there are real results; this is what the polls show, too.





This is curious: according to the poll conducted by the Federal Guard Service in September, 30.6 percent of the respondents did not know about the implementation of the national projects at all. How can this be? We have spoken so much about this. Let us just allocate some money for informational coverage.

In fact, this is important: when people know nothing, they do not understand what the government does well, and, on the contrary, when people are more involved in these problems, the feedback is better, and we can adjust our practical work to get a better effect. In April, there were even more respondents who did not know about the implementation: 31.7 percent.





Moreover, there are examples when the most important decisions had to be revised only because they were not explained to the people. And if people asked about them, they did not receive an answer. First of all, I mean the situation with waste management.

Communication and staying in touch with the people and public organisations must be the basis of our actions, and we must always strictly comply with people’s interests. Let us always keep this in mind in our practical work.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62411
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Old December 27th, 2019 #42
Alex Him
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Meeting with Russian business leaders



Vladimir Putin met with representatives of Russian business circles and associations. The meeting was held in the Alexander Hall at the Grand Kremlin Palace.



December 25, 2019 - 19:15 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good evening.

By tradition, we get together before the New Year. This time we are meeting in such a beautiful setting, I would say, a regal interior. And that is as it should be, because we wanted to create a good and positive atmosphere for you, which could at the same time get you geared towards a positive joint result in our work.

As you know, the overall economic situation is satisfactory. The macroeconomic situation has remained stable, and inflation and unemployment are low. The national currency exchange rate is also stable. In general, all these are very good prerequisites for achieving great results that could be demonstrated on this basis.





We have retained a favourable dynamic in the growth of the GDP, but, of course, we cannot be satisfied with our growth rates. We understand what needs to be done; we are trying to implement our plans to create the necessary conditions for building up our efforts to improve the growth rates, and we are working on the business climate. You know it very well, too. In fact, we are doing this together. We are active in implementing our plans regarding the so-called regulatory guillotine. Hopefully, we will approach the solutions to these issues by the end of the year.





It is always important for us to hear your opinion about how we performed over the past year as government authorities, and what, in your view, is regarded as positive factors in order to increase investments. We need to increase them in the near future to 25 and then to 27 percent. Indeed, it is an absolutely achievable indicator, given that we have over 21 percent at present. Therefore, 25 percent is an absolutely attainable result.





We know that there are unresolved issues as well. I have just spoken with my colleagues from the Government, from the regions and public organisations on these issues. We discussed in detail what has been done in carrying out national projects.





I do realise that this is not a production meeting. We did not arrange our work this way previously. After all, the main goal was to meet with you and wish you a happy New Year and thank you for our joint work. Nevertheless, it is important to hear your comments regarding the results of our joint work in the past year.

So let us proceed as usual: I will give you the floor, you will speak in this magnificent and formal setting and then we will pass to the adjoining room and continue informally, without the media and the cameras… It is always relaxing and gives you the opportunity to speak frankly. It will have to be brief but we will talk about the main results of the outgoing year.

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62412






Friendly game of the All-Russian Night Hockey League



Vladimir Putin took part in a friendly game of the All-Russian Night Hockey League on the eve of New Year on a skating rink on Red Square.



December 25, 2019 - 23:30 - Red Square, Moscow







As usual, the Russian leader wore his No. 11 jersey. His team included Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and legendary Russian hockey players Pavel Bure, Valery Kamensky, Sergei Fyodorov and Alexei Kasatonov.





























They played against governors Andrei Vorobyov and Alexei Dyumin, business managers Gennady Timchenko, Vladimir Potanin and Roman Rotenberg, musician Igor Butman and others.


























Vladimir Putin’s team won 8–5.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62414






State Council meeting



Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the State Council on the state agricultural policy. The agenda included effective agricultural production and development of rural areas.



December 26, 2019 - 15:50 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The main reports were presented by Altai Territory Governor Viktor Tomenko and Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we have an important issue on our agenda; we will discuss the state agricultural policy.

You have probably noticed that recently, ahead of our meeting, I have met with representatives of the agricultural complex in Adygeya. The conversation was lively, direct and very interesting: the people who work on land, in rural areas, are like that everywhere.





My goal was to talk to people working in agriculture ahead of our meeting to hear from them on how they regard what the state is doing to develop agriculture. And you know, in general, most of the feedback was positive.

But there are also issues that require our special focus, such as the economics of agricultural production, comfortable living conditions and people’s prosperity and, of course, the further promotion of Russian agriculture as an advanced and globally competitive sector.





Let us look at the situation in the industry and its potential contribution to the nationwide goals set for the agro-industrial complex, as well as what else the state can and must do for the millions of rural workers and their families, for those who feed the country and who live and work in rural areas. We know that they are working honestly, efficiently and effectively, because we can see their achievements and take pride in them.





The average growth rates in agriculture were recently higher than throughout the Russian economy. Even when the GDP was declining, our farmers reported growth. In January to November of this year, agricultural production increased by another 4.1 percent. It is notable that not only large holding companies and firms, but also small and family farms are gradually increasing their contribution to the total performance. It has grown from 7.2 percent in 2010 to 12.9 percent this year.





This year we can report a record harvest of sugar beet, sunflower seeds and soybeans. Preliminary forecasts predict a bumper grain harvest as well, around 121 million tonnes. An annual grain harvest of over 100 million tonnes is becoming a stable trend. Once seen as a record-breaking harvest, it is becoming the norm. Just for the record: we harvested 113.3 million tonnes of grain in 2018 and over 135 million tonnes in 2017. Russia’s largest crop harvest in the Soviet period was 127.4 million tonnes in 1978.





It should be said in this connection that we have exceeded the targets set for a number of key commodities in the Food Security Doctrine. Under it, the share of domestic products on our market should have reached 95 percent this year, but the current figure is already 99.7 percent. The target for sugar was 80 percent, but the actual figure will be 95.5 percent. The target for meat and meat products was 85 percent; the currently estimated figure is 92.6 percent. And the planned figure for fish products was 80 percent whereas it will be 82.2 percent.





Agricultural exports, including both the export of agricultural raw materials and added-value goods, will have exceeded $24 billion this year, and our goal for 2024 is $45 billion. It looks like an attainable goal.

At the same time, I am certain that the sector cannot develop, reach new levels and attract young and qualified personnel unless we deal with a pivotal issue. What issue is that? The quality of life in rural areas. Our rural areas are still lagging behind in terms of social development, everyday comfort and infrastructure development. I would like to reiterate that this gap is especially obvious against the backdrop of impressive successes of the Russian agro-industrial sector.





According to estimates, the general level of availability of all kinds of public amenities in rural areas, including water and heating supply, gas and the housing and utility system is a little more than 34 percent, while it is almost 80 percent in cities. The situation with other social, education and healthcare facilities, as well as roads, is even worse.





One of the most crucial problems is the level and quality of primary medical care in villages. In all, huge money will be allocated for this purpose all across Russia. As you know, we have found an additional 550 billion rubles. The regions’ task is to conclude preparations of relevant regional programmes. Let me remind you that they should be adopted by July 1, 2020. They must also include the opinions of rural residents, outline clear measures in construction, major repairs and renovation of buildings, finding personnel for rural medical and obstetric centres, district hospitals and outpatient clinics, and fitting them out with new equipment.





Another system-wide problem is the average salary in agriculture. It is only two thirds of the national average. I want to draw the attention of employers to this. You should think more about the people who stand behind your success and move the industry forward.

I would like to add that more than half, approximately 53 percent of people with low incomes live in rural areas. Therefore, our priority, nation-wide task is to reduce and overcome poverty in rural areas.





Agriculture in rural areas does not have a relevant national project. But I want to emphasise that their interests must be taken into account in each of our projects, and the plans and activity of various agencies muse be coordinated.

In May 2019, state programme was adopted for the comprehensive development of rural areas. People have noticed it, they understand it and are expecting results. It is aimed at supporting initiatives on the ground, that is, projects that are crucially important for specific villages, their residents and local businesses.





On December 23, many meeting participants in Adygeya asked me whether this programme could be used to support projects focused on the building of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture specialist training and so on. However, less money than planned is envisaged in the 2020 budget. Naturally, when the budget is adjusted, many priority issues are addressed. But I think you will agree with me that rural areas and the topics I have just outlined are undoubtedly among our priorities.





It is obvious that we must improve the effectiveness, performance and the basic state programmes for agricultural development. We should continue subsidising Russian producers of agricultural equipment. I have already issued instructions, and it is important and necessary both for agriculture and for Russian industry in general, for our engineering and other related sectors.





I ask you to develop measures to reduce the cost of electricity for farmers and agricultural cooperatives. People also ask about this. I know that we have discussed this and it is clear why the cost for small enterprises is higher than for large ones; this is voltage-related, clearly. But it is also clear that we must support farmers, and they do not have any other way but to rely on the state, so we must find a solution. I will not go into detail now, but there are details.

Colleagues, Russia’s food security must not only be guaranteed by production volumes but also by quality. Promising research in plant selection, cattle-breeding and new fodder are very important. Comprehensive measures must be taken to ensure veterinary security.





In general, the sustainable development principle remains the main guideline for us, which means aiming at making a significant, noticeable improvement in the quality of life in rural areas. Efficient use of resources and priority of environment-friendly agricultural technologies that will not destroy our natural potential for generations to come mean producing and promoting Russian green brands. I spoke about this in my Address to the Federal Assembly.

This is a global trend. And we definitely have some competitive advantages here. Of course, our products on the global markets can be safe, environmentally friendly and of high quality. And we must maximise this competitive edge.

Of course, what I have just outlined are only a number of issues we must focus on in the development of agriculture and rural areas. I hope that during our meeting today we will discuss everything in detail.


<…>


Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

I would like to thank you for your active participation in our joint work today. This means that the topic we have been discussing today is really important and concerns the interests of the entire country, almost all the Russian regions.





It is important for many of our citizens. We know these numbers. Almost 40 percent are in some way connected to work in rural areas. Not just farmers, but everyone who works in the villages in culture, education, healthcare, agricultural sciences and so on. We have enormous development potential here without a doubt. There are a lot of issues and a lot of problems. But there also are proposals on how to solve them.

I presume that not only will we prepare good, smart, workable proposals following the work of the State Council working group and our discussion today, but that they will be executed both at the federal and regional levels.

I would like to wish you a happy New Year. All the best.

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62418






Gala New Year’s Eve event



Vladimir Putin attended a gala New Year’s Eve event at the Bolshoi Theatre.



December 26, 2019 - 19:30 - Moscow







Among the guests invited to attend the festive event were members of the Government, members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, heads of political parties and regional executive authorities, representatives of the judicial authorities, academics, athletes, cultural figures, the military, traditional faith leaders and the heads of major companies and civic organisations.

The event programme featured one-act ballets, the Carmen Suite and Diamonds.

The ballet Carmen Suite was first performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1967. Music was arranged by Rodion Shchedrin based on Georges Bizet’s famous opera. The part of Carmen was performed by Maia Plisetskaya. In 2005, the performance was resumed.

The ballet Diamonds to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s music is one of the three acts from the ballet Jewels by George Balanchine, which he first staged for the New York City Ballet Company in 1967. The premier performance of Jewels at the Bolshoi Theatre took place in 2012.







Russian President Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, friends,





We have again met at the Bolshoi Theatre for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Last time we met here for New Year’s Eve and ahead of the Year of Theatre, and it seemed to me that many liked the way we met to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Clearly, all of you are busy and you do not have much time to visit the Bolshoi. Therefore, an opportunity like this seems to be a nice gift for each of us.





Today, we look forward to the wonderful emotions that classical music always charges us with, all the more so as it will be performed by brilliant musicians at the country’s main theatre.





Two of the best ballets in the world will be performed today on this famous stage: the captivating Carmen Suite and Diamonds by Balanchine. I am sure that the great music and choreography combined with friendly and informal communication will create a pleasant atmosphere for our meeting and put us in a good mood for New Year’s Eve.





Hope is what always brings us together ahead of the New Year. We hope that the new year will be better than the previous one. We know that each year brings with it new achievements, new names and new discoveries and gives us new experience – professional and worldly. But what is invariable is our desire to work for the common good, for our Motherland, for the prosperity of our country, so people can live better in practice rather than in word.





Of course, on the eve of the New Year, we review what has been done over the previous year, how the country lived in 2019 and what it has under its belt at the beginning of 2020. All this, all these results, are, to a large extent, results achieved by the people who have gathered here today. I would like to thank you for this.





With all my heart, I wish you every success in 2020. I wish you health. Happy New Year.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62423






Meeting with Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev



Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Yevgeny Zinichev.



December 27, 2019 - 12:05 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The Minister reported on the Ministry’s performance in 2019 and plans for the future organisation of its work.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Yevgeny Zinichev, current and former Emergencies Ministry staff on their professional holiday, Rescue Worker’s Day.



President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Zinichev, it is your professional holiday today. I would like to congratulate you and all Ministry employees on Rescue Worker’s Day. The Ministry’s work is well-coordinated, seamless and efficient.

Rescuers are often the last hope of those who find themselves in emergency situations. And the Ministry’s workers always come to the rescue. Their assistance must be provided in time and in full.

Your Ministry is large, and as I said, well-coordinated. I wish every success to you and your staff.





Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Yevgeny Zinichev:

Mr President, thank you. Thank you for your interest in the Ministry’s activities.

If I may, I would like to say a few words about the events the Ministry was involved in this year.

2019 was not an easy year for us, basically, as is usually the case, I guess. In total, there were 261 emergencies in Russia: both natural and anthropogenic. There were three disasters on a federal scale.

Our units also took part in extinguishing 460,000 anthropogenic fires and responded to 3,420 water emergencies. They responded to 100,000 car accidents. In total, the Emergencies Ministry units rescued over 250,000 people this year.

However, the year was really intense. It started with relief efforts following a horrible tragedy in Magnitogorsk where a section of a residential building collapsed.

Wildfires in the Trans-Baikal Territory were the next trial for us. The landscape fires spread to villages and towns and damaged 17 of them, including 111 residential buildings with almost 500 victims. Fortunately, no one died.

And, of course, a massive flood in the Irkutsk Region. This was a serious challenge. Almost 135 settlements were hit by the flood, with nearly 11,000 buildings damaged; about 5,500 of them were beyond repair.

Unfortunately, 26 people fell victim to the flood. The total loss to the federal budget exceeded 40 billion rubles.

Of course, it was important for us to deal with the rainfall floods on the Amur River in the Far Eastern Federal District. It must be said that there was no loss of life there either; and we made effective use of the active warning technology. I can elaborate, if necessary.

Over the course of nine months we had a difficult forest-fire situation. Fortunately, we prevented fire from spreading to inhabited areas and killing people. The fires were in Yakutsk, the Irkutsk Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of smoke contamination, affecting over 600 locations. The Defence Ministry played an active role in extinguishing the fires, and the task was successfully accomplished. We have proposals on how to improve this work.



Vladimir Putin:

Good.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62431






Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council



Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council.



December 27, 2019 - 15:20







Participants in the meeting discussed the current matters of the country’s socioeconomic development.











In follow-up to recent telephone conversations the President had with his foreign colleagues, the meeting participants discussed the developments in Syria with a focus on the increased terrorist activity in Idlib; they also touched upon the events in Libya and spoke in favour of supporting international settlement efforts in that country.











The President also noted the need to smooth operation of ministries and agencies during the upcoming long New Year holidays.











The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62433
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Telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the United States of America Donald Trump at the initiative of the Russian side.



December 29, 2019 - 18:55



Vladimir Putin thanked Donald Trump for information sent through special services that has helped thwart terrorist acts in Russia.

The two presidents discussed a range of issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62518






New Year greetings to foreign heads of state and government



President of Russia Vladimir Putin extended his greetings on Christmas and the New Year 2020 to heads of foreign states and governments, as well as leaders of international organisations.



December 30, 2019 - 12:00



In his message to President of the Republic of Abkhazia Raul Khadjimba, Vladimir Putin noted the dynamic development of Russian-Abkhazian relations based on the principles of alliance and strategic partnership, and expressed confidence that they would further build up mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

In his message to President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his readiness for constructive joint work to build up mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all areas for the benefit of both countries’ citizens, and in the interest of strengthening international stability and security.

The Russian leader also extended New Year greetings to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, pointing out that relations with Armenia, based on centuries-old traditions of fraternal friendship and mutual respect, are highly valued in Russia. Vladimir Putin noted that the further development of our allied ties, constructive bilateral cooperation in all spheres, and partnership in Eurasian integration processes meet the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two states and contribute to ensuring regional security and stability.

In his greetings addressed to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, he emphasised the high level of Russian-Azerbaijani relations and expressed confidence that Russia and Azerbaijan would jointly ensure the further development of their strategic partnership and constructive interaction, which fully meets the interests of both nations, and contributes to strengthening security and stability in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.

The President of Russia sent holiday greetings to President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The message highlights that a significant anniversary was marked in 2019 – the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty establishing the Union State. Russia and Belarus have been able to do a lot to develop the entire range of bilateral ties and implement joint projects in various fields. The Russian leader expressed hope for the continuation of a substantive dialogue and constructive joint work in the coming year to develop the bilateral strategic partnership and promote mutually beneficial integration processes.

In his holiday greetings to President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Russia emphasised that Brazil's 2019 BRICS Presidency fully confirmed the country's constructive and interested approach to cooperation within this association, and noted that the Russian side, taking over the leadership of the Five, also intends to work effectively for the sake of enhancing the BRICS authority and promoting common approaches to pressing problems on the international agenda. Vladimir Putin expressed hope for the continuation of a substantive and productive dialogue.

In his message of Christmas, New Year, and Birthday greetings to Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the development of constructive, mutually respectful, bilateral cooperation in various fields is entirely in the interests of the peoples of Russia and Canada.

In his message of greeting to President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping on the occasion of the New Year and the upcoming Spring Festival, Vladimir Putin noted that much has been done lately to strengthen the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, while the agreements reached in the wake of last year’s meetings opened up new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas. In particular, the Russian President pointed out that supplies of Russian gas to China via the eastern route were launched, and that the successful Region-to-Region Cooperation Years made it possible to expand mutually beneficial ties on the local level. The President noted that Russia attaches great importance to implementing the next major bilateral project, which is the Years of Russian-Chinese Scientific, Technical and Innovative Cooperation, and expressed his belief that joint efforts will help build up relations between Russia and China and expand their constructive interaction in international affairs.

Vladimir Putin sent Christmas and New Year greetings to President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, and noted the progressive development of Russian-Croatian cooperation and expressed confidence that the further promotion of bilateral relations fully complied with the interests of the two countries.

The President of Russia also sent his greetings to President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro as the Republic celebrates its national holiday, Liberation Day, as well as Christmas and New Year. In his message, the President noted that relations between the two countries are based on good traditions of friendship and mutual respect and have been quite dynamic in the outgoing year: the political dialogue was expanded, and promising joint projects in energy, transport, industrial infrastructure and personnel training were worked through. The President said he looked forward to further strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership for the benefit of the peoples of Russia and Cuba.

In his message of greetings to President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman, Vladimir Putin emphasised that his participation in the events in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory over the Nazis will, of course, symbolise friendship and mutual respect between the Russian and Czech nations.

In his season’s greetings to President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, Vladimir Putin mentioned the 2019 bilateral meetings in St Petersburg and Helsinki, which allowed to outline ways to further promote Russian-Finnish ties in key areas. The President also noted that Russia highly valued its neighbourly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Finland.

In his message of greetings to President of France Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin noted that the meetings in Bregancon and Paris reaffirmed that cooperation between Russia and France remained an important factor of stability in international affairs. Vladimir Putin thanked Emmanuel Macron for his cooperation and expressed hope that next year Russia and France would be able to strengthen bilateral ties. The President of Russia said that he expected to see Emmanuel Macron at Victory Day events to commemorate the Russian and French soldiers who gave their lives to fight the invaders.

The Russian President extended his Christmas and New Year greetings to Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel. Among other things, the President emphasised in his messages that a number of Russian-German projects have been implemented recently, including as part of the cross years of scientific research and educational partnerships, and that the Russian Seasons cultural programme was successfully completed in Germany. The Russian President expressed confidence that the upcoming year marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II would see the continued development of Russian-German cooperation on pressing items on the bilateral and international agendas.

In his greetings to Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Vladimir Putin indicated that Russia expects to continue working together to strengthen Russian-Greek relations based on the good traditions of friendship and spiritual closeness.

Addressing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin stressed that continued Russian-Hungarian relations, constructive dialogue and cooperation in various areas fully meet the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

In his messages of greetings addressed to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President of Russia highlighted the high level of bilateral relations, emphasising that the agreements reached during the talks in Vladivostok paved the way for building up mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, and for the coordination of efforts in resolving current issues on the regional and international agenda. Vladimir Putin also recalled that 2020 would mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Russia and India, expressing confidence that this important anniversary would be marked by new achievements in the development of bilateral cooperation.

In his message to Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin noted that Russia values its friendship with Israel and is determined to work dedicatedly next year to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas, which undoubtedly meets the interests of the two nations and contributes to ensuring stability and security in the Middle East.

Addressing President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and the country’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, Vladimir Putin noted that despite the difficult international situation, Russian-Italian relations continued to develop. The President of Russia shared his warm memories of the meetings in Rome and said he looked forward to continuing joint work both on bilateral issues and on the international agenda.

Addressing Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, the Russian President spoke highly of mutual understanding with the Japanese leader, which was fully confirmed during recent meetings in Moscow, Osaka and Vladivostok. Vladimir Putin pointed out the importance of the consistent implementation of existing bilateral agreements, which creates proper conditions for the progressive development of Russian-Japanese relations in politics, trade, the economy, culture and other areas. The President expressed his conviction that the upcoming Year of Russian-Japanese Region-to-Region and Twin-City Exchanges would bring the two countries closer, and stressed that he would be pleased to see Shinzo Abe during the celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In his message to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Vladimir Putin noted the important fact that the two countries have not only fully preserved the accumulated potential of Russian-Kazakh relations, but also continue joint efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership, alliance and neighbourly contacts. According to the Russian President, the coordination of efforts between Moscow and Nur-Sultan as part of the Eurasian Economic Union, CSTO, SCO and other multilateral platforms has been very rewarding. Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that in the coming year, interaction between the two states would continue to develop even further.

In his message of greeting to President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in, Vladimir Putin pointed out the dynamic nature of bilateral relations, stressing that the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea would celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2020. The Russian President expressed confidence that Mutual Exchange Years dedicated to this anniversary would further strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between the Russian and Korean peoples.

In his New Year message to President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Vladimir Putin noted the progress in strengthening the Russian-Kyrgyz strategic partnership and alliance and expressed confidence that Russia and Kyrgyzstan would continue close mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas in 2020, which has been declared a cross-year between our two countries.

In his message of greetings to President of Moldova Igor Dodon, Vladimir Putin highlighted the long-standing bonds of friendship and spiritual closeness between Russia and Moldova and expressed confidence that the development of constructive bilateral dialogue and cooperation in various fields meets the common interests of the two countries.

In his message of greeting to Reigning Prince of Monaco Albert II, the President of Russia expressed hope that next year would be an auspicious one for Russia-Monaco relations and would open up new prospects for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

Vladimir Putin conveyed his New Year and Christmas greetings to President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, noting with satisfaction that the agreements reached following the meetings in Belgrade and Sochi opened up new prospects for bilateral cooperation in many areas. Vladimir Putin stressed he was looking forward to seeing Aleksandar Vucic at celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In his message of greetings to President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, the President of Russia noted that Russian-Slovenian relations were based on traditions of friendship and spiritual kinship and expressed confidence that next year the joint work to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, culture and other areas would continue.

In his message of greetings to President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, the Russian President stated that bilateral meetings in Osaka and Sochi confirmed the high level of relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa, and also expressed the conviction that implementation of the existing agreements would further enhance Russian-South African comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination within the UN, the G20, BRICS and other multilateral forums.

In his New Year and Christmas greetings to President of the Republic of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov, Vladimir Putin noted that many projects have been implemented recently that have promoted South Ossetia’s socioeconomic development and statehood, and expressed hope for continued joint work to build up bilateral cooperation on various tracks in 2020.

The President of Russia extended his Christmas and New Year greetings to King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia, expressing hope that the coming year would open up new opportunities for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

In his message of greetings to Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven, the President of Russia noted that the bilateral meeting in St Petersburg reaffirmed the significant potential of Russian-Swedish relations and he expressed confidence that the development of constructive bilateral cooperation would be in the interests of both nations and would promote prosperity and stability in northern Europe.

In his message of greetings to President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad, the Russian leader reaffirmed his commitment to further developing relations of friendship and cooperation with Syria and confirmed his constant support for the country’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Vladimir Putin expressed hope that next year the final return of peace to Syria would become closer.

His greetings to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon highlighted the intensive development of strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Tajikistan. Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the implementation of agreements achieved during Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Moscow in April will serve to further build up bilateral cooperation in all areas, as well as constructive interaction towards ensuring regional security and stability.

In his New Year greetings to President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin noted that Russia and Turkey had managed to achieve significant success in the implementation of mutually beneficial strategic projects, including in energy and military and technical cooperation and to outline new prospective areas for the development of Russian-Turkish trade and economic ties. Moscow and Ankara closely cooperated in fighting terrorism in Syria and together helped launch the political settlement process in the country. The President of Russia noted that next year would mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Turkey and expressed confidence that this significant date would be marked by new achievements in the development of bilateral cooperation.

The President of Russia extended his New Year greetings to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, noting with satisfaction the dynamic development of the dialogue between Russia and Turkmenistan, and their constructive trade, economic, energy, and humanitarian cooperation. Vladimir Putin emphasised that Turkmenistan’s successful chairmanship of the CIS has contributed to greater effectiveness of multilateral cooperation mechanisms within the CIS. The Russian leader expressed confidence that productive joint work to strengthen the two countries’ strategic partnership would continue in the coming year.

In his message of greetings to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Boris Johnson, Vladimir Putin noted that continued Russian-British relations based on equality and mutual benefit would contribute to strengthening international stability and security.

In a Christmas and New Year greeting message to President of the United States of America Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin noted that Russia and the US were historically responsible for ensuring global security and stability, and that Moscow speaks in favour of normalising bilateral relations and establishing an equal dialogue based on the mutual respect of interests. The President of Russia also reaffirmed his invitation to Donald Trump to visit Moscow to take part in the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Addressing President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Russian President noted with satisfaction the progressive development of the strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Uzbekistan. He noted that the two states have recently accomplished a lot to expand their mutually beneficial bilateral ties in the political, trade, economic, energy, humanitarian and many other areas. Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to the Russian Federation in 2020 would help consolidate prior achievements and outline the prospects for further cooperation between the two states.

In a message of greeting to President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, the Russian President emphasised that the September talks in Moscow confirmed that Russia and Venezuela see eye to eye on key items on the bilateral and international agendas, and expressed confidence that next year both countries would continue constructive joint work on expanding their strategic partnership and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas.

The Russian President extended greetings on the New Year and on the coming Tet Holiday, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, to Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. In his message, Vladimir Putin noted with satisfaction the progress in comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam, stating that the countries’ joint efforts will promote bilateral ties in the political, trade, economic, military, defence, cultural and other areas.

In his Christmas and New Year greetings to His Holiness Pope Francis, Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that their meeting in July contributed to strengthening relations between Russia and the Vatican, and expressed his intention to continue to fully develop constructive dialogue with the Holy See, and cooperation to uphold moral values and build a fairer world order that will ensure the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of all countries and peoples.

The President extended his New Year greetings to a number of top officials at international organisations, in particular, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge and Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee Jean Claude Killy. The President also sent messages of greetings to President of the International Federation of Football Associations Gianni Infantino, President of the Union of European Football Associations Aleksander Ceferin, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Rene Fasel and President of the International Judo Federation Marius Wizer.

In addition, Vladimir Putin sent greetings on Christmas and the New Year to a number of former heads of foreign states and governments, as well as politicians, in particular Robert Kocharian, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Serzh Sargsyan, Silvio Berlusconi, George W. Bush, Romano Prodi, Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Fillon, Tarja Halonen, King Juan Carlos I and Gerhard Schroeder.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62521






Selected photos and videos from the President’s personal video and photography team available at 20.kremlin.ru



December 30, 2019 - 18:00



Putin: 20 Years (now available at 20.kremlin.ru/en) is an album containing archival photographs and videos, mainly made by the President’s personal video and photography team. It includes the highlights of the last two decades related to Vladimir Putin’s service as President and Prime Minister of Russia, starting December 31, 1999, when he was appointed acting head of state.

However, this project is not intended as a chronicle or documentary record. It does not feature the fullness of history in which all of the President’s steps, meetings and trips would be reflected – this information is available in the archives of all major media websites and at kremlin.ru.

The album contains memorable moments and the most interesting milestones from the past years. Some of them are widely known; some have probably been forgotten; and some are being revealed for the first time.

The part now available online covers the period up until the year 2004. But even this one section of the project contains more than 600 photos and 100 videos, so viewing all of the content without skipping anything would take about 2.5 hours. In the coming weeks, more content will be added from the subsequent years.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62525






Telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky at the Ukrainian side’s initiative.



December 31, 2019 - 13:20



The two presidents underscored the importance of yesterday’s package deal whereby uninterrupted transits of Russia’s natural gas to Europe through Ukrainian territory will continue after January 1, 2020. They noted the constructive nature of talks on these matters, which creates a favourable backdrop for resolving other bilateral problems.

They spoke positively of the December 29 exchange of detained persons between Kiev and Donbass under the “all identified for all identified” prisoners principle. It was noted that this was done in keeping with the agreements of the December 9 Normandy Four summit held in Paris and helped to strengthen mutual trust. They also stressed the need for the parties to the internal conflict in Ukraine to make consistent steps toward implementing the Minsk Package of Measures.

The Presidents exchanged New Year greetings and spoke in favour of developing Russian-Ukrainian relations in 2020.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62532






New Year Address to the Nation



December 31, 2019 - 23:55 - The Kremlin, Moscow






President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Citizens of Russia, friends,

The year 2020 is just around the corner. We are on the threshold of the third decade of the 21st century. We are living in turbulent, dynamic and contradictory times, but we can and must do everything for Russia to develop successfully, so that everything in our lives changes only for the better. In excited anticipation, we are awaiting the chiming of the clock, and we believe and hope that all our wishes will come true.

Our personal plans and dreams are inseparable from Russia. Our present and future, and the future of our children depend on the efforts and the contribution of each one of us. Only together will we be able to resolve the tasks facing our society and country today. Our unity is the foundation for achieving the loftiest goals.

These values were passed on to us by our ancestors, the heroic and unbending generation of victors. Next year, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. With all my heart, I would like to extend my New Year greetings to battle front veterans and home front workers, people of the older generation who have gone through many trials for the sake of us all and the future of our Motherland. I bow down to you.

Friends, we always prepare for the New Year in advance and, despite being busy, we believe that the warmth of human relations and companionship are the most important thing. We strive to do something important and useful for other people and to help those who require our support, to make them happy by giving them presents and our attention.

Such sincere impulses, pure thoughts and selfless generosity are the true magic of the New Year holiday. It brings out the best in people and transforms the world filling it with joy and smiles.

Uplifting New Year’s feelings and wonderful impressions have been living in us since childhood and come back every New Year, when we hug our loved ones, our parents, prepare surprises for our children and grandchildren, decorate the New Year tree with them and unpack once again paper cut-outs, baubles and glass garlands. These, sometimes ancient, but beloved family trinkets give their warmth to the younger generations.

Of course, each family has its own New Year traditions, but everyone is united by an atmosphere of kindness and care. May the happiness of mutual understanding be in your home forever, helping to overcome all difficulties and bringing different generations ever closer. May your parents be blessed with good health and always be the focus of your attention, and may each child know that he or she is the best loved ever.

Friends, New Year is knocking at our door. Let us wish each other and our Motherland peace and prosperity.

Happy holidays and a Happy New Year 2020!




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62523
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Old January 8th, 2020 #44
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Christmas greetings



Vladimir Putin congratulated all Orthodox Christians and all Russians celebrating Christmas.



January 7, 2020 - 09:00







The message reads, in part:

“On these festive Christmas days millions of people around the globe feel joy and inspiration, and a sense of following century-old traditions passed on from generation to generation. Their hearts are filled with love and a belief in the triumph of good and justice.





The Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian confessions in Russia play a highly constructive role in strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of Russian society, preserving our nation’s historical and cultural heritage, and educating young people. This is a large-scale and fruitful effort of great significance that deserves the most profound recognition.





I wish prosperity and good health to all Orthodox Christians and all Russian citizens celebrating Christmas.”

















***

On Christmas Eve, the President of Russia attended a service at the Transfiguration Cathedral in St Petersburg conducted by its dean Nikolai Bryndin.





After the service Vladimir Putin addressed the believers: “I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! May you be happy and in good health! Happy holiday, and thank you very much.”





The President also had a conversation with the cathedral’s dean, whom he presented with the Icon of the Theotokos of Tikhvin. In turn, the President received the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan.





The cathedral’s cherished relics are the Icon of the Saviour “Not Made by Hands” and the Icon of the Theotokos “Joy of All Who Sorrow”.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62543






Vladimir Putin visited Syria



January 7, 2020 - 17:45 - Damascus







From Damascus Airport, the President travelled to the command post of the Russian Armed Forces group in Syria, where he was met by Bashar al-Assad. The two leaders heard military reports on the situation in various regions of the country.

















Later that day, a bilateral meeting was held between the Russian and Syrian delegations. During his talks with Bashar al-Assad, the President of Russia noted that it was now safe to praise the long distance travelled on the way to restoring Syria’s statehood and territorial integrity. There are obvious signs of a recovering peaceful life on the streets in Damascus, Vladimir Putin emphasised.

















Bashar al-Assad thanked Vladimir Putin for the visit. The Syrian President expressed gratitude to Russia and the Russian military for their assistance in the fight against terrorism and the restoration of peaceful life in the republic. The Syrian leader warmly congratulated Vladimir Putin and the Russian people on Orthodox Christmas.

















After visiting the command post, the Presidents visited the Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. Vladimir Putin presented the mosque with a 17th century Quran as a memory of his visit. Afterwards, the President of Russia visited the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, where he spoke with Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62545






Speeches during visit to command post of Russian Armed Forces in Syria



January 7, 2020 - 16:00 - Damascus







Russian President Vladimir Putin:

Comrades, good afternoon.

I sincerely greet all personnel of the Russian forces in Syria on the New Year and Christmas.

You are celebrating these holidays far away from you families, your homes, and your country. And it is far away from home that you are defending our country and continuing the fight against terrorism.





Much has been done over the past year. Military police are effective in the Golan Heights, in Palmyra, Aleppo, and other important regions of Syria. Pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces conduct reconnaissance and provide air support to the Syrian army.

Joint operations help eliminate the more dangerous terrorist commanders, which is what the Special Operations Forces have successfully accomplished.





Off the coast of Syria, the Navy personnel are continuing to successfully defend our national interests in the Mediterranean.

I have reserved my special thanks for our combat medics. They provide medical assistance, carry out surgery, save lives under difficult conditions, often at risk to their own lives.





I thank the commanders and the personnel of the Russian forces in the Syrian Arab Republic for the conscientiousness with which they fulfil their military duty.

Russia, your families and loved ones, wish you all the best.





I want to emphasise once again that here in Syria, you are not only helping the Syrian people by liberating them from terrorist groups. Here, in Syria, you are defending your home country by preventing terrorists from reaching Russia and its neighbouring countries.

I wish you courage, happiness, and health. Thank you for your service.





President of Syria Bashar al-Assad (retranslated):

Mr President Vladimir Putin,

Welcome to our capital, Damascus.

Commanders of all the tactical units deployed in Syria.





I am pleased to speak with you via this videoconference, especially being next to your Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Putin.

I would like to extend my Christmas greetings to you and, of course, to all the military personnel who are here in Syria on this holy day.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/62551






Meeting with President of Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad



January 7, 2020 - 16:20 - Damascus







Russian President Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, allow me first of all to thank you for your invitation to visit Damascus.

We have agreed to meet without delay, without putting this meeting on the back burner, so to say. We have things to discuss; I am referring to the situation that is unfolding in both the Syrian Arab Republic and the region as a whole. We can see the situation there regrettably escalating.





As for Syria, your efforts and our joint work have dramatically changed things. Not only is there a dramatical change, we are witnessing the restoration of Syrian statehood, of Syria as a unified nation.

There are many more issues to resolve, however. In the north of the country, in the east, in the north-west and in the south. But what I was greatly pleased to see while being driven around Damascus was that life was coming back to the streets, which were actually bustling. There are a lot of cars on the roads, shops are open along with cafes and restaurants. But much is yet to be done to rebuild the Syrian economy.

I am very happy to have the opportunity to meet with you today to discuss all this.





President of Syria Bashar al-Assad (retranslated):

Thank you very much, Mr President. It is a pleasure to see you today here in the city of Damascus.

On this holy day of Christmas, I would like to extend my greetings to you, your family and the entire Russian people.

Just two years ago, only a few months ago, we drove through that district and here, where you are now, and we were constantly shelled.

You are very well aware of the efforts undertaken by the Russian army in conjunction with the Syrian forces to reach their objectives and to liberate a large part of Syria.

Now you have arrived, you have seen it with your own eyes. You do not need a current operational map; you can see that the country is returning to peace, which is the best measure of military success.





We can see civilians, but we cannot see those who have helped bring about peace, because sadly, many of them have died, and many are still fighting on the frontlines.

As I have said, whenever we advance and achieve success, the situation becomes more complicated, unfortunately, due to repeated attempts to bring back and elevate terrorists and terrorism.

For that reason, I believe that your visit today is very important for us to be able to discuss the obstacles and difficulties that are hindering a political settlement and what we can do to coordinate our efforts to ensure continued success in our fight against terrorism.

Once again, I welcome you and thank you for being here.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/62547






The President arrived in Turkey



January 7, 2020 - 21:30 - Istanbul







Vladimir Putin arrived in Istanbul from Syria, where he met with Bashar al-Assad, visited the command post of the Russian Armed Forces group in Syria, toured the Great Mosque of Damascus and the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus. Talks between the Russian and Syrian delegations were also held as part of the visit.





The President’s working programme in Turkey is scheduled for January 8. Vladimir Putin will attend the ceremony for launching the TurkStream gas pipeline and will meet with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is expected that the two sides will discuss the prospects for developing Russian-Turkish cooperation and current items on the international agenda, including the situation in Syria and Libya.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62546






Meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan



Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.



January 8, 2020 - 14:00 - Istanbul







Following the meeting, the heads of state adopted a joint statement.





The President of Russia arrived in Turkey on a working visit to participate in the ceremony to launch the TurkStream gas pipeline.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62552






Joint Statement by the Presidents of the Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation



January 8, 2020







BILATERAL

We, the Presidents of Turkey and Russia, have been developing constructive bilateral relations in a wide spectrum of areas on the basis of mutual respect. Today’s inauguration of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline, which we are realizing here in Istanbul, is a concrete example of this mutually beneficial relationship. We are pleased that our cooperation not only serves to enhance the interests of our two peoples but also contributes to addressing regional problems.



IRAN

We are deeply concerned about the escalation of the tension between the U.S. and Iran as well as its negative repercussions on Iraq. We evaluate the U.S. air operation targeting the Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Qassem Soleimani and his entourage in Baghdad on 3 January 2020 as an act undermining security and stability in the region.

In light of the ballistic missile attacks by Iran against coalition military bases in Iraq on 8 January 2020, we believe that exchange of attacks and use of force by any party do not contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems in the Middle East, but rather would lead to a new cycle of instability and would eventually damage everyone’s interests. We have always been against foreign interventions, unilateral military actions and sectarian conflicts. In this vein, we express our commitment to de-escalate the existing tensions in the region and call on all parties to act with restraint as well as commonsense and to prioritize diplomacy.



SYRIA

We reiterate our commitment to the preservation of the sovereignty, independence, political unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

We emphasize our determination to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations and to disrupt separatist agendas in Syria; we reaffirm, in this regard, the importance of the full implementation of the Memorandum of 17 September 2018 and the Memorandum of 22 October 2019.

We underscore the necessity to establish calm in the Idlib de-escalation area by fully implementing all agreements on Idlib.

We commit to work within the Astana Mechanism towards finding a lasting political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and to support the Constitutional Committee.

We emphasize the need to increase humanitarian assistance to all Syrians without discrimination, politicization and preconditions.



LIBYA

We have been following with great concern the recent developments, particularly the intensified fighting around Tripoli, in long suffering Libya. The worsening situation in Libya is undermining the security and stability of Libya’s wider neighborhood, the entire Mediterranean region, as well as the African continent, triggering irregular migration, further spread of weapons, terrorism and other criminal activities including illicit trafficking.

We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya. Lasting peace and stability in the country can only be achieved by a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process based on sincere and inclusive dialogue among Libyans. Seeking a military solution to the ongoing conflict in Libya only causes further suffering and deepens the divisions among Libyans. Securing an immediate ceasefire is the foremost priority to start an inclusive intra- Libyan political process under the UN auspices, based on the Libyan Political Agreement of 2015, UNSC Resolution 2259 and other relevant UNSC Resolutions.

We support the ongoing Berlin Process, which aims to create a conducive atmosphere to revitalize the UN facilitated political process, and remind that the Process can yield tangible results, with the involvement and commitment of Libyans and neighboring countries.

Under the current critical circumstances and in the light of the objectives set forth in the relevant UNSC Resolutions, we have decided to take the initiative and, as intermediaries, call on all parties in Libya to stop hostilities as of 00.00 hours on 12 January, declare a sustainable ceasefire, supported by the necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground and normalizing daily life in Tripoli and other cities, and immediately come together around a negotiating table with a view to putting an end to the sufferings of the Libyan people and bring back peace and prosperity to the country. We are confident that the Libyans can independently decide on the future of their homeland in the framework of a nation-wide dialogue taking into account the interests of all its citizens without exception.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/supplement/5470






Ceremony to launch TurkStream gas pipeline



Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended ceremony to launch TurkStream gas pipeline.



January 8, 2020 - 16:20 - Istanbul






The TurkStream project is a gas pipeline consisting of two lines with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas per year each. The first line is to ship Russian gas to Turkish consumers, the second one, to the countries of southern and southeastern Europe.

The ceremony was also attended by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, Mr Vucic, Mr Borisov, Deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Turkey, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All those present at the official launch of the new gas pipeline, TurkStream, are witnessing a very important event not only for Russia and Turkey, but also for the states of southern Europe, for the entire European continent. Our ministers have just spoken very convincingly about this.





The successful implementation of this grand joint project, a trans-Black Sea gas pipeline, clearly shows that the Russian-Turkish strategic partnership is producing significant, tangible results.





Interaction between Russia and Turkey is growing steadily in almost every area. Despite the complex international situation, and the attempts of a number of global players to hinder the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries, our work is proceeding steadily.





I would like to note that Russia has been exporting gas to Turkey for 30 years, even though not everyone knows about it. It was initially shipped through the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, then through the direct, transit-free Blue Stream pipeline. Last year alone, 24 billion cubic metres of fuel was delivered to our Turkish partners.





Now Russian gas will be shipped to Turkey via a new route, the TurkStream. This is in many ways a unique deep-sea gas transportation system, unprecedented in some parameters. Two parallel lines with a capacity of almost 16 billion cubic metres of gas each have been built. This involved laying over 1,800 kilometres of pipes, some of them at a more than two kilometre depth. This was difficult, hard work. It is also a high-tech project because the gas pipeline runs at tremendous depth, as well as in a very hostile environment.





The first line will deliver gas from the fields in western Siberia directly to our Turkish partners. The second one will cross Turkey to the Balkans, carrying fuel to Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece.





Again, the supply of Russian gas through TurkStream will undoubtedly be of great importance for not only the Turkish economy and the Black Sea region, but will also have a positive impact on the development of many south European countries, and will contribute to improving Europe’s overall energy security.





To build the pipeline, as I have said, we used advanced innovative technologies to achieve the highest economic efficiency of gas transportation, and guarantee the safety and environmental friendliness of the pipeline operation.





The builders used the most modern machinery and equipment. They also set a new world record of the fastest underwater installation of pipes – over six kilometres in one day.





I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on the design and construction of this gas artery: the engineers and builders, employees of Russia’s Gazprom and Turkey’s Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, as well as the employees of all the contractors involved.





Friends, colleagues,

Thanks to your high professionalism and your excellent dedicated work the TurkStream project was implemented with high-quality and in a timely manner. And, of course, I would like to express my gratitude to the Turkish government, the President of Turkey for the timely issuance of all the permits and licences required for the pipeline’s construction. I just want to repeat what I said last time I was here: I am grateful for the political will shown by the Turkish leaders in implementing projects of national importance and meeting the national interests of their country.





I am certain that in the future, Russia and Turkey will implement many more mutually beneficial joint projects, both in energy and in other fields. Together we can attain any complex and ambitious goal for the benefit of our two countries, our peoples, and for the benefit of our neighbours and partners. (Applause)

I would like to say one more thing in conclusion: we live in a complicated world, and unfortunately in the region where we are located, we are seeing more indications that the situation is being further aggravated. But Turkey and Russia are modelling completely different behaviour – an example of interaction and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the peoples of Europe, and the whole world. I know that we will act in the same way in the future and will achieve new successes.

Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62553
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Old January 11th, 2020 #45
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Joint exercises of Northern and Black Sea fleets



Supreme Commander in Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin observed from aboard the guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov the joint exercises involving the Northern and Black Sea fleets, underway in the Black Sea. Various missiles were fired during the exercises, including Kalibr cruise missiles and the Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile.



January 9, 2020 - 15:00 - Crimea






The Black Sea fleet contributed its frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Makarov, guided missile ships and speed-boats Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Naberezhniye Chelny and Ivanovets, amphibious warfare ships Tsezar Kunikov and Azov, patrol ships Dmitry Rogachev and Vasily Bykov, the submarine Kolpino, small anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships and sea-going minesweepers. The Northern fleet contributed the guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov that accommodated an improvised headquarters, and the ASW ship Vice Admiral Kulakov.






































Two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31K fighter planes taking part in a simulated air strike launched a Kinzhal missile that hit its target at a testing site. The crews of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, the small guided missile ship Orekhovo-Zuyevo and the submarine Kolpino launched Kalibr missiles from the surface and while submerged. The crews of the guided-missile speed-boats Ivanovets and Naberezhniye Chelny launched Moskit anti-ship missiles. The crews of the Black Sea fleet’s Utyos coastal missile system launched two missiles against simulated enemy warships.






































The exercises also involved the crews of Sukhoi Su-30 SM multirole fighters, Su-24M tactical bombers and Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62556






Visit to Black Sea Nakhimov Naval Academy



Vladimir Putin visited the Black Sea Nakhimov Naval Academy of the Order of the Red Star.



January 9, 2020 - 17:15 - Sevastopol







The Supreme Commander in Chief toured an exhibition dedicated to the development prospects of the Navy. The exhibition highlights the current state and the development prospects of Russian Navy aircraft carriers.





Together with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and Head of the Academy Alexander Grinkevich, Vladimir Putin saw models of ships, armaments and other equipment. He heard about plans to develop control vessels for the Arctic zone, sea and ocean corvettes, short range vessels and mine countermeasures vessels.





In addition, the President was shown a project for vessel logistics system support firmware for maintaining a given level of technical readiness and was informed about unmanned and manned aerial vehicles with a hybrid power unit capable of vertical takeoff and landing onboard a ship.

Earlier in the day, Vladimir Putin observed the joint exercises involving the Northern and Black Sea fleets.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62557






Meeting on advanced development of the Navy



January 9, 2020 - 18:00 - Sevastopol



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the Defence Ministry leadership and the Russian Navy commanders to discuss the key areas of short- and long-term development of the Navy. The meeting was held while the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was visiting the Nakhimov Black Sea Naval Academy.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, comrade officers,

Today we will discuss a very important subject. I know that a training conference on the development of the Russian Navy in the 21st century was held here.

However, I suggest that we start our meeting with something else. Today we started a new training year in the Armed Forces, which began with major military exercises in the Black Sea. The Navy held a major and, in my opinion, successful military exercise. I would like to ask the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy to briefly report on the results.





Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Yevmenov:

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Today, we held an operative joint military exercise of the Navy and long-range air force, the first one this year. The exercise involved 31 warships, one submarine, 22 supply ships and 39 aircraft.

The military equipment has proved highly reliable and we have tested new ways and methods to use it. Our military personnel have demonstrated their professionalism. The objectives set for the exercise have been achieved and the results will be analysed and reported to you.

This concludes my report.



Vladimir Putin:

Commander Yevmenov, I would like to thank you and, of course, the Defence Minister and the General Staff, and all those who prepared, organised and conducted this military exercise and our military personnel for their high performance at sea. Please convey my best wishes and gratitude to all.



Nikolai Yevmenov:

Yes, Sir.





Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

We must identify the main areas for short- and long-term development of the Russian Navy and discuss the problems in domestic shipbuilding.

The Navy has always been and remains an important, if not a key, component of ensuring national defence and security. In the 21st century, we must also preserve and enhance our country’s status as one of the world’s leading seafaring nations.

I would like to note that in recent years we have given greater attention to the development of the Navy and have allocated considerable resources and funds for this purpose. We will continue to work to ensure that we have modern, most advanced Navy.

We have considered in detail the issues of upgrading the Navy at a series of meetings in Sochi in early December last year. We discussed, among other things, efforts to enhance our sea-based strategic nuclear forces.

As you know, in the near future, modern weapons and equipment will account for 70 percent of all weapons in the Navy. I would like to reiterate that we will need to not only achieve this result – we will have to maintain it.

It is important to remember that in the past ten years the quality of and approaches to designing and building ships around the world have changed significantly.

Today, reducing construction times and cutting costs for naval equipment is possible only if advanced technology and processes, including 3D modelling and modular method of shipbuilding, are used throughout the entire construction cycle and also if the weapons and the basic equipment are unified and up-to-date shipbuilding capacity is available.

I would like to repeat that we can only achieve the above if we increase the series production of ships and reduce the period of time required for commissioning ships to the Navy and improve maintenance and repairs service. So, it is important that now the performance specifications of future naval vessels include requirements regarding the development and acceptance of electronic design documents based on a ship’s digital model.

Of course, a very important issue is – and we have also repeatedly spoken about this, including at our meetings in Sochi, – that a unification of the Navy weapons and equipment is carried out. Even today, as we reviewed prospective vessels and what we have at the moment, what needs to be upgraded, – everyone came back to this: the Minister, the Commander-in-Chief and our other colleagues.

Currently, we are close to completing the development of complex targeted programmes for developing naval weapon systems according to a single standard based on cross-branch unification with a gradual conversion to modular architecture. So, at our today’s meeting, I would like to hear what progress has been made on this.

Let’s begin.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62558






Meeting on socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol



The President held a meeting on the socioeconomic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of federal importance Sevastopol in Yalta.



January 10, 2020 - 15:00 - Yalta







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

As agreed, and we have long planned to hold this meeting to discuss the socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol, we will discuss today the issues that are facing the region’s leadership as well as federal ministries and departments.

I would like to note that much has been done in the past few years to unlock the potential of Crimea and Sevastopol and integrate them into Russia’s common social, legal, economic and humanitarian space.

The creation and expansion of the basic infrastructure has become an important and largely decisive factor in this respect. Obviously this is the main thing, a foundation without which it is impossible to develop altogether. Needless to say, this is the most expensive part.

A lot has been done but not everything. It is still necessary to work on water supply and water discharge and resolve environmental issues that nobody seems to have dealt with at all.

But what has been done – the Crimean Bridge, energy networks, gas supply, federal roads and the airport – represents just the basic conditions for development. This should be followed by results.

Naturally, these projects have provided a serious impetus for business and social activities (the projects that we have already implemented). They have enhanced the tourist appeal of the region and allowed us to create new jobs and open up more business and investment opportunities.





For reference, I would like to mention that industrial production in Crimea has almost doubled, and it has increased by 2.5 times in Sevastopol. Retail trade has grown 12 percent in Crimea and by an impressive 29 percent in Sevastopol. The unemployment rate in the Republic of Crimea has decreased from 7.2 percent (in 2015) to 5.5 percent at the end of 2019. In Sevastopol it has dropped from 8.3 percent to 4.1 percent. This became possible because a number of companies resumed operations and were loaded with orders, including orders from federal ministries and departments.

In 2019, 7,4 million tourists visited Crimea, which is a 9.3 percent increase over 2018. More than half of them (57 percent) arrived via the Crimean Bridge.

Relying on this foundation it is necessary to improve the quality of life on the peninsula and develop its urban and social infrastructure in line with the highest and most advanced standards.

Understandably, everyone is happy about these major infrastructure projects. They are creating this foundation and this is perfectly obvious. However, now I would like to talk for the most part not just about tourists but about people who live in Crimea and Sevastopol. Let’s talk about this today and focus on what needs to be done for the permanent residents. It is essential to clearly understand local people’s needs in order to meet them promptly and make decisions faster. Long overdue problems must be resolved.

What are the issues, in my opinion, that we need to focus on and pay attention to.

First, we need to further improve the quality of life for Sevastopol and Crimea residents. I mean the most obvious, pressing problems that people have to deal with every year, in fact, every day of their lives. This includes the renovation of residential buildings, reconstruction of utility mains, improvement of surrounding grounds and public spaces, like parks, public gardens and embankments.





As I said, this includes all areas, not just resorts and tourist zones. We need to conduct a detailed inventory of Crimea’s urban environment, to evaluate its current state and to improve its quality; this includes using the resources of national projects.

Second, upgrading the regional communications systems calls for resolute and well-planned actions.

I am also talking about the construction and renovation of local motorways, railway platforms and stations, modernisation of commuter train rolling stock. Everything that the region’s residents use every day.

As I said, we have set high standards for building Crimea’s trunk infrastructure, so we need to take the regional component to the same level.

Third, the normalisation of prices for basic goods, like food, fuel and construction materials; this is a big problem that people talk about.

I would like to note that the start of regular railway service should positively influence supplies to the Crimean market and the availability of high-quality and affordable goods. Of course, I am especially counting on this after regular freight traffic starts. Mr Ditrikh, when will the first cargo trains arrive?





Yevgeny Ditrikh:

Mr President, service will start on July 1.



Vladimir Putin:

July 1. Freight trains will start carrying goods on a regular basis on July 1.

We must see to it that the level of consumer prices measures up to the income levels of Sevastopol and Crimea residents. The regional authorities must work closely with business circles to expand logistics, prevent monopolism, support competition and open new trade facilities. Colleagues, I am asking you to do this quickly, without administrative delays and to basically use mechanisms that will, first of all, suit people, and that will, of course, prove cost-effective for the business community.

Fourth, the state of the regional healthcare system requires a lot of attention. Yes, the scale of this is enormous. This sector is simply in a terrible state. There is a shortage of specialists. The hospitals, clinics and equipment are rundown and substandard. When we talk about the same problems nationally, well, the situation here is worse than in the rest of Russia.





Not all questions regarding the licensing of medical activity have been resolved. This has created a disproportion in favour of private healthcare. We need to eliminate this disproportion and guarantee high-quality medical treatment in line with accepted national standards for every resident of Crimea and Sevastopol. I ask you to address this subject specifically today and come up with concrete proposals on ways to improve the situation in healthcare.

All right, let’s get down to it. First, we will hear a report by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. Please.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62559
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Old January 15th, 2020 #46
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Russian-German talks



Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, who was in Russia on a working visit.



January 11, 2020 - 18:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The talks began with the leaders’ conversation in a restricted format and proceeded with the participation of the two countries’ delegations.

Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel discussed bilateral cooperation and current issues on the international agenda: the situation in Syria, Libya, escalating tensions in the Middle East and the settlement of the intra-Ukrainian conflict in the context of implementing the 2015 Minsk Package of Measures and the agreements reached at the Normandy format summit in Paris on December 9, 2019.

Following the international consultations, the President of Russia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany made statements for the press and answered journalists’ questions.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Madam Federal Chancellor,

Allow me to heartily welcome you in the Moscow Kremlin.





You and I maintain regular contacts and are dealing with both bilateral affairs – economic and political – and foreign matters.





I would like to thank you for accepting our invitation and coming here to discuss all these issues; I believe we will focus today on the most pressing ones.





Once again, welcome.





Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel (retranslated):

Thank you so much for your invitation to come to Moscow.





This is quite true, there is an entire range of various topics that we would like to discuss, including both bilateral affairs and international matters that are of interest to our countries: developments in Libya and Syria, the Minsk process and some bilateral issues, as I have said.





I am looking forward to speaking with you and to our talks. I appreciate this invitation and the opportunity to come here because I am of the opinion that it is better to talk to each other rather than to talk about one another.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62562






News conference following Russian-German talks



Following the Russian-German talks, Vladimir Putin and Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel made statements for the press and answered journalists’ questions.



January 11, 2020 - 18:35 - The Kremlin, Moscow






President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Madam Federal Chancellor, ladies and gentlemen,

We are pleased to welcome Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel to Moscow during her working visit.

During today’s substantive and useful talks we touched upon the key issues of our bilateral relations in politics, the economy, and cultural and humanitarian area. And, of course, we had a detailed discussion of a number of international problems.

Let me underscore that Russia is committed to building up cooperation with the Federal Republic on the principles of respect, equality, mutual benefit and consideration for each other’s interests.

Germany is one of Russia’s biggest international economic partners; it follows the People’s Republic of China in terms of trade. The Russia-Germany trade amounted to $43.8 billion in January to October 2019. German investments in Russia total $20 billion whereas the reciprocal Russian investments in the economy of the Federal Republic stand at $9 billion.

Russia and Germany have a number of large energy projects to their credit. We highly appreciate the responsible position of the German Government in support of the widely known Nord Stream 2 project.

During the talks, we also spoke about the issues related to the continuation of the Russian gas transit through the territory of Ukraine. We noted the importance of the agreements reached on December 31 by Gazprom and its Ukrainian partners under which the transit of gas will continue in the coming five years.

These agreements are mutually advantageous and balanced both for Russia and Ukraine and they definitely meet the interests of the European consumers of Russian energy resources.

The focus during the discussion of the international and regional agenda was on Libya where, unfortunately, large-scale hostilities are ongoing, terrorist activities are on the rise while the economy and the social sphere are in decline, to everyone’s regret. All that undermines security and stability not just in that region but also has negative implications for Europe. I mean illegal migration, smuggling, and arms and drug trafficking.

It is crucial to put an end to the armed confrontation between Marshal Haftar’s Libyan National Army and the Government of National Accord of Mr Sarraj, to establish ceasefire and take steps to restart the political process with the ultimate goal of overcoming the split inside the country and forming national state institutions. It is these goals that we highlighted in the joint statement made recently by President of Turkey and me, calling on the conflicting sides in Libya to cease hostilities starting at midnight today. I gave a detailed account to the Federal Chancellor of the work we did in Istanbul.

We consider Germany’s initiative to hold an international conference on Libya in Berlin to be timely. For the Berlin conference to yield solid results it is necessary to ensure the participation of the states that are really interested in helping the Libya settlement, and the key issue is that its decisions must be previously agreed on with the Libyan parties. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, should also play a role in that.

Naturally, we did not neglect the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic during the talks. I shared with Madam Chancellor the results of my recent visit to Damascus and the talks with President al-Assad. We can confidently state that the situation in that country is stabilising. Syria is slowly returning to peaceful life, and its statehood is being restored.

Russia and Germany share the view that the final resolution of the conflict in Syria can be achieved exclusively by political means in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The main thing is for the Syrian people to have an opportunity to freely and independently determine their future, the future of their nation. It is exactly this approach that underlies the formation of the Constitutional Committee.

The Committee has already held two sessions in Geneva and established an editorial commission that will draft constitutional foundations for the Syrian state. At the same time, Russia together with Turkey and Iran will continue to support the Committee as far as possible within the Astana format framework.

We also discussed the issues of post-conflict restoration of Syria, improving the humanitarian situation and ensuring the safe return of the refugees. All responsible members of the international community have to join their efforts so as to help the Syrian state bodies, and Syrians in the broadest sense, to restore infrastructure facilities, water and power supply, hospitals and schools.

Meanwhile, any help to Syria must be rendered with proper approval from the legitimate authorities and cover all the affected territories without preconditions and politicisation.

We certainly could not ignore another issue which is vitally important not only for the region but also for the whole world – the issue of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme. After the United States withdrew from this fundamental agreement, the Iranian side declared that they suspended some of their voluntary commitments under the JCPOA. Let me underscore this – they only suspended their voluntary commitments while they stress their readiness to go back to full compliance with the nuclear deal.

Russia and Germany resolutely stand for the continued implementation of the Joint Plan. The Iranians are entitled to a support from European nations, which promised to set up a special financial vehicle separate from the US dollar to be used in trade settlements with Iran. The Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) must finally begin working.

Ms Merkel and I spoke in detail about the resolution of the intra-Ukrainian crisis. We share the opinion that there is no alternative to the Minsk agreements in normalising the situation in Ukraine’s southeast. It is crucial that the concrete tasks set during our recent Normandy format meetings should be implemented.

We hope that the Ukrainian side will start implementing the agreements on the political settlement. Extending the law on the special status of Donbass is a good move in the right direction. However, the law must not have a time limit, as it is stipulated in the Minsk agreements.

The special status of Donbass must be fixed in the Ukrainian Constitution, as it is also stated in the Minsk agreements. We are aware of all the challenges in the internal political process in Ukraine; however, if all the parties concerned want a final settlement, they should follow the Minsk agreements.

To conclude, let me stress again that during our talks with Madam Federal Chancellor we managed to substantively and constructively discuss many important issues relating to both Russia-Germany relations and the stability and security in the Middle East and the whole world.

I would like to sincerely thank the Federal Chancellor for today’s productive joint work.

Thank you for your attention.





Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel (retranslated):

I would also like to express how grateful I am for this invitation to come to Moscow and for this opportunity to have very detailed and in-depth talks on both bilateral and international matters.

Actually, we can say that despite certain obstacles such as sanctions over Ukraine, we have very intensive economic relations in the fields of science and university education. Russia and Germany maintain intensive contacts and cooperation, and the citizens of our countries are closely interacting as well. This is very constructive.

Of course, we also talked about the Nord Stream project. It has been legitimised by means of the new European law. We need to carry it through. It is gratifying that a positive five-year agreement has been reached regarding gas transit via Ukraine.

We also monitored the developments around the opening of TurkStream. Germany and other European countries will benefit from Nord Stream. Nord Stream 1 is operational, while Nord Stream 2 is yet to be completed. All the sides are interested in diversifying gas supplies and will continue working towards this. But it is a very important project nevertheless.

We discussed international conflicts as well.

First of all, I would like to say a few words about Libya. I believe that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin held a very constructive meeting in Istanbul. Ceasefire efforts are being undertaken within the framework of that meeting. This may become a step forward within the framework of the Berlin process between the five UN Security Council countries with veto powers. A high-level document has been prepared with the other countries.

We can now invite all participants to the Berlin conference to be held under UN auspices. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Special Representative [for Libya] Ghassan Salame bear special responsibility for this process. The ultimate goal is for the Libyan parties to live in a sovereign country.

We are not going to interfere with Libya’s sovereignty, and therefore the conflicting parties – Mr Fayez al-Sarraj and Mr Khalifa Haftar – will also be involved in this process. We hope that the efforts that are being taken by Russia and Turkey will be successful. We will soon send out invitations to the Berlin conference.

We also discussed Syria. Regarding the meeting between President Erdogan and President Putin, they have reached very important results. I am delighted that last night they reached an agreement on two humanitarian corridors from Idlib, which have been opened because people there badly need them.

It is gratifying that a ceasefire was also discussed, because there is no military solution for Syria; a solution can only be found through talks, which is what we are hoping for. Therefore, for our part, we call for creating one more corridor towards northeast Syria for the delivery of humanitarian aid. There is readiness to continue the talks.

Second, we are for carrying on the process launched by UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. We need to find a political solution for creating conditions for a peaceful life in Syria, so that people will be able to return to their homes in Syria. Regrettably, there are very many such people. There are many Syrians in Turkey, which is shouldering great responsibility. To facilitate the constitutional process, we will continue to cooperate with Turkey, Russia and France.

Of course, we also discussed Iran. We agree that everything necessary must be done to preserve the JCPOA. Germany believes that there should be no nuclear weapons in Iran, and therefore we will use all the available diplomatic means to preserve this agreement, even though it is not perfect, but it includes obligations of all the sides.

I would like to say that 176 lives have been lost. Innocent people have died in an air crash in Iran. Tehran has announced that it was a big mistake and that those responsible for it have been identified and will be called to account. As of now, settlements should be made with the countries whose citizens perished in the air crash. Of course, we also need to discuss the consequences of this tragedy, which must be investigated in full. It is a real tragedy.

Therefore, we will do our best in relations with Iraq to combat terrorism and reduce tension in the region as much as possible.

We also spoke about the Normandy format. In my opinion, the Paris meeting was only partially successful because we could not settle all the problems. However, a prisoner exchange took place last year. Efforts are being made now to bring about a ceasefire. This is good. We will continue working to ensure progress at the next meeting in accordance with the Minsk Agreements. We have this basis, and we must continue working with it. There are certain hurdles, which will not go away overnight, but we are resolved to deal with them.

Overall, we had a very detailed conversation and a substantial exchange of opinions. I hope that meetings between Russia and Germany will continue with the involvement of other countries, so that we can help give diplomatic solutions a chance and support UN efforts in all these spheres.





Question (retranslated):

I would like to talk about Libya. Just a few days ago, the Turkish President said that there were two thousand so-called mercenaries from the Wagner military company in Libya. This is a private Russian military company.

My question is to you, President Putin. Can you confirm this number? If not, how many Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group are there in Libya?



Vladimir Putin:

If there are any Russian citizens there, they neither represent the interests of the Russian state, nor receive funding from the Russian state.

Generally, there are many different mercenaries in the conflict zone, including, according to our information, a considerable number of mercenaries redeployed from the Idlib zone in Syria to the conflict zone in Libya. This is a very dangerous process.

Mr Erdogan and I were also discussing this yesterday. We hope that after our agreement, we proceed from the assumption that these will also be fulfilled by the conflicting sides in Syria and that combat operations will be discontinued. Simultaneously, the redeployment of additional contingents of mercenaries to Libya, including from the Syrian Arab Republic, will be discontinued as well.





Question:

Good afternoon. My question is for both leaders.

Mr President, one cannot but ask about Nord Stream. Will we be able to build it on our own in a situation where sanctions have been imposed? If we do this, what is the timeframe for completing it?

I would like to ask Frau Merkel the same question. Is Berlin going to help Russia build Nord Stream in some way or other, and, for example, urge Washington to lift the sanctions with regard to this project at least for the reason that the Ukrainian gas transit issue has been solved?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, we will certainly be able to complete it on our own without inviting foreign partners. The timeframe is the only question that emerges in this connection. There is no doubt that its completion will be delayed by several months. I do hope though that this work will be completed before the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year and that the gas pipeline will become operatiional.





Angela Merkel:

These political discussions are held everywhere, of course. This is primarily an economic project that we are talking about, and therefore we believe that this is the right project. The businesses involved have repeatedly called for this project to be implemented.

I think that the project can be implemented despite the US sanctions. The Russian President has said that there will be a certain delay but that the project will be implemented all the same. I would like to emphasise once again that despite all the political hurdles we believe that the exterritorial sanctions are the wrong path. For this reason, we will continue to support this project as we did in the past. But, let me reiterate, this is essentially an economic project.



Question (retranslated):

I have a question for Madam Chancellor. We know that you had some pressing issues on the agenda, but we have learned now that there are common views on many matters, sometimes contrary to what the Americans think. Does this mean that there will be closer cooperation between Russia and the EU, possibly contrary to the United States?





Angela Markel:

I have mentioned an issue on which we do not see eye to eye with the Americans, even though they are our allies with whom we are working together on many matters. But when it comes to German and European opinions, we are acting above all in our own interests, while Russia is upholding its own interests, so we should look for common interests in this process.

Despite certain obstacles, we have found common interests in our bilateral relations regarding the JCPOA with Iran. We have common opinions and different views, but a visit such as this one is the best thing. It is better to talk with each other rather than about one another, because it helps one to understand the other side’s arguments.

Regarding Libya, Syria and Iran, one thing is clear – that military means are only good for a certain period of time, whereas an ultimate solution can only be achieved by diplomatic means.

Today we spoke about ways towards finding such diplomatic solutions. There is some difference of opinions, but there are also areas where we agree.



Question:

I have a question for both leaders. If possible, I would like to follow up on Libya, which is a very important matter now. Madam Chancellor mentioned the upcoming conference on Libya in Berlin. What are the goals you set for it, and what results, possibly the best possible results do you hope to achieve there?

I also have a question for the Russian President. Mr Putin, is there a chance for a ceasefire and can it take place within the timeframe you have coordinated, considering the Libyan sides’ reaction to the memorandum you have signed and the agreements reached during your visit to Turkey?

If possible, I would like to ask a more embracing question about the Middle East as a whole. It has dominated international headlines in the past few days, and the latest aggravation between Iran and the United States has even led some people to fear that the world is facing a new war. What measures can be taken to normalise the situation in the Middle East in general?





Vladimir Putin:

As for the situation as a whole, I do hope that there will be no large-scale military conflicts. We can see that a war is in progress there, so-called low-intensity combat operations, but they are combat operations all the same, with people being killed. This is a fact. One really needs to hope that large-scale combat operations will be avoided.

If this happens, it would be a disaster not only for the Middle East but also for the world at large. We know what this will lead to. This will lead to new massive exoduses from traditional areas where people reside, to new refugee flows, and not only into Europe, but into other regions as well.

This would also be a humanitarian disaster. They will have a religious disaster plus an economic disaster on their hands, because this will lead to the destruction of or great damage to the global economy, the global energy industry.

We hope that by joint, combined efforts – we are meeting precisely for this purpose, including today, with Madam Federal Chancellor, we have met in Moscow to discuss our joint steps so that such unfavourable developments can be averted.

As for the intra-Syrian conflict and possible paths towards its settlement, I do hope that in a few hours today (actually in five hours), as we called for jointly with Mr Erdogan, the President of Turkey, the conflicting sides in Libya will cease fire and discontinue combat operations. After that, we would like to hold additional consultations with them.

As I mentioned in my remarks, we support the Federal Chancellor’s initiative to hold a UN conference in Berlin. Certain things have yet to be finalised. But I think that this would be the next step and a very good step in the right direction with the aim of preventing the negative developments that I mentioned in the beginning.

We could also set the stage for a gradual peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria by political means.





Angela Merkel:

I am very happy that we have managed to obtain information from the Russian side, which attended all the preparatory meetings in Germany, that we will soon be able to convene the Berlin conference.

We will also discuss this with other potential participants, and we hope that the Russian side’s efforts, particularly as regards the ceasefire in Libya, will be a success.

We have agreed to maintain close contacts on this matter both with the Turkish side and within the European Union. European foreign ministers have also maintained close ties; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and foreign ministers of other countries are also participating in this.

We know that all of this is taking place under the aegis of the United Nations, the UN Secretary-General and his Special Representative Mr Salamé. We intend to support their efforts. This conference can only be a starting point in this process, and the most important thing is that the Libyan interests should take priority. The case in point is Libya’s future. A situation where too many countries from the outside would like to influence the state of affairs in Libya and push the Libyan interests onto the backburner should be avoided.

The African Union and African countries are also playing an important role. If we look at Libya’s neighbours, it is the neignbouring countries that are the primary victims of terrorism and escalation in this area. We can fight this and it will be easier to fight this, if Libya has government agencies and statehood of its own. This is our goal and we are working to achieve it. I do hope that we will be able to make headway on this within the next few days or weeks.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62565
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Old January 15th, 2020 #47
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Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly



The President of Russia delivered the Address to the Federal Assembly. The ceremony took place at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall.



January 15, 2020 - 13:15 - Moscow






About 1,300 people have been invited to attend the ceremony, including members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, the heads of the Constitutional and Supreme courts, regional governors, speakers of regional legislatures, the heads of traditional religious denominations, public activists, the heads of regional civic chambers and the heads of major media outlets.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, fellow Russians,

The Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly is delivered at the very beginning of the year for the first time. We need to address large-scale social, economic and technological tasks facing the country more quickly and without delay.

Their content and guidelines are reflected in the national projects, whose implementation will require a new quality of state governance and work on the part of the Government and state bodies at all levels, as well as direct dialogue with citizens.

Our society is clearly calling for change. People want development, and they strive to move forward in their careers and knowledge, in achieving prosperity, and they are ready to assume responsibility for specific work. Quite often, they have better knowledge of what, how and when should be changed where they live and work, that is, in cities, districts, villages and all across the nation.

The pace of change must be expedited every year and produce tangible results in attaining worthy living standards that would be clearly perceived by the people. And, I repeat, they must be actively involved in this process.





Colleagues,

Russia’s future and historical perspective depend on how many of us there are (I would like to start the main part of my Address with demography), how many children are born in Russian families in one, five or ten years, on these children’s upbringing, on what kind of people they become and what they will do for the country, as well as on the values they choose as their mainstay in life.

There are nearly 147 million of us now. But we have entered a difficult, a very difficult demographic period. The measures we took starting in the mid-2000s have had a positive effect on demography. We have even reached a stage of natural increase. This is why we have more children at schools now.

However, new families are being created now by the small generation of the 1990s. And the birth rate is falling again. This is the main problem of the current demographic period in Russia.

The aggregate birth rate, which is the key index showing the number of births per woman, was only 1.5 in 2019, according to tentative estimates. Is this few or many? It is not enough for our country. It is approximately equal to the figure reported in many European countries. But it is not enough for Russia.

I can tell you by way of comparison that the figure was 1.3 in 1943, during the Great Patriotic War. It was only lower in the 1990s: 1.16 in 1999, lower even than during the Great Patriotic War. There were very few families with two children, and some couples had to put off starting a family.

I want to say once again that we are alarmed by the negative demographic forecasts. It is our historic duty to respond to this challenge. We must not only get out of this demographic trap but ensure a sustainable natural population growth by 2025. The aggregate birth rate must be 1.7 in 2024.

Demography is a sector where universal or parochial solutions cannot be effective. Each step we take and each new law or government programme we adopt must be scrutinised from the viewpoint of our top national priority – the preservation and increase of Russia’s population.

As we build a long-term policy to support families, it must be based on specific life situations. We need to look closely at difficulties faced by new families, families with many children or single-parent families.

The most sensitive and crucial issue is the opportunity to enrol one’s child in a day nursery. Earlier, we allocated funds from the federal budget to help the regions create 255,000 new places in day nurseries by the end of 2021. However, in 2018 to 2019, instead of 90,000, 78,000 new places were created, out of which only 37,500 places can actually be provided to kids. Other places are unavailable simply because an educational licence is still not obtained. This means that these nurseries are not ready to enrol children.





Governors, heads of other constituent entities, my dear colleagues, this is not how work is done. Come on! It means we have created 77,700 places that are still not fully available. Half of them cannot operate – and we must create 177,300 by 2021. I am asking you to do everything (although it will be very difficult now, however, it needs to be done) to close this gap. Once again, we must work across all areas of family support.

But there is a daunting challenge that directly threatens our demographic future and it is the low income of a significant part of our citizens and families.

According to various estimates, roughly 70 to 80 percent of low-income families are families with children. You are well aware of this. It often happens that even when not one but both parents work, the income of such a family is still very modest.

What decisions have already been made? From January 2020, families with incomes below two subsistence minimums per person will receive monthly benefits for their first and second child. Moreover, these benefits will be paid until the child reaches the age of three rather than 18 months as was the case before. The benefit amount will depend on the subsistence minimum in a specific region. The nationwide average is over 11,000 rubles per child per month. Once again, this is an average and depends on a specific region.

Additionally, with the support of the federal budget we have started paying benefits for the third child and subsequent children in 75 constituent entities, now including all regions in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

All of this amounts to substantial support. But the following thought has crossed my mind, and I believe that you also realise this. Parents stop receiving payments when their child turns three, and this means that their family can immediately face financial problems. To be honest, this is happening already. We must prevent this, especially since I realise that mothers often find it hard to combine working and caring for their children before they start school.

We know from the experience of our own children and grandchildren that they often fall ill. Their mothers are therefore unable to work. In this connection, I suggest we introduce monthly payments for children aged between three and seven starting already from January 1, 2020.

Who will be covered by this measure, and how is it supposed to function?

Families whose incomes do not exceed per-capita subsistence minimum will receive these payments. That is, it concerns families facing a very difficult situation.

To obtain these payments, they will only have to file an application and list their official legal incomes. I would like to note that this procedure must become as convenient and simple as possible, so that people would be able to apply without queuing and clearing hurdles. Or they should do this online on the relevant state website.





As I have already said, incomes may vary from region to region. First stage payments will amount to 5,500 rubles, or 50 percent of the subsistence minimum. But that is not all. We will have to analyse and assess the operation of this system. And we will take the next step, if we see that some families are unable to achieve the subsistence minimum while receiving 5,500 rubles. From 2021, we will pay the subsistence minimum in full, or over 11,000 rubles, that will vary from region to region. I repeat, the specific sums will vary, but on average it will amount to 11,000 rubles per child per month.

We will need substantial resources for implementing the proposed measure, and we will also have to adjust the federal budget. I ask the Government and members of the Parliament to do this as quickly as possible. The regions should also complete their share of regulatory work.

What else should we do equally quickly?

In my Address last year I said that we should expand the system of social contracts. It should become an individual programme whereby every low-income family will be able to increase their income and enhance their quality of life. Under these contracts, the state will make regular payments to such families, finance retraining and advanced training and help them to find employment or start a small business.

While providing comprehensive assistance to low-income people, society and the state have a right to expect them to take steps as well to deal with their problems, including finding employment and taking a responsible attitude to their children and other family members.

The regions are already introducing the mechanism of social contracts. But it is not sufficiently effective yet, and it is not helping much to fight poverty or to increase family incomes.

Therefore, first of all I would like to ask the Government to analyse the experience of the pilot projects and revise the principles of social contracts. Second, we must increase financial assistance to the regions so that all of them introduce this mechanism in 2021.

I would like all our colleagues, including the regional heads, to note that we will assess their performance not by the number of social contracts signed but by poverty decline figures.

Colleagues,

Back in 2006, I said the following in my Address to the Federal Assembly: “And now for the most important matter. Indeed, what I want to talk about is love.” It was then that I proposed launching the maternity capital programme aimed at helping the families that decided to have their second child.

This programme will expire on December 31, 2021. I know than many people wonder what the state will do after that. We will extend this programme to December 31, 2026 at the least. We must do this without fail. But this measure only is no longer enough.





We must support young people who are starting their families and, I am sure, dreaming about having children. In this sense, I would like to introduce new, additional decisions concerning the maternity capital, which should also come into effect on January 1, 2020.

Even when the first child is born, the family will have the right to the full amount of the maternity capital, which is 466,617 rubles after the indexation in January 2020. This is the sum that was paid when the second or the next child was born. This support will give families a chance to prepare for the birth of their second child.

But I believe that this is still not enough in today’s conditions, considering the demographic challenges Russia is facing. We can and must do even more. I suggest increasing the maternity capital by a further 150,000 rubles. Families will have the right to this additional money for the maternity capital when their second child is born.

This means that the total amount of the maternity capital for a family with two children will amount to 616,617 rubles. It will be indexed annually in the future.

At the same time I believe that if a family already has a child, we must provide the new, increased maternity capital when the second child is born, which is, as I have already said, 616,617 rubles.

Let me add that we have already made the decision that when the third child is born, the government pays 450,000 rubles towards the family’s mortgage loan. This means that overall a family with three children will be able to invest over one million rubles to solve their housing problems with the help of the government. In many regions, cities, and even regional capitals this amounts to almost half of the cost of a house or a flat.

Let me also remind you that a reduced mortgage interest rate, six percent per year, for families with two or more children has been extended for the entire time of the loan, which resulted in the number of people using this support measure growing almost 10-fold at once.

A social programme for young families has been launched in the Far East: mortgage loans at 2 percent interest rate. I ask the banks, and not just the banks with state capital, to become more actively involved in its implementation.

And here is another highly important matter. I have already mentioned a new payment for children aged between three and seven. But this is not all that we can and must do. Yes, when children start attending school, their parents, especially mothers, get more opportunities to work and earn an additional income. However, families have to pay more in order to send their children to school, they face extra problems, and we have to support them at that stage. In this connection, I suggest providing free hot meals to all primary school students from grade one through four.





I will not conceal the fact that we have had heated discussions on this subject. On the whole, some colleagues do not object, but they say that it would not be very fair that people with decent incomes and low incomes should receive the same amount of support from the state. They are not saying this because they do not want to support the children. Indeed, this argument has its own logic. But there is another logic that prevails in our society: everyone must have equal opportunities, and children and their parents who are often demeaned by the current situation must not think that they are even unable to feed their children.

I believe that this is very important for our society. Yes, they tell me that these benefits were not available even during the Soviet period, when there was large-scale social support for the people. But there was no great social stratification at that time either. I believe that this measure will be justified.

In order to provide free hot and, most importantly, healthy meals, I suggest channelling funding from three sources: the federal, regional and local budgets. But money is not the only thing that matters. We need to create the required infrastructure at schools, set up cafeterias and lunchrooms and put in place a system for supplying high-quality food. I would like to note that this was not done even during Soviet times, as I have already said. This, of course, will require time. But free hot meals must be provided starting from September 1, 2020 in those regions and schools that have the required level of technical equipment. I ask our colleagues to expedite this work. Primary school students must start receiving high-quality hot meals free of charge in all regions from September 1, 2023.

So colleagues, here is the point I want to make, in short. I would like to emphasise – all the steps we are taking are aimed at creating a streamlined, large-scale and, most importantly, an effectively working family support programme, so that people’s incomes, especially for those raising children, are high enough for a decent life.

Secondly, what I said at the beginning of the Address: the steps that we took in previous years in the field of demographic development have already brought results. They have yielded results back then: a large generation is growing up in Russia. I am referring to children who are in preschool and primary school now. It is very important that they adopt the true values ​​of a large family – that family is love, happiness, the joy of motherhood and fatherhood, that family is a strong bond of several generations, united by respect for the elderly and care for children, giving everyone a sense of confidence, security, and reliability. If the younger generations accept this situation as natural, as a moral and an integral part and reliable background support for their adult life, then we will be able to meet the historical challenge of guaranteeing Russia’s development as a large and successful country.

Colleagues,

Supporting families and family values ​​is always a forward-looking strategy addressing the generations that are to live in an age of tremendous technological and social changes, and something that will determine Russia’s fate in the 21st century. So, to have these new generations participate in creating this future even now, to have them fully reveal their potential, we must create the necessary conditions for them, primarily for every child in every region of Russia to get a good education.

In the middle of the coming decade, Russia will have about 19 million schoolchildren, which is 6 million more than in 2010. Some say it is too difficult to influence objective demographic processes, so it is unadvisable to channel large resources for demographic development. However, in reality, we can see direct evidence of the opposite: family support policies are working, and sometimes their results even exceed our wildest expectations. It is great that there are so many children in our schools again. On the other hand, this situation should not affect the comfort and quality of their learning.

I ask the Government to coordinate with the regions, consider the demographic and other factors, estimate how many more children the schools need to serve, and make the necessary changes to the Education National Project. That will require flexible solutions: not only to build more schools, but also to efficiently use the entire educational and other infrastructure we have for these purposes, as well as the benefits of modern technology for education.

Almost all schools in Russia have internet access now. In 2021, they should no longer just be connected, but have high-speed internet access to fully embrace the digital transformation in national education; teachers and students should have access to advanced educational programmes; individual approach to teaching should be practiced to reveal each child’s talents.

Our network of extracurricular technology and engineering centres is developing dynamically. Our children should also benefit from a modern environment for practicing music, art, and other forms of creativity.





Russia is allocating more than 8 billion rubles for equipment and musical instruments for children's art schools as part of the Culture National Project. But the problem is much wider. More than 1,000 art school premises are dilapidated and not fit for use as intended. I would like to ask the Government to help the regions improve them. And I ask the regional authorities not to forget that this is their responsibility.

Furthermore, a modern school implies forward-looking teaching staff enjoying high social status and prestige. By the middle of the next decade, the national professional advancement system should canvas at least half of the country's teachers, in the future including additional professional training, along with general education workers.

Class teachers are closest to their pupils. Their ongoing daily work including mentoring children and teaching them the right ways is a huge responsibility, and definitely requires special training and special support for these mentors. In this regard, I consider it necessary to introduce, from September 1, at least 5,000 rubles in additional payment to them financed from the federal budget.

There is a lot of controversy about this decision, because this is actually the responsibility of the regions. Those present in this room are well aware of this. But what is a class teacher? A mentor and supervisor, and those are federal functions.

But, of course, I would like to point this out: all current regional payments to class teachers should continue, colleagues; I am calling your attention to this. And I will definitely look at what will be happening in practice, in real life.

I pointed out more than once that the pay parameters for teachers, doctors and other public sector employees set out in the May 2012 Executive Orders must be strictly complied with. There is a reason why I keep returning to this subject. If we slacken control of this matter, this will create the temptation to neglect these provisions, as many of those present here know. This must not be allowed. I would like to emphasise that the issue concerns professionals working in the spheres of vital significance for society and the country, and they must receive good and fair pay for their work.

The number of school graduates will be increasing in the next few years. In light of this, we must ensure equal and fair access to free intramural university education. Therefore, I suggest that the number of university scholarships be increased every year. Moreover – what I am going to say next is very important, the priority in this matter must be given to regional universities, especially the regions that are lacking doctors, teachers and engineers.

Of course, we must not simply enrol more students but boost the development of regional universities with support from businesses and employers. In particular, we must strengthen their training, research and social infrastructure, as well as improve the system of training and advanced training of teachers for regional universities so that students receive up-to-date knowledge and can have successful careers in their regions.

The employment market is changing rapidly, with new professions appearing and higher requirements made to the existing ones. Our universities must be able to respond to these changes flexibly and quickly. I believe that third-year students must be offered an opportunity to choose a new path or curriculum, including related professions. This is not easy to do, but we must indeed do this. To ensure that talented and decent people play a major or leading role in our national development, we have launched the Russia – Land of Opportunity project. Over 3.5 million people have taken part in its competitions and Olympiads. We will continue to improve this system.





Colleagues,

Last year life expectancy in Russia exceeded 73 years for the first time, which is eight years longer than in 2000. This is the result of social and economic changes in Russia, the development of mass sports and promotion of healthy lifestyles. And, of course, the entire healthcare system made a significant contribution, especially the programmes of specialised, including high-tech aid, as well as maternity and childhood welfare and protection of health of mother and child.

The rate of infant mortality has reached a historic low. This indicator is even better than in some European countries. I am well aware that the public in many developed countries is very critical of the state of their national healthcare system, and you also know this. In fact, almost everywhere – no, everywhere – people criticise their healthcare system, however well organised it looks from here.

Still our achievements in this area show that if we set certain goals, we can achieve results. However, let me repeat this, people do not judge the healthcare system by figures and indicators. A person who has to travel dozens of kilometres to a polyclinic or spend a whole day waiting in line for an appointment with a specialist is not very interested in how life expectancy has grown on the average. People think about their lives, their health, about how to get high-quality and timely medical aid without obstacles and when they need it. This is why now we must focus our efforts on primary care, which all people and all families have to deal with. This is where we have the worst and most sensitive problems.

This year we are to fully complete the creation of a network of rural paramedic centres, as stipulated in the related national project. This does not mean, however, that all the problems of these rural paramedic centres have been settled. I would like to point out that the mission of these centres is not to make out prescriptions or refer patients to regional medical centres. Local specialists must be able to really help people by using modern equipment and high-speed internet. I would like to ask the Russian Popular Front to monitor the provision of equipment, construction and repair of rural paramedic centres.

On July 1 we will also launch a programme to modernise the system of primary healthcare. We will have to repair and provide new equipment to outpatient clinics, rural hospitals and first-aid stations in all our regions. We have allocated an additional 550 billion rubles for this purpose, more than 90 percent of which will come from the federal budget.

At the same time, I ask the regional authorities to find additional funds for providing housing to doctors and paramedics, in particular in villages, settlements and small towns, and to use all the available instruments towards this end, including employer-rented housing and private housing projects.

Training and recruitment are key elements of medical education. By 2024, all levels of healthcare, but first of all the primary healthcare level, must have the necessary number of specialists. In this connection, I suggest that the admission procedure to medical universities be changed significantly. For example, 70 percent of scholarships in the field of general medicine and 75 percent in paediatrics will be awarded to prospective students who will return to their native regions upon graduation. The quotas will be distributed based on requests filed by the regions, which must subsequently provide employment to the graduates who must be able to work where people need their services.

As for residency training, I suggest that almost 100 percent of scholarships be given to medical graduates in critically important spheres. Priority during enrolment will be given to those with practical experience in the field of primary healthcare, especially in rural areas. This system should be also stipulated for federal medical centres.

And lastly, just as we agreed, a new system of remuneration will be gradually introduced in healthcare starting this year. It is based on clear, fair and understandable rules, with a fixed share of salary in the overall income and a uniform list of compensation payments and commercial incentives for all regions.





I am aware that the implementation of all these goals requires extensive resources. If you go back to where I started, every goal needs a great deal of money. In this regard, I ask the Government to once again consider identifying priorities for our development while retaining the budget’s stability. This is an advantage we have achieved in the past few years, and we must maintain it.

I know that last year a number of regions saw a disruption in medication supplies as the regions’ purchases were not made, with certain officials treating it as if it were some sort of office supplies purchases claiming it was not a big deal and new tenders would be announced. But people were left without essential and vitally important medications. I should point out that such cases must never happen again.

This year, efforts will be made to launch an integrated comprehensive register of recipients of medications that are provided to citizens free of charge or with a considerable discount through a federal or regional subsidy to avoid any confusion in this regard in the future.

Also, certain legislative decisions have already been adopted that will allow for official and centralised imports of certain medications to Russia that are yet to receive regulatory approval. I ask the Government to promptly organise this work so that people, particularly the parents of sick children, do not find themselves in a desperate situation when they cannot legally find the necessary medications.

Control over pharmaceutical drugs will also significantly change. It will be tightened both at pharmaceutical companies and during all stages of medication circulation, including at pharmacy networks.

Colleagues,

In recent years, we have focused on strengthening macroeconomic sustainability, and it is something I just mentioned. The federal budget has had a surplus again. Our government reserves confidently cover our gross external debt. And here I am not talking about some abstract or theoretical indicators – I would like to emphasise that these figures are directly influencing the life of each and every person in our country, and have to do with the fulfilment of our social commitments. We can see the problems, even shocks that citizens of other states face, where government had no such cash cushion and their financial position turned out to be unstable.

The consistent work of the Government and the Bank of Russia has led to a stabilisation of prices. Last year, inflation stood at 3 percent, which is below the target level of 4 percent. True, the prices of certain goods and services have risen slightly, but overall, I repeat, inflation is at a predictably low level. The situation fundamentally differs from what it was five or ten years ago, when double-digit inflation was a tax on all citizens of the country, being an especially hard burden for those on a fixed salary or pension – retired people and workers in the public sector.

Now, relying on a stable macroeconomic foundation, we need to create conditions for a substantial increase in people’s real incomes. Again, this is the most important responsibility of the Government and the Central Bank. To meet it, the national economy needs structural changes and higher efficiency. In 2021, Russia's GDP growth rates should be higher than the global ones.

To have this kind of dynamics, it is necessary to launch a new investment cycle, to seriously increase investment in the creation and upgrading of jobs, in infrastructure, in the development of industry, agriculture and the services sector. Starting this year, annual investment growth should be at least 5 percent, and investment share in the country's GDP, 25 percent by 2024 from the current 21 percent.

What needs to be done to encourage investment?





First of all, we agreed not to change the tax treatment for businesses over a period of the next six years and thus provide a wider horizon for investment planning. The deputies and the Government should speed up the adoption of a package of draft laws on protecting and promoting investment. As you are well aware, tax treatment for major important projects should remain unchanged for up to 20 years, and the requirements and standards for building production sites should remain the same for three years. These investor guarantees should become standard law.

Of course, in addition to major projects, small- and medium-sized businesses’ initiatives should be supported as well. Today, the regions are entitled to provide an investment-based tax deduction and a three-year revenue tax break, but they rarely use them. It is clear why: they do so because regional budgets thus lose revenue. In this regard, we would like federal funds to compensate the regions for two-thirds of the lost revenue stemming from the use of an investment-related tax deduction.

Second, the reform of the oversight and supervisory activities must be completed in 2020, and businesses should thus see improvements in their operating environment.

Third, I have already submitted to the State Duma the amendments to remove vague criminal law provisions in part related to so-called frauds. Thus, entrepreneurs have repeatedly mentioned Article 210 of the Criminal Code, under which any company whose senior executives violated the law could qualify as an organised criminal group, meaning that almost all of its employees were liable. Tougher restrictive measures and punishment were put in place. Law enforcement agencies will henceforth be required to prove that an organisation or a company was initially deliberately created with an illegal purpose in mind.

Fourth. It is estimated that as soon as this summer the foreign currency reserves of the National Welfare Fund will pass the mark of 7 percent of GDP. We have accumulated these reserves to guarantee our stability and security, which means we can invest our additional revenue in development and the national economy.

Cost-effective projects that remove infrastructure restrictions for our territories must become our priority. This includes bypass roads for big cities, arterial roads between regional capitals and exit roads to federal motorways. These projects will inevitably bring about the growth of small businesses, tourism and social activity in the regions and locally.

Fifth. For investment to grow steadily, our economy needs long-term money. We all know this very well. This is a direct responsibility of the Central Bank. I appreciate its consistent course for making loans for the real sector of economy more accessible.

Of course, businesses, companies (especially large ones) must remember about their social and environmental responsibility. I would like to thank our parliament members for demonstrating integrity during their work on the emission quota law.

Obviously, it is necessary to act upon our plans faster. Our next steps include testing and implementing the air quality monitoring system and subsequently expanding this control system to cover the entire country. It is necessary to monitor not only the condition of air but also water and soil – that is, to develop a comprehensive environmental monitoring system.

Next. By the end of this year, at least 80 out of the 300 largest industrial facilities must complete the transition to best available technology and obtain complex environmental permits, which means a consistent reduction of hazardous emissions. Sixteen permits have been issued as of now but overall this work is on schedule. No matter what, we must not allow any disruptions here. It is necessary to drastically cut the amount of waste ending up in landfills, implement waste sorting and generally move towards the circular economy. By 2021, we must already launch the mechanism of extended producer responsibility when producers and importers of goods and packaging are responsible for recycling costs. To put it simply, contaminators must pay.





Colleagues,

I would like to stress that Russia is ready to support Russian and foreign scientists’ joint research on ecology, climate change, environmental and ocean pollution. These are global development challenges shared by everyone.

Today the speed of technological change in the world is increasing manifold, and we must create our own technologies and standards in areas that define our future, such as, first of all, artificial intelligence, genetics, new materials, energy sources and digital technology. I am confident that we can reach a breakthrough here, as we did in defence. I will speak about this later.

In order to solve difficult technological tasks, we will continue to develop research infrastructure, including megascience-class facilities. I am sure that an opportunity to work with unique equipment and tackle the most ambitious tasks will encourage talented young people to work in science. This is already happening. According to estimates, by the middle of the decade every second scientist in Russia will be under 40.

We should give researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs the freedom they need to do their work and to conduct innovative scientific research. I ask the Government and State Duma deputies to fast-track the discussion of the technological legislative package. This year we must launch a flexible mechanism of experimental legal modes to design and introduce new technologies in Russia and establish up-to-date regulation of the big data turnover.

Next, we should establish a mechanism of social support for direct and venture finance tools based on the best global practices. The technological entrepreneur should have the right to take a risk, so that failing to implement an idea will not automatically mean inappropriate use of funds and a possible criminal prosecution. I mean that we should establish such legal and financial conditions that as many start-ups and pioneer teams as possible could become strong and successful innovative companies.

We need to support the export of high-tech products and, of course, to boost domestic demand for innovative products. In this context, I believe it would be right to fast-track the digital transformation of the real economy. A requirement should be set that national projects are largely carried out using domestic software.

We have already put in place, say, major digital television infrastructure, which, in terms of its technical characteristics, is one of the most advanced in the world. Currently, the digital television coverage in Russia is more expanded than, for example, in France, Austria or Switzerland.

The internet has become a must-have for people today. Russia is one of few countries in the world which has its own social networks, messengers, e-mail and search engines and other national resources.

Given all the things I’ve just mentioned, I suggest that the Affordable Internet project be developed and carried out and that free access to socially important domestic internet services be available across Russia. I repeat that in this case people will not have to pay for the internet service, for internet traffic.





Colleagues,

The high availability of the internet should become Russia’s and our citizens’ competitive advantage and create, across the board, an environment conducive to education, creative work, communications and the implementation of social and cultural projects. Of course, this means new opportunities for people to get involved in the life of the country. We appreciate every creative initiative of our citizens, public associations, non-profit organisations, as well as their willingness to contribute to national development.

It is very important that the volunteer movement is becoming more popular, and it unites schoolchildren, university students, and people of different generations and ages. The Victory Volunteers project embodies the tradition of mutual assistance and respect for older generations and our history.

This year, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. For Russia, May 9 is the greatest and sacred holiday. We are proud of the generation of victors and honour their feat, and our memory is not only a tribute to our heroic past, but it also serves our future, inspires us and strengthens our unity.

It is our duty to defend the truth about the Victory; otherwise what shall we say to our children if a lie, like a disease, spreads all over the world? We must set facts against outrageous lies and attempts to distort history. Russia will create the largest and most complete set of archival documents, film and photo materials on the Second World War, accessible both for our citizens and for the whole world. This work is our duty as a winning country and our responsibility to the future generations.

Colleagues,

We can see how unpredictably, uncontrollably events are developing in the world, what is happening in the Middle East and North Africa literally in recent weeks and recent days, how regional conflicts can rapidly grow into threats to the entire international community.

I am convinced that it is high time for a serious and direct discussion about the basic principles of a stable world order and the most acute problems that humanity is facing. It is necessary to show political will, wisdom and courage. The time demands an awareness of our shared responsibility and real actions.

The founding countries of the United Nations should set an example. It is the five nuclear powers that bear a special responsibility for the conservation and sustainable development of humankind. These five nations should first of all start with measures to remove the prerequisites for a global war and develop updated approaches to ensuring stability on the planet that would fully take into account the political, economic and military aspects of modern international relations.

Russia is ready to enhance cooperation with all interested parties. We are not threatening anyone or seeking to impose our will on anyone. At the same time, I can assure everyone that our efforts to strengthen national security were made in a timely manner and in sufficient volume. For the first time ever – I want to emphasise this – for the first time in the history of nuclear missile weapons, including the Soviet period and modern times, we are not catching up with anyone, but, on the contrary, other leading states have yet to create the weapons that Russia already possesses.





The country's defence capability is ensured for decades to come, but we cannot rest on our laurels and do nothing. We must keep moving forward, carefully observing and analysing the developments in this area across the world, and create next-generation combat systems and complexes. This is what we are doing today.

Reliable security creates the basis for Russia’s progressive and peaceful development and allows us to do much more to overcome the most pressing internal challenges, to focus on the economic and social growth of all our regions in the interest of the people, because Russia’s greatness is inseparable from dignified life of its every citizen. I see this harmony of a strong power and well-being of the people as a foundation of our future.

Colleagues,

We can move towards this goal only with the active participation of society, our citizens and, of course, intense and productive work of all branches and levels of government, the potential of which should be expanded.

In this regard, I would like to spend a moment discussing state structure and domestic policy, which are defined by the Fundamental Law of our country – the Constitution of the Russian Federation. I keep getting these questions all the time, including at the most recent annual news conference.

Clearly, we cannot but agree with those who say that the Constitution was adopted over 25 years ago amidst a severe internal political crisis and the state of affairs has completely overturned since then. Thank goodness, there is no more armed confrontation in the capital or a hotbed of international terrorism in the North Caucasus.

Despite a number of acute unsolved problems that we talked about today, the socioeconomic situation has stabilised, after all. Today some political public associations are raising the issue of adopting a new Constitution.

I want to answer straight off: I believe there is no need for this. Potential of the 1993 Constitution is far from being exhausted and I hope that pillars of our constitutional system, rights and freedoms will remain the foundation of strong values for the Russian society for decades to come.

In the meantime, statements regarding changes to the Constitution have already been made. And I find it possible to express my view and propose a number of constitutional amendments for discussion, amendments that, in my opinion, are reasonable and important for the further development of Russia as a rule-of-law welfare state where citizens’ freedoms and rights, human dignity and wellbeing constitute the highest value.





Firstly, Russia can be and can remain Russia only as a sovereign state. Our nation’s sovereignty must be unconditional. We have done a great deal to achieve this. We restored our state’s unity. We have overcome the situation when certain powers in the government were essentially usurped by oligarch clans. Russia has returned to international politics as a country whose opinion cannot be ignored.

We created powerful reserves, which multiplies our country’s stability and capability to protect its citizens’ social rights and the national economy from any attempts of foreign pressure.

I truly believe that it is time to introduce certain changes to our country’s main law, changes that will directly guarantee the priority of the Russian Constitution in our legal framework.

What does it mean? It means literally the following: requirements of international law and treaties as well as decisions of international bodies can be valid on the Russian territory only to the point that they do not restrict the rights and freedoms of our people and citizens and do not contradict our Constitution.

Second, I suggest formalising at the constitutional level the obligatory requirements for those who hold positions of critical significance for national security and sovereignty. More precisely, the heads of the constituent entities, members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, the prime minister and his/her deputies, federal ministers, heads of federal agencies and judges should have no foreign citizenship or residence permit or any other document that allows them to live permanently in a foreign state.

The goal and mission of state service is to serve the people, and those who enter this path must know that by doing this they inseparably connect their lives with Russia and the Russian people without any assumptions and allowances.

Requirements must be even stricter for presidential candidates. I suggest formalising a requirement under which presidential candidates must have had permanent residence in Russia for at least 25 years and no foreign citizenship or residence permit and not only during the election campaign but at any time before it too.

I know that people are discussing the constitutional provision under which one person cannot hold the post of the President of the Russian Federation for two successive terms. I do not regard this as a matter of principle, but I nevertheless support and share this view.

I have already said before that our goal is to ensure high living standards and equal opportunities for all throughout the country. It is towards this goal that our national projects and development plans are aimed.





At the same time, you know about the problems to do with education, healthcare and other fields created by a divide between the federal and municipal authorities – I have pointed this out more than once. This divide and, at the same time, the complex system of powers are having a negative effect above all on the people.

The rights, opportunities and guarantees, that are legally equal for all citizens, are not provided equally in different regions and municipalities. This is unfair to people and is directly threatening our society and national integrity.

I believe that the Constitution must seal the principles of a unified system of public authority and effective interaction between the federal and municipal authorities. At the same time, the powers and practical opportunities of the local governments, a body of authority that is closest to the people, can and should be expanded and strengthened.

And lastly, the state must honour its social responsibility under any conditions throughout the country. Therefore, I believe that the Constitution should include a provision that the minimum wage in Russia must not be below the subsistence minimum of the economically active people. We have a law on this, but we should formalise this requirement in the Constitution along with the principles of decent pensions, which implies a regular adjustment of pensions according to inflation.

Fourth, Russia is a huge country, and every region has its specifics, problems and experience. Of course, this must be taken into account. I believe it is necessary to cardinally increase the role of governors in decision-making at the federal level. As you know, back in 2000 the State Council was restored at my initiative, where the heads of all regions participate. Over the past period the State Council has proven its high effectiveness; its working groups provide for the professional, comprehensive and qualified examination of issues that are most important for people and Russia. I believe it would be appropriate to fix the status and role of the State Council in the Russian Constitution.

Fifth, Russian society is becoming more mature, responsible and demanding. Despite the differences in the ways to address their tasks, the main political forces speak from the position of patriotism and reflect the interests of their followers and voters.

At the same time, almost all the parties represented in the State Duma – and you know that I have regular meetings with their leaders – believe that the Federal Assembly is ready to take more responsibility for forming the Government. (Applause.) I expected this round of applause, but I think you will have another opportunity for applause now; please listen until the end.

More responsibility for forming the Government means more responsibility for the Government’s policy. I completely agree with this position.

What is the situation like now? In accordance with articles 111 and 112 of the Russian Constitution, the President only receives the consent of the State Duma to appoint the Prime Minister, and then appoints the head of the Cabinet, his deputies and all the ministers. I suggest changing the procedure and allowing the State Duma to appoint the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and then all deputy prime ministers and federal ministers at the Prime Minister’s recommendation. At the same time the President will have to appoint them, so he will have no right to turn down the candidates approved by the Parliament. (Applause.)

All of this means drastic changes to the political system. However, let me repeat, considering the maturity of our main political organisations and parties as well as the reputation of civil society, I believe these proposals are justified. This will increase the role and importance of the State Duma and parliamentary parties as well as the independence and responsibility of the Prime Minister and other Cabinet members and make cooperation between the representative and executive branches of government more effective and substantive.





Colleagues,

I would like to emphasise that our country, with its vast territory, complex federal and administrative division and diverse cultural and historical traditions, cannot properly advance and even exist sustainably as a parliamentary republic.

Russia must remain a strong presidential republic. The president must undoubtedly retain the right to determine the Government's tasks and priorities, as well as the right to dismiss the prime minister, his deputies and federal ministers in case of improper execution of duties or due to loss of trust. The president also exercises direct command over the Armed Forces and the entire law enforcement system. In this regard, I believe another step is necessary to provide a greater balance between the branches of power.

In this connection, point six: I propose that the president should appoint heads of all security agencies following consultations with the Federation Council. I believe this approach will make the work of security and law enforcement agencies more transparent and accountable to citizens.

The principle of appointment following consultations can be applied to regional prosecutors as well. Currently they are appointed in coordination with regional legislative assemblies. Colleagues, this may lead to certain, including informal, obligations towards local authorities and ultimately to the risk of losing objectivity and impartiality.

As to the territories' position regarding a prosecutor candidacy in the constituent entities of the Federation, it can be considered during consultations in the Federation Council, which is in fact the chamber of the regions. We cannot have different local legislative systems in different regions; the prosecutor is a supreme authority who exercises control over the execution of laws irrespectively of any regional circumstances.

I am confident that a greater independence of prosecution agencies from local authorities would be beneficial for citizens regardless of the region. Colleagues, let us always be governed by the interests of our people.

And my seventh and final point: the judicial system – the Constitutional and Supreme courts – plays a key role in ensuring legality and citizens’ rights. I would like to emphasise, along with judges’ professionalism, their credibility should be unconditional as well. Being fair and having a moral right to make decisions that affect people’s lives have always been considered of paramount importance in Russia. The country’s fundamental law should enshrine and protect the independence of judges, and their subordination only to the Constitution and federal law.

At the same time, I consider it necessary to stipulate in the Constitution the Federation Council’s authority to dismiss, on the proposal from the President, Constitutional and Supreme Court judges in the event of misconduct that defames a judge’s honour and dignity, as well as in other cases provided for by federal constitutional law, that make it impossible for a person to maintain the status of a judge. This proposal is derived from the established practice. This is something Russia definitely needs today.

Furthermore, to improve the quality of domestic legislation, to reliably protect citizens' interests, I propose strengthening the role of the Constitutional Court, namely: to verify, at the President’s request, the constitutionality of draft laws adopted by the Federal Assembly before they are signed by the head of state. We might also think about extending the powers of the Constitutional Court to evaluate not only laws, but also other regulatory legal acts adopted by various authorities at the federal and regional levels for compliance with the Constitution.





Colleagues,

Again, the proposals made today, by no means limit the discussion around possible amendments to the Constitution. I am sure that public associations, parties, regions, the legal community, and Russian citizens will express their ideas. The broadest public discussion is needed. But, opening this discussion, I would like to give it a start in a certain direction, or at least to show what challenges we are facing.

Please, do not forget what happened to our country after 1991. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, we still had the same ambitions and of course have preserved the colossal potential – the human, intellectual, resource, territorial, cultural and historical potential, and so on. But there were also threats, dangers of a magnitude no one could have imagined ever before. And that was a pity, as they should have thought about it in due time.

Therefore in our further state building efforts, we are facing seemingly contradictory tasks that serve as a guideline for values and may appear incompatible at first sight. What am I referring to? We must create a solid, reliable and invulnerable system that will be absolutely stable in terms of the external contour and will securely guarantee Russia’s independence and sovereignty. At the same time, this system must be organic, flexible and capable of changing quickly in line with what is happening around us, and most importantly, in response to the development of Russian society. This system must ensure the rotation of those who are in power or occupy high positions in other areas. This renewal is indispensable for the progressive evolution of society and stable development that may not be infallible but ensures that the most important thing – Russia’s interests *– remains immutable.

What else do I consider important and would like to emphasise? The amendments that we will discuss do not concern the foundations of the Constitution and, hence, can be approved by Parliament in line with the existing procedure and law through the adoption of relevant constitutional laws.

At the same time, considering that the proposed amendments concern substantial changes in the political system and the work of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, I believe it necessary to hold a vote of Russian citizens on the entire package of the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The final decision must be made only on the basis of its results.

The opinion of people, our citizens as the bearers of sovereignty and the main source of power must be decisive. In the final analysis everything is decided by the people, both today and in the future. I am referring to both the choice of national development strategy and daily issues in each region, city or village. We will be able to build a strong, prosperous and modern Russia only on the basis of unconditional respect for the opinions of the people, the opinions of the nation.

The current year of 2020 is a landmark in many respects. It is a transition to the third decade of the 21st century. Russia is faced with breakthrough historical tasks and everyone’s contribution is important for resolving them. Working together we are bound to change our lives for the better. I often mention the word “together” because Russia means all of us. I am referring not to the people present in this hall or rather not only to the people present in this hall but all citizens of this country because I believe that success is determined by our will for creation and development, for the implementation of the most ambitious plans, our labour for the sake of our families and loved ones, our children and their future, and hence, for the sake of Russia’s greatness and the dignity of its citizens.

Thank you for your attention. (Applause.)



The National Anthem of the Russian Federation.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62582
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Old January 16th, 2020 #48
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Working meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev



Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev after delivering the Address to the Federal Assembly.



January 15, 2020 - 15:10 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The discussion focused on the initiatives Vladimir Putin set out in the Address and the issues related to the implementation of its provisions.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62584






Meeting with members of the Government



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with members of the Cabinet.



January 15, 2020 - 16:30 - The Government House, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

Mr Medvedev and I have discussed in detail the questions that I raised in the Address to the Federal Assembly. As you see, there are many issues, and to successfully complete what we planned in the past and what has been offered to our society today, we must certainly do a lot, in part, to properly organise our work.





Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev:

Mr President, colleagues,

We have all listened to the Presidential Address. As President, Mr Putin mapped out the top priorities of our work in the country this year and formulated a whole package of fundamental amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

When these amendments are adopted, most likely after the discussion as it was said, they will substantially change not only many articles of the Constitution but also the balance of power – executive, legislative and judicial.





It is obvious in this context that as the Government of the Russian Federation we must give the President of this country an opportunity to make all the necessary decisions for this. Under the circumstances, it would be correct for the entire Government of the Russian Federation to resign in accordance with Article 117 of the Constitution.

I would certainly like to thank all those that took part in the work of the current Government. Naturally, subsequent decisions will be made by the President of this country.





Vladimir Putin:

Mr Medvedev, colleagues,

For my part, I also want to thank you for everything that has been done so far in our joint work.

I am satisfied with the results of your work. Of course, not everything was accomplished, but things never work out in full.

I hope we will see each other soon, and I will meet with each of you in person. Please go about your duties in full until the new Government is formed.





As for our joint work with Mr Medvedev, which we have just talked about, Mr Medvedev was the President and for almost eight years now he has been the Prime Minister, which is probably the longest stint in this post in Russia’s recent history.

There is a clear-cut presidential block of issues, and there is a Government block of issues, even though the President, of course, is responsible for everything, but the presidential block includes primarily matters of security, defence and the like.





Mr Medvedev has always been in charge of these matters. From the point of view of increasing our defence capability and security, I consider it possible and have asked him to deal with these matters in the future. I consider it possible and will, in the near future, introduce the position of Deputy Chairman of the Security Council. As you are aware, the President is its Chairman.

If we need to amend the applicable law, I will do so soon and I want State Duma deputies to support this as well. We just need the lawyers to provide assessments on this account.

Thank you, everyone. We will see each other very soon. Thank you for your work.





Dmitry Medvedev:

Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62585






The President nominated Mikhail Mishustin for the post of Prime Minister



January 15, 2020 - 19:10 - The Kremlin, Moscow







Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Head of the Federal Taxation Service Mikhail Mishustin and proposed him to take the post of Prime Minister.








Having received his consent, the President submitted the candidacy of Mikhail Mishustin for consideration to the State Duma.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62586






Executive Order on the Government of the Russian Federation



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Government of the Russian Federation.



January 15, 2020 - 19:15



In accordance with Article 83 (c) and part 2 of Article 117 of the Russian Federation Constitution, the President announced the resignation of the Government of the Russian Federation and appointed Dmitry Medvedev Acting Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

The Russian Government is instructed to continue fulfilling its duties until the new Government is formed.

The Executive Order comes into force upon its signing.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62587
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
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Old January 17th, 2020 #49
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Working group set up to draft proposals for amending the Constitution



Vladimir Putin signed an instruction On the Working Group to Draft Proposals for Amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.



January 15, 2020 - 22:00



The President ordered to form a working group to draft proposals for amending the Constitution of the Russian Federation and approved the list of its members. The group comprises 75 politicians, legislators, scholars and public figures.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62589






Meeting with members of the working group on drafting proposals for amendments to the Constitution



The President held the first meeting with members of the working group on drafting proposals for amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.



January 16, 2020 - 16:00 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region







The membership of the working group was approved by the Presidential instruction of January 15, 2020. The group comprises 75 politicians, legislators, scholars and public figures.

















The President believes that the task of the working group is to organise consistent and responsible work on draft amendments that have already been or will be proposed later. It is very important to meticulously check their conformity with the law. Clear-cut and thought-out legal formulas must be put to a vote. Vladimir Putin emphasised that the final decision will of course belong to Russian citizens.














The President thanked all those present for agreeing to take part in this work.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62592






Executive Order on Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.



January 16, 2020 - 16:15



According to the Executive Order, Dmitry Medvedev has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and released from his duties as Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

The Executive Order enters in force on the day of its signing.

Earlier, the President signed Executive Order On Amendments to Certain Acts of the President of the Russian Federation. The amendments have been introduced into the consolidated list of government posts of the Russian Federation and the Provisions on the Security Council of the Russian Federation.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62595






Mikhail Mishustin appointed Prime Minister of the Russian Federation



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.



January 16, 2020 - 16:20



In accordance with Article 83 (a) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the President appointed Mikhail Mishustin the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

The Executive Order enters in force on the day of its signing.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62593
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 19th, 2020 #50
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Executive order on changing composition of Russian Federation Security Council



Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Changes to the Composition of the Security Council of the Russian Federation as approved by Presidential Executive Order No. 715 of May 25, 2012.



January 16, 2020 - 22:00



In accordance with the Executive Order, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin is appointed permanent member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62598






President received letter from Commander of Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar



January 17, 2020 - 15:20



Here is the full text of the letter:

“Mr President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, my dear friend,

I would like to express my personal gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the Russian Federation to restore peace and stability in Libya.

I would like to thank you and express my full support for Russia’s initiative to conduct peace negotiations in Moscow that should lead to peace in Libya. I confirm that we are ready to accept your invitation to visit the Russian Federation in order to continue the dialogue.

Please accept our deep appreciation and respect.”




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62602






Events commemorating 77th anniversary of lifting of siege of Leningrad



Vladimir Putin took part in events commemorating the 77th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad.



January 18, 2020 - 14:45 - Leningrad Region, St Petersburg







The President visited the Nevsky Pyatachok military historical complex, where he laid flowers at the Landmark Stone monument. Then he honoured the memory of Leningrad residents and soldiers defending the city who died during the siege, by laying a wreath by the Motherland monument at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery.














The siege of Leningrad by Nazi troops lasted 872 days from September 8, 1941, until January 27, 1944.














The Landmark Stone commemorates the soldiers who fought during the siege at Nevsky Pyatachok. Nevsky Pyatachok is the conventional designation of a bridgehead on the left bank of the Neva River, which soldiers of the Leningrad Front defended during the Battle of Leningrad. Fighting here was conducted with the aim of breaking the siege.














Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery is the largest cemetery of World War II victims. Buried in 186 mass graves are 420,000 city residents who died from starvation, bombing, and shelling, as well as 70,000 soldiers who defended Leningrad.














Operation Iskra to break the siege of Leningrad took place on January 12–18, 1943 on Nevsky Pyatachok and triumphantly ended in a meeting of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts near the village of Maryino. The siege was broken completely one year later on January 27, 1944.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62607






Viewing panorama Memory Speaking: The Road Through War



Vladimir Putin visited a complex of historical artistic three-dimensional panoramas, Memory Speaking: The Road Through War, at Vasilyevsky Island in St Petersburg.



January 18, 2020 - 15:10 - St Petersburg







The exposition prepared by the Nevsky Batalist studio is housed in eight halls with a total area of 2,000 square metres.











The three-dimensional panorama recreates the path of a soldier from the walls of his house in 1941, through the trenches of the Luga defence line and the workshops in a factory in Tula to the shores of the Volga in Stalingrad. The exhibition’s visitors go through Caucasus passes during a battle between Soviet and German mountain infantries, find themselves in the midst of the assault to cross the Dnieper, experience the liberation of Europe and complete the journey together with the soldier guide on the roof of the Reichstag in 1945.











Events of the Great Patriotic War are shown chronologically and are reflected with historical accuracy based on veterans’ memoirs and archive materials. The exposition includes models of aircraft, tanks and artillery weapons in their natural size and real wartime items.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62608






Meeting with Great Patriotic War veterans and representatives of patriotic associations



During his visit to the State Memorial Museum of the Defence and Siege of Leningrad, the President met with Great Patriotic War veterans and representatives of non-governmental patriotic associations.



January 18, 2020 - 16:50 - St Petersburg







An award ceremony was held before the meeting. The President presented the 75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 anniversary medals to the veterans invited to the meeting: St Petersburg residents Valentina Andronova, Anatoly Klimov, Yekaterina Tuturova and Boris Feofanov.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends, veterans,

We are meeting on an important day: on January 18, 1943, the Leningrad and Volkhov battlefront soldiers lifted the siege of Leningrad.





This was a landmark event at the time and it is a landmark for us, for all residents of our huge country, especially for Leningrad and St Petersburg residents, of course, particularly for veterans, who understand what the lifting of the siege of Leningrad meant for the city and the country.





The whole country looked forward to this, especially the residents of the besieged city, who suffered more during the war than anyone, even than people in the most severe battle areas did. This is particularly true of civilians, since Leningrad’s population was 2.5 million people before the war. As far as I know, after the war there were only 400,000. And immediately after the war the number of people who lost their lives was said to be one million, although, in fact, I believe there were many more.





This medal – and I would like to present the veterans with the 75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 medal – will be awarded to all participants and veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Award ceremonies will be held in all regions of the Russian Federation, in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and abroad at our diplomatic institutions.





Members of the victors’ generation continue to serve today, which I am especially happy to say. They take part in public life actively and help to preserve what lies at the basis of our self-identification, what lies at the core of the existence of the state itself, in particular, our love for our Motherland, our devotion to it, the aspiration to create, and to do everything we can for its future.





Once again, I would like to congratulate everyone on this holiday, the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, and to wish everyone all the best, first and foremost, good health.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62609
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 20th, 2020 #51
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Vladimir Putin arrived in Berlin to attend international conference on Libya



January 19, 2020 - 14:40 - Germany







Conference participants will exchange views on resolving the Libyan crisis, including on an early cessation of hostilities, reconciliation of the parties to the conflict and launching an extensive political dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations.

Key agreements will be recorded in a final document of the conference.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62610






Meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan



Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the start of the Berlin Peace Conference on Libya.



January 19, 2020 - 15:20 - Berlin







President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (retranslated):

My dear friend,

Our cooperation, which is based on sincere dialogue and mutual understanding, is critical in this difficult situation.

We have given a good assessment of the year 2019 in terms of bilateral relations. We resolutely completed the S-400 deal despite various types of pressure.

Together with the TurkStream project, another project in the energy sector was crucial – the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant – due to its strategic significance. The first unit of the power plant is scheduled to become operational in 2023.





As is known, our present-day diplomatic relations were established in 1920, already a hundred years ago. We have decided to declare 2020–2021 the Year of our Common History.

I believe that our joint efforts brought relative stability in this process. Our efforts have also yielded such a productive result as today’s convening of the Berlin Conference. In this respect we acknowledge your efforts and your role in establishing a ceasefire.

We undertook great efforts to convince Mr Sarraj to go to Moscow and to do whatever it takes. He fulfilled his task. As a result, and following our proposal and recommendations, the Government of National Accord signed an agreement even though their expectations were not fully met.

On the other hand, Mr Haftar did not sign the agreement, which tells us all that he is not in favour of the peace process but rather of a military resolution of the problem. However, to ensure peace and calm in Libya, the summit at the Berlin Conference has to guarantee a ceasefire and a political resolution of the issue. It is necessary to put an end to Haftar’s aggressive behaviour and aggressive stance.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Esteemed Mr President, dear friend,

I am very pleased to meet you again, this time in Berlin.

I and all of us are satisfied with the results of our visit to Istanbul on January 8. I would like to thank you for the warm atmosphere during our joint work at the launch of the TurkStream. I think this was a momentous event in the power industry of our countries, and that of Europe as well.





We have indeed forged very kind, constructive, trust-based relations in practically all areas where we operate. Our dialogue is always not easy, though it is business-like. But we have learned to reach agreements, we have learned to seek and find compromises acceptable for both parties. In my view this is a very good example of constructive cooperation between neighbours.

Esteemed Mr President,

We are really working very effectively in many key areas of international policy, especially those of a regional nature. I mean Syria, I mean everything related to Iran’s nuclear programme, and I certainly mean the resolution of the Libyan conflict.





I think you and I made a very big step during our meeting in Istanbul by calling the Libyan sides to a ceasefire, cessation of hostilities, and even though some incidents still occur, the two sides have heeded our call and large-scale hostilities have been halted. In my opinion, it is already a very good result, which sets the scene for today’s multilateral meeting here in Berlin, where we are now.

Russia supports Chancellor Merkel’s initiative on the Libya settlement. This situation is a concern for everyone and it disturbs you and me, as leaders of countries close to that region. It is certainly disturbing for all of Europe since a flood of refugees to Europe from the Middle East and Africa rushed through the gate Libya opened wide after the assassination of Gaddafi.





Yes, indeed, the two of us have been working proactively to have a positive finale for the meeting of the conflicting parties in Moscow. The mere fact that they came to Moscow and had talks, not only with us but also with each other. I think we must thank our colleagues – foreign and defences ministers who placed great effort in getting the negotiating parties to come to an agreement and supported a joint statement.

True, not everything was successful. One of the parties did not uphold the statement, at least at the moment, but we keep hoping that the dialogue will continue, and we will strive with sincerity to advocate the conflict’s resolution.





I am very glad to have the opportunity to meet with you here in Berlin today and to discuss the whole range of our relations.

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62611






International conference on Libya



The President of Russia took part in the international conference on Libya in Berlin.



January 19, 2020 - 21:20 - Berlin







Taking part in the talks were Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte, President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China Yang Jiechi, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj and Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar are also attending the conference.














Vladimir Putin met with Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen during a recess in the talks. The discussion focused on bilateral issues and international problems, including the Libya settlement.














Participants in the conference adopted the final document.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62612






Conclusions of the Berlin Conference on Libya



January 19, 2020



1. Today’s Berlin Conference on Libya, at the invitation of German Chancellor Merkel, has gathered the Governments of Algeria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey, the Republic of the Congo, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and High Representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and the League of Arab States.

2. We, the participants, note the Co-Chair’s statement on the political, security and humanitarian situation in Libya of the meeting at Foreign Ministers’ level convened by France and Italy on the margins of the 74th General Assembly of the UN in New York on 26 September 2019.

3. We reaffirm ourstrong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya. Only a Libyan-led and Libyan owned political process can end the conflict and bring lasting peace.

4. The conflict in Libya, the instability in the country, the external interferences, the institutional divisions, the proliferation of a vast amount of unchecked weapons and the economy of predation continue to be a threat to international peace and security by providing fertile grounds for traffickers, armed groups and terrorist organizations. It has allowed Al Qaida and ISIS to flourish on the Libyan territory and to launch operations in Libya and in neighboring countries. It has facilitated a destabilizing wave of illegal migration in the region and an important deterioration of the humanitarian situation. We are committed to support Libyans in addressing those structural governance and security issues.

5. The “Berlin Process”, in which we engaged to support the three-point-plan presented by Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salamé to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has the sole objective of assisting the United Nations in unifying the International Community in their support for a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis. Therecan be no military solution in Libya.

6. We committo refraining from interference in the armed conflict or in the internal affairs of Libya and urge all international actors to do the same.

7. We recognize the central role of the United Nations to facilitate an inclusive intra-Libyan political and reconciliation process, based on the Libyan Political Agreement of 2015 and its institutions, UNSC Resolution 2259 (2015), other relevant UNSC Resolutions and the principles agreed in Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi, as well as the important roles of the African Union and its High Level Committee of Heads of State and Government on Libya, the League of Arab States, the European Union and the neighboring countries in Libya’s stabilization with particular regard to intra-Libyan national reconciliation, peace and security and political dialogue. All these International Organisations will closely work together. In this context we welcome the organization by the African Union of the Reconciliation Forum in the spring of 2020.

8. We fully supportthe good offices and mediation efforts of the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) and SRSG Salamé. We stress that a durable solution in Libya requires a comprehensive approach that addresses simultaneously the different aspects.

CEASEFIRE

9. We welcome the marked reduction in violence since January 12th and the negotiations undertaken in Moscow on January 13th as well as all other international initiatives aimed at paving the way towards a ceasefire agreement. We call on all parties concerned to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire. We reiterate the vital task of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in this regard. We call for credible, verifiable, sequenced and reciprocal steps, including credible steps towards the dismantling of armed groups and militias by all parties as per art. 34 of the LPA and referred to in UNSC resolutions 2420 and 2486, leading to a comprehensive and lasting cessation of all hostilities including air operations over the territory of Libya. We call forthe redeployment of heavy weapons, artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment.

10. We call forthe termination of all military movements by, or in direct support of, the conflict parties, in and over the entire territory of Libya, starting from the beginning of the ceasefire process.

11. We call for the institution of confidence-building measures, such as the exchange of prisoners and mortal remains.

12. We call for a comprehensive process of demobilization and disarmament of armed groups and militias in Libya and the subsequent integration of suitable personnel into civilian, security and military state institutions, on an individual basis and based on a census of armed groups personnel and professional vetting. We call upon the United Nations to assist this process.

13. We reaffirm the need to combat terrorism in LBY by all means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, recognizing that development, security, and human rights are mutually reinforcing and are vital to an effective and comprehensive approach to countering terrorism. We call on all parties to dissociate from UN-listed terrorist groups. In this perspective, and in accordance with Art. 35 of the LPA, we welcome the efforts to combat terrorist individuals and entities designated by the UN Security Council.

14. We call for the implementation of UNSCR 2368 and other relevant resolutions concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and designated individuals, groups, and entities, in particular the provisions related to the travel ban and freezing without delay of the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities. We reaffirm enhanced cooperation to counter the foreign terrorist fighter threat in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2322.

15. We call upon the United Nations to facilitate ceasefire negotiations between the parties, including through the immediate establishment of technical committees to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire.

16. We call upon the UNSC to impose appropriate sanctions on those who are found to be in violation of the ceasefire arrangements and on Member States to enforce these.

17. We call upon Member States to commit to supportingthe provision of the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) in line with UNSC Resolution 2486 (2019) with the necessary personnel and equipment to effectively support the ceasefire.

ARMS EMBARGO

18. We commit to unequivocally and fully respect and implement the arms embargo established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) and the Council’s subsequent Resolutions, including the proliferation of arms from Libya, and call on all international actors to do the same.

19. We call on all actors to refrain from any activities exacerbating the conflict or inconsistent with the UNSC arms embargo or the ceasefire, including the financing of military capabilities or the recruitment of mercenaries.

20. We reiterate our call to stop any support to UN-designated terrorist individuals and groups. All perpetrators of terrorist acts should be held accountable.

21. We committo efforts strengthening current monitoring mechanisms by the UN and competent national and international authorities, within our capabilities, including maritime, aerial and terrestrial monitoring, and through the provision of additional resources, in particular satellite imagery.

22. We committo informing UNSMIL, the UNSC, its Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) and its Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1973 (2011) about potential breaches of the arms embargo, including by sharing intelligence, and call on all international actors to do the same.

23. We commit to supporting the UN Panel of Experts to effectively document and report such breaches and support them in investigating violations and urge all international actors to do the same. We encourage the Panel to investigate and alert the relevant UNSC Committee on violations of the UNSC arms embargo on a continuous basis. We commit to supporting and fully cooperating with the UN Panel of Experts.

24. We call on all actors to apply and enforce UNSC sanctions, including through national implementation measures, against those who are found to be in breach of the UNSC arms embargo or the ceasefire, from this day forward.

RETURN TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS

25. We support the Libyan Political Agreement as a viable framework for the political solution in Libya. We also call for the establishment of a functioning Presidency Council and the formation of a single, unified, inclusive and effective Libyan government approved by the House of Representatives.

26. We urgeall Libyan parties to resume the inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process under the auspices of UNSMIL, engaging in it constructively, paving the way to end the transitional period through free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections organized by an independent and effective High National Elections Commission.

27. We encourage the full, effective and meaningful participation of women and youth in all activities relating to Libya’s democratic transition, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and support the efforts of SRSG Salamé to facilitate wider engagement and participation of women and youth from across the spectrum of Libyan society in the political process and public institutions.

28. We urge all actors to restore and respect the integrity and unity of Libyan executive, legislative, judiciary and other State institutions.

29. We callfor a transparent, accountable, fair and equitable distribution of public wealth and resources between different Libyan geographical areas, including through decentralization and support for municipalities, thereby removing a central grievance and cause of recriminations.

30. We callon the UNSC, the African Union, the League of Arab States and the European Union to act against Libyan spoilers of the political process, in line with relevant UNSC decisions.

31. We urge all Libyan parties to further engage in and support mediation and reconciliation efforts between Fezzan local communities so as to reconstruct the social fabric in an area long neglected.

32. We underline the important role of neighboring countries in the Libyan stabilization process.

33. We committo using all bilateral contacts to urge all Libyan parties to enter into the ceasefire and engage in the intra-Libyan political process under UNSMIL auspices.

34. We committo accepting and supporting the outcome of this intra-Libyan political process.

SECURITY SECTOR REFORM

35. We call for the restoration of the monopoly of the State to the legitimate use of force.

36. We support the establishment of unified Libyan national security, police and military forces under central, civilian authority, building upon the Cairo talks, and the documents produced therein.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL REFORM

37. We maintain that it is of utmost importance to restore, respect and safeguard the integrity, unity and lawful governance of all Libyan sovereign institutions, in particular the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), the Libya Investment Authority (LIA), the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the Audit Bureau (AB). Their boards of directors should be inclusive, representative, and active.

38. We commit to providing, upon request from these Libyan authorities and in full accordance with the principles of national ownership, technical assistance to improve transparency, accountability and effectiveness, bring those institutions into conformity with international standards, including through audit processes, and allow for an intra-Libyan dialogue attended by representatives of all different constituencies regarding grievances over the distribution of Libya’s revenues. We call for improving the capacity of relevant Libyan oversight institutions, particularly the Audit Bureau, Administrative Oversight Authority, the National Anti-Corruption Authority, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the relevant parliamentary committees as per the Libyan Political Agreement and pertinent Libyan laws.

39. We stressthat the National Oil Corporation (NOC) is Libya’s sole independent and legitimate oil company, in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 2259 (2015) and 2441 (2018). We urge all parties to continue to guarantee the security of its installations and refrain from any hostilities against all oil facilities and infrastructure. We reject any attempt at damaging Libya’s oil infrastructure, any illicit exploitation of its energy resources, which belong to the Libyan people, through the sale or purchase of Libyan crude oil and derivatives outside the NOC’s control and call for the transparent and equitable distribution of oil revenues. We appreciate the monthly publication by the NOC of oil revenues, as a proof to its commitment to improve transparency.

40. We support the Economic Dialogue with representatives of Libyan financial and economic institutions, and encouragethe implementation of structural economic reforms. To facilitate this dialogue, we support the creation of an inclusive Libyan Expert Economic Commission composed of Libyan officials and experts reflecting the country’s institutional and geographical diversity.

41. We support the empowerment of Libya’s municipalities and urge central authorities to fully commit to providing the needed financial allocations to sustain local governance, particularly in the south.

42. We encouragethe establishment of a reconstruction mechanism for Libya supporting development and reconstruction in all regions under the auspices of a new, representative and unified government exercising its authority over all Libyan territory, to develop the severely affected areas with priority to be placed on reconstruction projects in the cities of Benghazi, Derna, Murzuq, Sabha, Sirte, and Tripoli.

43. We recall that the UN Security Council froze LIA assets with the objective of preserving them for the benefit of the Libyan people, stress the need for a financial review of Libyan financial and economic institutions to support efforts of reunifying them, and to helping the relevant Libyan authorities to promote the integrity and unity of the LIA, including through a credible comprehensive audit of the LIA and its subsidiaries.

RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

44. We urgeall parties in Libya to fully respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports, to allow access for medical, human rights monitors, humanitarian personnel and assistance and to take action in order to protect the civilian population, including internally displaced people, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and prisoners, also through engagement with UN entities.

45. The lack of due process in the functioning of the national judicial system, including in prisons, is one of the contributing factors to the volatile and serious human rights and humanitarian situation. We call for follow-up on the decrees of the Libyan authorities to screen all detainees and prison inmates under the control of the Ministry of Justice/Judicial Police in order to strengthen the functioning of the judicial institutions and to release those illegally or arbitrarily detained.

46. We urge all parties to end the practice of arbitrary detention and the Libyan authorities to establish alternative procedures to detention, especially for those in high-risk areas of conflict, and gradually close the detention centres for migrants and asylum seekers while simultaneously amending the Libyan legislative frameworks on migration and asylum to align them with international law and internationally recognized standards and principles.

47. We stress the need to hold accountable all those who have violated provisions of international law, including in the areas of indiscriminate use of force against civilians, attacks on densely populated residential areas, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, torture and ill-treatment, human trafficking, and violence against or the abuse of migrants and refugees.

48. We urgeall parties to refrain from any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, including through the use of social media.

49. We commit to supporting the work of Libyan institutions to document violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

50. We encourage the Libyan authorities to further proceed with strengthening transitional justice institutions, including prosecution initiatives, reparations, truth-seeking and institutional reform, which should be in line with internationally recognized standards and principles, in order to uphold and defend the rights to know the truth regarding the circumstances of the enforced disappearance, to have access to justice and to have the right to obtain reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence in Libya, particularly in the context of missing persons.

FOLLOW-UP

51. We call on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, his Special Representative to Libya and the chair of the Berlin process to communicate the outcome of this process and conference to the Libyans. We welcome that Prime Minister Sarraj and Marshal Haftar have nominated their representatives for the military 5+5-Committee proposed by UNSMIL in its support of operationalization attached as an annex to these conclusions. In order to allow for substantial and serious talks in the 5+5-Committee, all participants of the Conference declare that they will refrain from any further military deployments or operations as long as the truce is respected.

52. We express our full support to the operationalization of these conclusions by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Libya attached to these Conclusions as an annex.

53. We agree that the Berlin Conference on Libya is one important step in a broader Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process designed to bring a decisive end to the Libyan crisis by addressing in a comprehensive manner the underlying drivers of the conflict. The follow-up from the Berlin Conference on Libya plays an important role. Successful translation of the commitments above into actionable activities will be key, as well as identification of precise indicators, roles and responsibilities, not only for the United Nations but also for the participants themselves as well as potentially other Member States and international organizations.

54. We herewith create an International Follow-Up Committee (IFC) consisting of all countries and International Organisations that participated in today’s Berlin Conference on Libya in order to maintain coordination in the aftermath of the Berlin Conference on Libya, under the aegis of the United Nations. The IFC will meet on two levels:

a) One plenary at Senior Official-level, to meet on a monthly basis with an UNSMIL chair and, additionally, a rotating co-chair and locations. The IFC would be responsible for tracking progress against implementation of these Conclusions and exert leverage where necessary. At the end of each session, a conclusion acknowledging specific achievements or compliance would be presented.

b) Four technical working groups, with closed meetings at expert-level to take place twice a month during the first implementation stages. The working groups will be based on these Conclusions’ baskets. Each group will be led by a UN representative. In closed sessions, participants will (i) address obstacles to implementation, (ii) share relevant information and (iii) coordinate operational requirements and assistance without prejudice to the mandate of the UN Security Council.

55. We shall bring the Conclusions of this Berlin Conference on Libya to the attention of the UN Security Council for consideration and call on SRSG Salamé and UNSMIL to support the implementation of commitments made in the framework of the Berlin process.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/supplement/5471






The President nominated Igor Krasnov for the post of Prosecutor General



January 20, 2020 - 13:45







Vladimir Putin submitted for consideration by the Federation Council the candidacy of Deputy Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Igor Krasnov for the post of Prosecutor General.

Yury Chaika was relieved of his position due to a transfer to another appointment.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62615






Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council



The President held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council.



January 20, 2020 - 14:00 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region







Vladimir Putin informed the permanent members of the Security Council about his participation in the International conference on Libya in Berlin on January 19, and an entire range of bilateral contacts he had on the sidelines of the event.








Current issues pertaining to the country’s socioeconomic development were also discussed.











The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Acting Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Acting Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62613
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 22nd, 2020 #52
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Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma draft law amending the Constitution



In accordance with Article 84 (d) of the Russian Federation Constitution, the President submitted to the State Duma a draft law amending the Constitution, On Improving Regulation of Certain Aspects of Organising Public Authority.



January 20, 2020 - 17:20



In parallel, Vladimir Putin issued an instruction appointing Andrei Klishas, Pavel Krasheninnikov and Taliya Khabriyeva, co-chairs of the working group to prepare proposals for amending the Constitution of the Russia Federation, Presidential representatives at the discussion of the draft law in the two houses of the Federal Assembly of Russia.


* * *


The draft law amending the Constitution has been prepared based on the proposals submitted by the working group to prepare amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The draft law amending the Constitution provides for changing the text of the document to formalise mandatory requirements to officials whose responsibilities are directly connected with ensuring national security and sovereignty, including restrictions related to foreign citizenship or residence permit or any other document that allows them to live permanently in a foreign state.

For example, under the proposed amendments, candidates for the post of President of the Russian Federation must reside in Russia permanently for at least 25 years prior to the election and must hold no foreign citizenship, residence permit or any other document that allows them to live permanently in a foreign state, at the time of the election or any other time in the past.

Based on the principle of integrity of the system of state authority, similar requirements – the absence of foreign citizenship, residence permit or any other document that allows them to live permanently in a foreign state – shall be introduced to senior officials of the Russian Federation constituent entities, Federation Council members, State Duma deputies, the Prime Minister and deputy prime ministers of Russia, federal ministers and heads of other federal government bodies, as well as judges.

To protect the social rights of citizens and ensure equal opportunities for them throughout the country, Article 75 of the Constitution is to be complemented with provisions setting forth the minimum wage in the amount not lower than the subsistence minimum of the economically active population throughout the country, guaranteeing the indexation of pensions, social benefits and other social payments, and setting out the basic principles of nationwide retirement benefits.

To protect national sovereignty, it is proposed in the draft law that the decisions of interstate bodies based on the provisions of international treaties signed by the Russian Federation shall not be implemented in Russia if their interpretation contradicts the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

To make interaction between the representative and executive branches of power more effective, to strengthen the role of the State Duma and parliamentary parties, as well as to enhance the responsibility of members of the Government, it has been proposed that the Constitutional provisions on the procedure for appointing the Prime Minister and deputy prime ministers of Russia be amended to stipulate that candidates for these posts are appointed by the President following their approval by the State Duma.

A similar procedure has been proposed for the appointment of the heads of ministries whose operation is supervised by the Government.

To increase the transparency of operations of the security services and law enforcement agencies, as well as the independence of prosecution authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the heads of federal executive authorities whose operation is supervised by the President of Russia, as well as the prosecutors of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, shall be appointed following consultations with the Federation Council.

In addition, the Federation Council is to have the power to terminate the powers of judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Russia, the judges of the courts of cassation and appeal upon the recommendation of the President of Russia, if they are found guilty of acts that defame the honour and dignity of judges, as well as in other cases described in the federal legislation according to which the said persons can no longer perform their duties.

The role of the Constitutional Court is to be strengthened by giving it the power to analyse, at the request of the President of Russia, compliance with the Constitution of laws adopted by the two houses of the Federal Assembly before they are signed by the President.

To ensure a coordinated operation and interaction of the bodies of state authority of Russia, as well as determine the main areas of the domestic and foreign policy of Russia and the key priorities of the country’s socioeconomic development, the President of Russia shall appoint members of the State Council of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with the draft law, local governments and the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation shall constitute an integral system of public authority and shall interact with the aim of more effectively exercising their powers of nationwide importance.

The proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation are to be put to a nationwide vote.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62617






Executive orders signed on the First Deputy Prime Minister and deputy prime ministers of the Russian Federation



January 21, 2020 - 19:50



President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed executive orders appointing:


Andrei Belousov – First Deputy Prime Minister, relieving him of his previous position.


Dmitry Grigorenko – Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of Staff of the Government Executive Office of the Russian Federation.


Yury Trutnev – Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.


Viktoria Abramchenko,


Yury Borisov,


Tatyana Golikova,


Alexei Overchuk,


Marat Khusnullin


and Dmitry Chernyshenko were appointed deputy prime ministers.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62623






Ministers of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice and Emergencies of the Russian Federation appointed



The President signed the respective executive orders.



January 21, 2020 - 20:00



President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed executive orders appointing:


Vladimir Kolokoltsev – Minister of the Interior


Sergei Lavrov – Minister of Foreign Affairs


Yevgeny Zinichev – Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief


Sergei Shoigu – Minister of Defence


Konstantin Chuychenko – Minister of Justice




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62624






Ministers of the Government of the Russian Federation appointed



The President signed the relevant executive orders.



January 21, 2020 - 20:10



President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed executive orders appointing:


Mikhail Murashko – Minister of Healthcare


Olga Lyubimova – Minister of Culture


Valery Falkov – Minister of Science and Higher Education


Dmitry Kobylkin – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment


Denis Manturov – Minister of Industry and Trade


Sergei Kravtsov – Minister of Education


Alexander Kozlov – Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic


Dmitry Patrushev – Minister of Agriculture


Oleg Matytsin – Minister of Sport


Vladimir Yakushev – Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities


Yevgeny Ditrikh – Minister of Transport


Anton Kotyakov – Minister of Labour and Social Protection


Anton Siluanov – Minister of Finance


Maksut Shadayev – Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media


Maxim Reshetnikov – Minister of Economic Development, having accepted his resignation as Governor of the Perm Territory


Alexander Novak – Minister of Energy




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62625






Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin met with Government members.



January 21, 2020 - 20:15 - Government House, Moscow






President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

First, I would like to congratulate you on your high appointments to the Government of the Russian Federation.

I know that for each of you this is a great challenge and a crucial event. I sincerely wish you success. Your success is important not only for you but for the whole country.





I want to say that the previous Government did much to build up a base for further progress.

First and foremost, of course, very good macroeconomic conditions have been created. It is impossible to develop the economy without them, meaning that little would be achieved in the social sphere either.

Yet everything achieved through hard work – I am saying this somewhat ironically, however, it is true – must be properly used for the future and for attaining the overall national goals and for the efficient use of the instruments created for attaining these goals, I mean national projects.





The previous Government worked a lot on this, and these are viable instruments and worthy goals. You have everything you need to achieve them for the benefit of the country and our people. The key goal here is obviously to improve the well-being of our citizens and strengthen our statehood and the position of our state globally. These are all attainable goals.

I would like to wish you success once again and express hope that you will do everything you can to achieve the goals I mentioned twice.

Thank you.





Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin:

Mr President, colleagues,

First, I would like to thank you, Mr President, for the trust you have place in our team.





We are all well aware that the goals we are facing are not easy. We will make every effort to reach them. Today, following our meeting, we are planning to hold the first meeting of the new Government to discuss, among other things, measures aimed at implementing the tasks set forth in the Address and other issues on the agenda.

Thank you for your trust. We hope that we will justify your expectations and those of our citizens.





Vladimir Putin:

We have a very balanced Government. We have enough people from the previous Government, but there are also quite a few new members.





I am confident that with a line-up like this you will succeed in achieving the highest indicators.

Mr Mishustin, I would like to wish you success in your work as the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.





Mikhail Mishustin:

Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62626
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 23rd, 2020 #53
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Yury Chaika appointed Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to North Caucasus Federal District



Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District.



January 22, 2020 - 12:25





Under the Executive Order, Yury Chaika [former Prosecutor General] has been appointed Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62630






Vladimir Putin toured social infrastructure facilities in Usman District, Lipetsk Region



January 22, 2020 - 13:20 - Usman







The President visited the Children’s Outpatient Clinic at the Usman Central District Hospital, built under the Healthcare national project in 2019.








The medical institution receives 150 patients per shift. The new outpatient clinic has the required conditions for treating its young patients quickly and effectively.








Later the President visited the Usman Children’s Art School, which was renovated in 2019, and looked into choreography, photography and choir singing classrooms during classes.








Vladimir Putin also inspected the construction of a secondary school, which is to solve the problem of second-shift students in the city.








Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District Igor Shchegolev, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova and Head of the Lipetsk Region Administration Igor Artamonov accompanied the Russian leader during his trip.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62632






Meeting with representatives of public on social support



During his trip to Usman, Lipetsk Region, Vladimir Putin met with representatives of the public to discuss social support measures for Russian citizens outlined in the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.



January 22, 2020 - 15:00 - Usman







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

As far as I understand, not only local residents but also representatives of other regions are present here today – but we chose this place to come and see how some things that I spoke about in the Address recently are being implemented, and to figure out how these things can and should be done in other regions.





The locals probably know this, but for those who do not live here permanently, I want to say that this is a small town with 20,000 to 25,000 residents. It is developing very well, and healthcare is given due attention. We just stopped at a children’s clinic – it was built in five months. Honestly, even for me this is surprising. It was not just built but it has the necessary equipment; it is a modern, smart clinic using IT, and it is almost fully staffed.








Then we toured an art school – the former district committee of the party. The building was completely upgraded, and now a lot of children attend this school and really enjoy it. Of course, there are still issues related to further upgrading and transport – we will address and resolve them. But overall, this is a good example of what is called imitation and replication.





Let us move on to our agenda. It is very important for me to hear your opinion about what was said in the Address. I know representatives of various public organisations and the volunteer movement are present here – so let us hold a council on what you heard and what you would like to see in the implementation of the set goals.





Please, let us start without long opening remarks.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62633






Meeting with students, teachers and mentors from leading universities



On the eve of Russian Students Day, the President met at the Sirius Educational Centre with students from leading Russian universities who earned high professional and social achievements, as well as their teachers and mentors.



January 22, 2020 - 19:50 - Sochi







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

I would like to welcome all of you and… what date is it today? The 22nd? They say the 21st. (Laughter) Days do fly…





We will soon be celebrating Tatyana’s Day. I would like to extend my greetings on the eve of this student holiday. I would like to wish a happy holiday to all students, all those who study in various education institutions, and also your teachers. I wish you all the best.








I know you are holding a conference, which has become an annual event, as I was just told. You discuss many diverse issues.








We would love to see you, as Sirius graduates, move forward in leaps and bounds and see your personal plans and hopes for professional and career growth coincide with the trends of national development. This is not my first visit with students at Sirius, and I know this is usually what actually happens. This is very important for all of us: for you, your success and for the country. You can probably describe better than I can what is happening in the world of innovation, in the world of technology, what challenges are facing almost every country, including this country. It is very important for us to meet these challenges easily, with pleasure and with the best results.








We are planning to hold a Council for Science and the State Council Presidium meetings, which will be devoted to the same subject – the development of science and innovation. We will combine these meetings. They will be attended by many of my colleagues from the regions, members of the new Government and specialists. We will also invite students and scientists to attend. Incidentally, our science is growing younger and I am very happy about this. We will discuss the issues that you have been dealing with.








Therefore, I used this opportunity – your conference (many young people, your teachers are here) – to speak with you about the issues that you are concerned about in the hope that I will be able to use this and bear this in mind when we hold these large combined meetings in order to adjust our policy on science and education.








This takes care of my opening remarks. Let us proceed to the discussion of the suggested topics.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62636
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 24th, 2020 #54
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Vladimir Putin arrives in Israel



The Russian leader, now on a working visit to Israel, will attend commemorative events marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.



January 23, 2020 - 10:15 - Israel







Vladimir Putin will address the 5th World Holocaust Forum themed Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism. In Jerusalem he will also attend the unveiling ceremony of a monument dedicated to the feat of the heroic defenders and residents of besieged Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War.

He is to meet with President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.

Additionally, Vladimir Putin will visit Bethlehem to hold talks with President of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62638






Meeting with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu



Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at the residence of the Prime Minister of Israel.



January 23, 2020 - 12:20 - Jerusalem






Vladimir Putin met with Jaffa Issachar, the mother of Israeli citizen Naama Issachar who was sentenced in Russia, and with the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III. Benjamin Netanyahu was also present at the meeting, which took place in the Prime Minister’s residence.






Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (retranslated):

I would like to welcome our very dear friend, the President of the Russian Federation.

My wife Sara and I are delighted to see you at our residence here in Jerusalem and we would like to thank you for the warm and bold ties that maintain the friendly relations between our countries and the world.

Once again, welcome you to Jerusalem.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

Mr Prime Minister, colleagues,

I would like to thank you for the invitation.





We are working on a regular basis and very actively with the Prime Minister. We have been in talks regarding this visit to Israel for a long time. I am quite sure that this will benefit the development of our bilateral relations. And, of course, all of us have a huge mission today, that of remembering the victims of the Holocaust.

Mr Prime Minister, I would like to thank you and your wife Sara. Thank you for your invitation and for your hospitality.





Benjamin Netanyahu:

Thank you.





* * *





Statements following the meeting:





Benjamin Netanyahu:

We have just completed a good meeting with the President of the Russian Federation. At the end of our talks, the President of Russia agreed to meet with Yafa, the mother of Naama Issachar. Mr President, I am very grateful to you.





Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, friends,

Indeed, I have just met with Naama’s mother. I realise that Naama comes from a good and very decent family. And I know the position of the Prime Minister who is asking us to make the relevant decisions. It goes without saying that all this will be taken into account, while making the final decision.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation is visiting Naama today. I can see that her mother is very worried. I have told her, and I want to repeat that everything will be all right.





Benjamin Netanyahu:

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62639






Meeting with President of Israel Reuven Rivlin



During his visit to Israel, Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of Israel Reuven Rivlin.



January 23, 2020 - 12:45 - Jerusalem







President of Israel Reuven Rivlin (retranslated):

It is a great honour to receive one of the world’s main leaders today.

We are meeting with you and, of course, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who ranks among the world’s main ministers today.

Mr President, I would like to convey my best wishes to you and Russia, and may God bless Jerusalem and the President’s residence.

We are deeply moved by this date that we are marking today – the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

Of course, consensus has been reached on the international arena that manifestations of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and fascism are unacceptable.





And, of course, you, as a representative of the family of the world’s nations, and we know where anti-Semitism comes from. However, we do not know where it ends. Naturally, it is therefore important that we fight it together.

And, of course, it is impossible to conduct this war without Russia taking an active part in it.

Mr President, we are very happy to welcome you.

I would also like to express profound satisfaction with the efforts that you are making because virtually every one of our citizens is our child.

The Chief of the Israeli General Staff is also present here. He has arrived here to welcome you and to become acquainted with you. Naturally, he did not assume his position just because his relatives come from Russia.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

This played a certain part. (Laughter.)

Mr President, thank you very much for your invitation.

It is very important for me and for my colleagues to be here in Israel. We can see your efforts and the efforts of all Israeli leaders to preserve the memory of the tragic events of World War II.

You have just said that it is unclear where anti-Semitism ends. Unfortunately, we know this: it ends in Auschwitz. Therefore, we need to be very attentive so as not to miss any similar developments in the future and to counter any manifestations of xenophobia and anti-Semitism, no matter where this may happen, and no matter from where this may come.





Not only did the Red Army liberate Auschwitz, but it made a decisive contribution to the fight against Nazism. And the Soviet people, Russian people suffered greatly during this war.

Regarding the tragedy of the Holocaust, Soviet Jews accounted for 40 percent of the Jews who were murdered and tortured to death. This is our common tragedy in the full sense of the word.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to be here with you today.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62640






Ceremony to unveil the Memorial Candle monument dedicated to the residents and defenders of besieged Leningrad



In Jerusalem, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the Memorial Candle monument dedicated to the residents and defenders of besieged Leningrad.



January 23, 2020 - 14:30 - Jerusalem






The ceremony was also attended by President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov.

A joint creation of St Petersburg and Israeli architects, the monument has been erected in Sacher Park in the centre of Jerusalem. A capsule with soil from the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in St Petersburg, the largest burial ground for victims of WWII, was placed in the memorial’s foundation.

The idea of the memorial was proposed by war veterans, siege survivors and compatriots living in Israel, and was supported by Jewish associations of Russia and Israel.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Dear war veterans, Mr President, Mr Prime Minister and spouse, Mr Mayor and spouse, friends,

It is a great honour for me to attend this ceremony held to dedicate a monument to the heroic defenders and residents of Leningrad. We are unveiling this monument ahead of the events that have special significance for our countries and nations.

One of the most dramatic and heroic moments in the history of WWII ended on January 27, 1944: the siege of Leningrad was finally lifted.





Exactly a year ago – my colleagues already spoke about this here – on January 27, 1945, the Red Army liberated the prisoners of one of the largest Nazi death camps – Auschwitz. This day is now International Holocaust Remembrance Day.





There are many examples known throughout history of incredible stamina, sacrifice and horrible human tragedies. But it is impossible to compare the siege of Leningrad and the Holocaust with anything else.





The sacred memory of the martyrdom and courage of millions of people, incomprehensible losses, privations and heroism and our common fair anger at what the Nazis did is passed on from one generation to another.





The whole world knows about the siege of Leningrad and the neighbouring villages, and the unparalleled courage of their residents and defenders. But no documents, stories or diaries can describe what the people went through at that time.





My colleagues have just spoken about this. For me these are no mere words, I know this not from hearsay but from what my parents told me because my farther defended his native city at the front lines, and my mother was in the besieged city with a child that died in the winter of 1942 and was buried at thePiskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in St Petersburg among hundreds of thousands of other residents.





The enemy’s plan was absolutely cynical: to doom the city’s residents to death by starvation and, to quote a Nazi order, “to raze to the ground by permanent bombing.”





However, the enemy could not execute this order that is fixed in documents. The residents of Leningrad, people of different ethnic origins, did not give up. They did not spare themselves either at the frontline where incessant fighting went on, or in factories that continuously produced ammunition and hardware required by the front.





I have just mentioned hardware and ammunition. I did not know this but while looking through documents several days ago I discovered a fact that shocked me. During the siege, Leningrad residents donated 144 tonnes of blood for the front despite the situation they were in.





Deprived of food, light and heating, they continued working in hospitals and being involved in art, science and education, and by sacrificing themselves, they saved the great city for generations to come. Invincible Leningrad has become a true legend, while the grandeur of the strength of mind of its residents and their faith in victory has become the acme of human dignity.





The monument we have unveiled today is a symbol of our profound common memory. The idea to create it belongs to the devoted members of the Israeli public, war veterans, and our compatriots, and it was created with the support of the authorities of St Petersburg and Jerusalem, with funding provided by benefactors from both countries.





I would like to note with gratitude and appreciation that Israel attaches special importance to preserving the truth about the Soviet Union’s decisive contribution to victory over Nazism. People here, like in Russia, are concerned, alarmed and outraged by attempts to deny the Holocaust, revise results of WWII, and to whitewash murderers and criminals.





This is the second monument that we have jointly unveiled on Israeli soil over recent years (as Mr Prime Minister has just mentioned). The first monument was erected in the city of Netanya and immortalised the memory of the feats of valor committed by Red Army officers and men. An honest and utterly respectful attitude to Soviet soldiers has found a reflection in the displays at the Yad Vashem Memorial to European Jewish Holocaust victims.

We also hold dear the name of the monument that has been unveiled today. Every year, on June 22, the day when the Great Patriotic War began, the Memory Candle function starts in Russia at four in the morning, with people in all cities and villages lighting candles in a sign of mourning for those who perished in that dreadful war. St Petersburg, formerly Leningrad, is where this tradition came into being in 2009. Now there is a candle of memory in Israel as well, where almost 1,300 survivors of the siege of Leningrad, their descendants and friends live and where people revere their heroes and remember the dead.

Here, like in Russia, people understand the importance of the lessons of WWII and are not allowing the world to forget what national egoism, disunity and connivance at any forms of chauvinism, antisemitism and Russo-phobia can lead to.

Our common duty is to pass this knowledge on to the coming generations, the great grandsons of the victors, while inculcating in them a thankful memory of those who have given us the gift of freedom and proved, at the cost of their lives, the enduring value of peace and justice.

In conclusion, I would like to say just a few more words. A monument is a very good thing; it will remain here for a long time, hopefully for centuries. It can be unveiled in different ways. But the way you did this today… Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62642
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 24th, 2020 #55
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President presents Order of Courage to relative of Leon Feldhendler



Vladimir Putin presented the Order of Courage to Nitza Shacham, the great-niece of Leon Feldhendler, hero of the uprising at the Sobibor death camp.



January 23, 2020 - 15:15 - Jerusalem



In July 2019, the President of Russia signed an Executive Order posthumously awarding Leon Feldhendler for his personal courage and heroism in organising the uprising at the Sobibor death camp.

Born in 1910 in Turobin, Poland, Leon Feldhendler was sent to the Sobibor concentration camp in autumn 1942, where he led an underground group. After the arrival of Soviet prisoners of war in September 1943, he teamed up with Soviet officer Alexander Pechersky to organise the only successful uprising in a Nazi camp. After the liberation of eastern Poland by the Red Army, Feldhendler moved to Lublin. In April 1945, he was killed under still unclear circumstances.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Friends,

Today we are conferring the Order of Courage to the family of World War II hero Leon Feldhendler.

This award is a symbol of the deep respect that the people of Russia have for this brave man, a tribute to his memory and recognition of his achievement that gave people hope and life.

Leon Feldhendler knew difficult times. He lost his parents, his wife and sons, and suffered unbearable torture and horrors in the ghetto and at the Sobibor death camp, and he witnessed the consistent and cold-blooded extermination of many thousands of people.

But he did not lose heart; he showed the will to live and to win. He organised an international underground group at the camp and raised the hopes of the emaciated and exhausted prisoners who had lost all faith in justice or hope for life, and encouraged them to fight.

He established contact with the Soviet prisoners of war who arrived at the camp, including the fearless Soviet officer Alexander Pechersky. Together they became the inspirers and leaders of an unprecedented uprising of prisoners at the Sobibor camp. Their feat is a great role model, and is forever carved into world history.

Russia values Israel’s efforts to preserve the memory of our common fight against Nazism, of the heroes and victims of World War II. Together we will work for the sake of present and future generations and make sure all people know about the horrors of that war and the truth about it.

Thank you.



Award ceremony.






Nitza Shacham (retranslated):

Thank you very much.

I am very emotional and very grateful to you, Mr President, for the opportunity to pass on this story to future generations.

We are a small family that keeps the memory of those who passed. And following today's event, we will be able to keep Leon’s memory and pass it on to future generations.





Vladimir Putin:

Once again I would like to wish you all the best.

For us in Russia, the memory of people like your ancestor is sacred. We can see that the memory of such people is as sacred in Israel.

I wish you all the very best.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62645






Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism forum



Vladimir Putin took part in the commemorative event held as part of the Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism international forum at the Yad Vashem memorial complex.



January 23, 2020 - 16:40 - Jerusalem






The international forum held in Jerusalem on January 22–23 is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp and International Holocaust Remembrance Day marked on January 27. On this day in 1945, Soviet troops, which made a crucial contribution to the Victory over Nazi Germany, liberated Auschwitz.

The Yad Vashem memorial complex underwent major renovations in 2005. A new display features documents and exhibits dedicated to the life of European Jews on the eve of World War II and the inhuman suffering inflicted upon them by the Nazis.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, colleagues, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Today we are brought together at the international forum to honour the victims of the Holocaust by a shared responsibility, our duty to the past and the future.

We mourn all the victims of the Nazis, including the six million Jews tortured in ghettos and death camps and killed cruelly during raids. Forty percent of them were citizens of the Soviet Union, so the Holocaust has always been a deep wound for us, a tragedy we will always remember.

Before visiting Jerusalem, I looked through original documents, reports by Red Army officers after the liberation of Auschwitz. I must tell you, colleagues, it is very difficult, unbearable to read these military reports, documents describing in detail how the camp was set up, how the cold-blooded killing machine worked.





Many of them were hand-written by soldiers and officers of the Red Army on the second or third day after the liberation of the prisoners and convey the shock that the Red Army soldiers and officers experienced from what they saw there, from testimonies that caused pain, indignation and compassion.

Red Army Field Marshal Konev, who then led the military operation to capture the densely populated Silesian industrial region of Germany, used tactics to spare as many civilians as possible and, having received a report about the atrocities committed at Auschwitz, forbade himself from even seeing this camp. Later he wrote in his memoirs that he had no right to lose his moral strength, so that a fair sense of revenge would not have blinded him during military operations and would not have caused additional suffering and casualties among the civilian population of Germany.

January 27 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In this hell, where people from different countries were brought for torture, monstrous experiments and mass killing, hundreds of thousands of people of different ethnicities died. More than half of them were Jews.





The crimes committed by the Nazis, their deliberate, planned, and as they said, ”final solution to the Jewish issue,“ is one of the darkest and most shameful pages of modern world history.

But we should not forget that this crime also had accomplices. They were often crueler than their masters. Death factories and concentration camps were served not only by the Nazis, but also by their accomplices in many European countries.

In the occupied territories of the Soviet Union, where these criminals were operating, the largest number of Jews were killed. Thus, about 1.4 million Jews were killed in Ukraine, and 220,000 people were killed in Lithuania. I draw your attention, friends, to the fact that this is 95 percent of the pre-war Jewish population of this country. In Latvia, 77,000 Jewish people were killed. Only a few hundred Latvian Jews survived the Holocaust.





The Holocaust was deliberate annihilation of people. But we must remember that the Nazis intended the same fate for many other peoples. Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and many other peoples were declared Untermensch. Their land was meant to serve as living space for the Nazis, providing for their prosperous existence, while the Slavs and other peoples were meant either to be exterminated or to become slaves without rights, culture, historical memory and language.

Back in 1945, it was first of all the Soviet people who put an end to these barbaric plans. As it has just been said, they protected their Fatherland and liberated Europe from Nazism. We paid a price no nation could even imagine in their worst dreams: a toll of 27 million deaths.





We will never forget this. The memory of the Holocaust will serve as a lesson and a warning only if it remains fully intact, without any omissions. Unfortunately, today the memory of war and its lessons and legacy often fall subject to the immediate political situation. This is completely unacceptable. It is the duty of current and future politicians, state and public figures to protect the good name of the living and fallen heroes, civilians and victims of the Nazis and their allies.

We must use everything we have – our informational, political and cultural capabilities as well as the reputation and influence our countries have in the world – to this end. I am sure that everyone present here today, in this audience, shares these concerns and is ready to protect truth and justice together with us.

We are all responsible for making sure that the terrible tragedies of this war will not happen again, that the generations to come will remember the horrors of the Holocaust, the death camps and the siege of Leningrad – Prime Minister Netanyahu has just said that today a monument to the victims of the siege was unveiled here in Jerusalem – Babi Yar, and the burned-down village of Khatyn, remember that we must remain alert and must not overlook when the first seeds of hate, chauvinism and antisemitism take root, or when people start to indulge in xenophobia or other similar manifestations.





Destruction of the past and lack of unity in the face of threats can lead to terrible consequences. We must have the courage to be straight about this and do everything to defend peace.

I think an example could and should be set by the founding countries of the United Nations, the five powers that bear special responsibility for the preservation of civilisation.

We have discussed this with several of our colleagues and, as far as I know, have received a generally positive response to holding a meeting of the heads of state of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain. We can hold it in any country, in any place that our colleagues would find convenient. Russia is ready for such a serious discussion. We intend to send this proposal to the leaders of the Five without delay.





We are faced with many challenges. We discussed one of them recently at the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This is about Libya. But we will have to return to this issue at the Security Council and adopt a relevant resolution.

There are many other problems as well. I consider it important and symbolic to hold the proposed meeting this year. After all, we are celebrating 75 years since the end of World War II and the foundation of the United Nations.





A summit of the states that made the main contribution to the routing of the aggressor and the formation of the postwar world order can play a big role in searching for collective ways of responding to current challenges and threats and would demonstrate our common commitment to the spirit of allied relations, historical memory and the lofty ideals and values for which our predecessors, our grandfathers and fathers fought shoulder to shoulder.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our Israeli colleagues for a warm, very hospitable reception here in Jerusalem, and to wish peace, prosperity and all the best to everyone at the conference, and, of course, to the citizens of Israel.

Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62646






Vladimir Putin arrives in Palestine



The Russian President will hold talks with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.



January 23, 2020 - 19:10 - Bethlehem



The agenda of the talks includes the status of and prospects for Russian-Palestinian trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation and an exchange of views on the issues of the Middle East.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62648






Meeting with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas



Vladimir Putin and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas held talks in Bethlehem.



January 23, 2020 - 21:00 - Bethlehem






President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas (retranslated):

In the name of Allah, the Merciful and the Compassionate, I would like to welcome the esteemed Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, my personal friend, and a friend of all Palestinians, who will not miss an opportunity to draw the attention of the international community to the Palestinian issue or to render us comprehensive assistance. We have become very accustomed to this.

Naturally, we attach much importance to the regular exchange of visits at top level – visits to Moscow and your visit to Palestine – to compare notes and exchange views on the issues that are of interest to the Russian Federation and the State of Palestine.





I would like to thank you for your all-round support. I am referring to political, economic and cultural assistance, financial cooperation and aid to Palestine in the area of security.

I would like to thank you for your support and the work that you do in our area, I am referring to the Arab world. We consider this confirmation of the fact that Arab affairs are important to the Russian Federation. Russia is always present in the Arab world and is always working to resolve its problems.





Naturally, we have a number of issues to discuss. I am primarily referring to Israel’s statement on the annexation of Palestinian lands, and the likelihood of an announcement on the second part of “the deal of the century” by Trump. As you know, the Americans have already made public the first part. We must also discuss the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections in the State of Palestine. These are the issues we would like to review.

Mr President, allow us to welcome you to the State of Palestine once again. I hope I will have an opportunity to personally congratulate you on the victory over Nazism in Moscow in May.

Welcome.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, I am very happy to see you.

We meet regularly and are always in contact.

Russian-Palestinian ties have long and deep roots. We maintain relations in the most diverse areas. You have just mentioned them. We are interested in building up our cooperation in the economy and humanitarian areas and, of course, on issues related to an Arab-Israeli settlement. We understand your concerns in this respect.





I am very happy to have this opportunity to hold consultations with you on all of these issues, including, of course, in a broader context, the situation in the region as a whole.

Of course, we are looking forward to seeing you in Moscow in May for the Day of Victory over Nazism.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62650
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Dmitry Kozak appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Executive Office of the President of the Russian Federation



January 24, 2020 - 09:30




The President appointed Dmitry Kozak [former Deputy Prime Minister] Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62652






Vladimir Medinsky appointed Presidential Aide



The President signed Executive Order On Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.



January 24, 2020 - 09:35




Vladimir Putin appointed Vladimir Medinsky [former Minister of Culture] Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62653






Maxim Oreshkin appointed Presidential Aide



The President signed Executive Order On Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.



January 24, 2020 - 09:40




Vladimir Putin appointed Maxim Oreshkin [former Minister of Economic Development] Presidential Aide.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62654






Greetings to participants and guests of Guardian of Memory commemorative event



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants and guests of the Guardian of Memory commemorative event marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day.



January 26, 2020 - 18:00



The President’s message reads, in part:

“TheHolocaust is one of the most tragic and gruesome pages in world history. The crimes of the Nazis and their proxies have no statute of limitations, they can neither be forgiven nor forgotten. Any attempts to suppress those events and re-write history are unacceptable and immoral.

Our common duty is to preserve and pass on to new generations the truth about the bloodiest war of the 20th century, about the millions of people murdered in gas chambers or left to rot in concentration camps and ghettos, about those who succumbed to disease and hunger, and about the fact that it was the Red Army that defeated Nazism and put an end to those unspeakable atrocities, saving not only the Jewish people but also other peoples on the planet from extermination and enslavement.”

As part of the event, the Guardian of Memory prize will be awarded for contributions toward preserving the memory of the Holocaust.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62668






Greetings on opening of 28th International Educational Christmas Readings



Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the participants and guests of the 28th International Educational Christmas Readings The Great Victory: Heritage and Inheritors.



January 27, 2020 - 16:00



The message reads, in part:

”Over the years, Christmas Readings have made a valuable contribution to the cooperation of the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional religions in Russia with the state and civil society institutions on key, topical humanitarian matters of our time. The Christmas Readings have become a major event in the cultural and spiritual life of our country.

This year, declared the Year of Memory and Glory in Russia, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is deeply symbolic that the 28th Christmas Readings are dedicated to this remarkable feat.

I am certain that the special focus of this forum will be on preserving the historical truth about the most violent war of the 20th century and its heroes. For us it is an important moral and human obligation to the war veterans and those who died for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.

The historical truth binds society together; it helps representatives of different generations feel like a united nation and contributes to promoting patriotism among youth.”




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62676






Meeting with former Government members



January 29, 2020 - 15:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow



Vladimir Putin met with Government members who have resigned. The President noted that the Cabinet had done much to promote the country’s strategic development in spite of difficult circumstances. The President thanked the former Government members for their work.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

I wanted to meet with you. We actually agreed on this when I was at the White House after the decision to change the Government was made. I said I wanted to meet with everyone here, and now here we are. I am meeting with some of our colleagues who have stayed in the Government or are moving to new roles primarily to thank them for their cooperation over the years.





The Government, led by Mr Medvedev, operated in a difficult environment, confronted by numerous challenges, but I think plans are never fulfilled 100 percent. Overall, I believe that the Government accomplished a lot of important things to promote the country’s long-term strategic development.





Determining the goals of national development and developing a mechanism for achieving these goals in the form of national projects was not easy. Comprehensive and diverse efforts to expand the country's economy and social sphere were not easy, either. Nevertheless, a lot has been accomplished.





I want to thank you once again and express hope that you will use your potential and your extensive personal and professional experience in your new assignments to move forward on a personal level and to address the tasks that will be set for you. I believe we will form a large tight-knit team. I am counting on you and I know that it will be interesting for you and good for the country.





Almost everyone here knows where they will work next, but there remain just a couple of subtle points. I think we will finalise them during today's meeting. Thank you very much again, and I wish you all the best in your new positions.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62692






Meeting with Minister President of Bavaria Markus Soeder



Vladimir Putin received Minister President of the federal German state of Bavaria Markus Soeder in the Kremlin.



January 29, 2020 - 16:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow



The Russian representatives at the meeting included Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Minister President, colleagues,

I am very happy to see you. Welcome!

I know that you will be meeting with the Moscow Mayor. Moscow and Bavaria have always had very good relations. I must say that I have always had very good, friendly and business-like relations with your predecessors.

This is not by accident; representatives of Bavaria are very active in Russia. In 1995 Bavaria opened a mission in Russia and it has been working quite successfully in a variety of areas since then. It is fair to say that, as far as I know, every fifth German company operating in Russia is from Bavaria. More than half of all big German investments in the Russian economy have been made by companies registered in Bavaria.

I know that Moscow is not your only partner in Russia. Many Russian regions are working with you. We are always happy to see our guests, friends and partners.

Welcome!





Minister President of Bavaria Markus Soeder (retranslated):

Thank you very much for your time and the chance to exchange opinions. Actually, Bavaria and Moscow have maintained close relations for 25 years now. These relations remained constant regardless of the political climate, and we are very pleased with that.

This morning I met with Mayor Sobyanin, and I had an opportunity to see the remarkable results that Moscow has achieved in recent years in terms of urban and infrastructure development.

We are interested in expanding economic relations, which are important to us. Economically, we are still Germany’s strongest state. We are investing lots of money and do not want to stop there.





We have an extensive agenda in the hi-tech industry, where we invest in developing artificial intelligence as much as all of Germany at the level of university departments and academia.

In research, we invest a lot in the aerospace industry, because we are – and intend to remain – number one in Germany in this area. We invest a lot in “clean technology,” that is, cars, the environment and climate protection.

Our main goal is to make Bavaria the number one economic powerhouse. That is why, in today's agreement we are focusing so much on promoting economic and research relations. Student and university exchanges are important to us.





In principle, the German and, in particular, the Bavarian economy is still waiting in the wings and wants to achieve much more. So, it is important (and we really hope to see it happen) for our relations, which are already good, to become even better.

For example, resolving major political issues, which you are undoubtedly well aware of, such as the Normandy process that has really taken off, Libya and cooperation in the murder investigation in Berlin will hopefully help us expand our relations even more. We are very interested in establishing and maintaining contacts.

This year, the historical aspect will be important. In addition to economic relations, it is important to be respectful of history and to try to learn from it. So, relations between Germany and Russia, not just Bavaria and Russia, are important.





Let me greet you on behalf of [former Bavarian Minister President] Edmund Stoiber, and, of course, the Federal Chancellor [Angela Merkel] who specially asked me to do this.

Thank you again.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62693






Oleg Nikolayev appointed Acting Head of Chuvashia



January 29, 2020 - 17:25



Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Oleg Nikolayev appointed Acting Head of the Chuvash Republic by the Presidential Executive Order.







Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order appointing Oleg Nikolayev [former chairman of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities] Acting Head of the Chuvash Republic.

The President ordered the dismissal of Mikhail Ignatyev from the office of the Head of Chuvashia due to the loss of presidential trust.

Vladimir Putin also ordered to appoint Oleg Nikolayev Acting Head of the Chuvash Republic until an elected Head of Chuvashia takes office.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62694






Executive Order to pardon Naama Issachar



January 29, 2020 - 20:00



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order pardoning Naama Issachar.







Guided by the principles of humanity, the President ordered to pardon Naama Issachar, born in 1993, who was convicted on October 11, 2019 by the Khimki City Court in the Moscow Region, releasing her from serving the remainder of her prison sentence.

The Executive Order comes into force upon its signing.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62696






Meeting with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu



Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, who has come to Russia on a short working visit.



January 30, 2020 - 11:40 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Prime Minister, colleagues,

We are delighted to welcome you to Moscow.

Of course, I have to say a few words about my visit to Israel. I would like to once again thank you personally, because I know that you were among the initiators of the monument to the victims of the Leningrad siege in Jerusalem. The monument is wonderful, you have found a perfect place for it, and, of course, the ceremony was very impressive and emotional.

After that, we attended a major international event to honour the memory of Holocaust victims. Over 40 countries were represented at the highest level. It was a major occasion for Israel and the rest of the world.





Mr Prime Minister, you asked for the release of an Israeli citizen, who was serving a prison term in Russia on drugs charges. I would like to note the role played by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had brought me a letter from the young woman’s mother. As you are aware, I have signed an Executive Order pardoning her.

She was lucky in that she had not crossed the Russian border; the drugs were found in her luggage when it was moved from one plane to another. Please, convey my best regards to her, her family and her mother.

We will certainly be able to discuss, even if only briefly, our bilateral relations. Talks on a free trade zone are underway between Israel and the Eurasian Economic Commission. Our bilateral relations are improving in the field of the economy and humanitarian ties. You initiated several areas of our cooperation. They are developing quite actively.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to discuss these areas of our cooperation with you, as well as regional developments.

Welcome to Moscow.





Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (retranslated):

Thank you very much, Mr President.

All our earlier visits and meetings, as well as this visit, symbolise the fact that our relations have become even stronger.

I would like to congratulate you and to thank you for the important statements you made during your visit to Israel. All of us will remember your touching words during the ceremony for inaugurating the monument in honour of residents and defenders of besieged Leningrad. You talked about your family, your personal destiny and the common destiny of those people who survived the siege of Leningrad. After that, you delivered another moving and important speech during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of liberating the Auschwitz concentration camp. We will remember this.

Second, in Israel we touched upon some issues related to our region. We held talks with our American friends, and I can tell you about some things that are linked with this.





Third, I would like to thank you on behalf of the entire Israeli nation for your quick decision to release Naama Issachar. This has touched us all, and the gratitude of all Israeli people comes from the bottom of our hearts.

Mr President, you are the first world leader with whom I am meeting and speaking after my visit to Washington and after the unveiling of the Trump peace plan. I think that we have another special opportunity to talk today, and I would like to hear your opinion and to see how we can gather strength for peace and a conflict-free existence.

I have to say that relations between Israel and Russia are now more solid and better than ever before. Mr President, I would like to thank you for your personal role and for your leadership in this and other areas.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62698
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Visit to Regional Governance Centre



Vladimir Putin visited the Regional Governance Centre in the Moscow Region Government building. The President familiarized himself with the digital solutions for urban management and communication with local residents.



January 30, 2020 - 18:30 - Krasnogorsk







The centre uses information systems for round-the-clock collection and analysis of citizens’ appeals on various aspects of life in the Moscow Region. It receives 10,000 to 12,000 messages a week. Digital technologies make it possible to control issues related, in part, to the condition of courtyards, driveways, playgrounds, public spaces, residential building management companies, rubbish removal, road maintenance and repairs, making doctor’s appointments at clinics, enrolling children in preschool and elementary school, keeping with the public transport timetable. The data is used to improve the urban environment and prevent problems in the future.








The President also acquainted himself with the procedure for responding to people’s appeals in Moscow, the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Republic of Tatarstan, with Smart City infrastructure solutions, and the digitalisation project for the resort town of Zheleznovodsk.











During his visit to the centre, Vladimir Putin met with developers of regional and municipal citizen feedback platforms.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62702






Meeting of the Council for Local Self-Government Development



Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council for Local Self-Government Development in Krasnogorsk to discuss the role of local self-government in implementing national projects.



January 30, 2020 - 20:15 - Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region



Before the meeting, the President toured the Moscow Region Governance Centre.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Where is Mr Golubev [Rostov Region Governor]?

Our colleague, Vasily Golubev, has a birthday today. Happy birthday to you!

Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today, we will discuss the key goals and plans for the development of local self-government.





As we often repeat, and it is true, this level of public government is the closest to the people and, thus, has a lot of responsibility. No matter where people live they want to live a decent life. They want to have safe and good roads, well-lit streets and neat courtyards, well-equipped and comfortable sports facilities and children’s playgrounds. All this determines the quality of life for our citizens and affects the future of our children.

Our common goal is to ensure the efficiency of local self-government and remove gaps and lack of coordination between the regions and municipalities.





At the federal level, we need to improve the coordination of everything that concerns local self-government. In this context, I would like to ask you to start drafting new basic principles of national policy on local self-government development through to 2030.

The main thing is, it is imperative to improve the municipal governments’ financial stability as this is the cause of many difficulties in your work.





I suggest that the regions implement measures similar to the federal measures on restructuring budget loans with regard to the municipalities’ budget loans, which account for about 25 percent of the municipalities’ budget system. Based on the municipalities’ spending to address priority issues on the ground, this, of course, should be done with consideration for additional regional budget revenue from implementing investment projects in the municipalities.

As you know, local self-government bodies are not part of the government system. At the same time, they are not located somewhere in outer space, or on the Moon. They are part of our society, country and governance system. The fact that they act independently within their authority does not mean that Russia’s single political, economic, cultural, or transport space is fragmented. On the contrary, efficient performance by each level of government of their duties and close interaction, as well as business partnership, is the basis and guarantee of fulfilling our plans to improve the living standards in Russia.





So, it is very important to ensure the unity of all levels of government. If you noticed, and I am sure you did, I mentioned this in my Address [to the Federal Assembly], when I suggested enshrining this specific principled provision in the Constitution.

I would like to emphasis: the constitutional amendments under discussion do not affect the fundamental provisions of the first and second chapters of our Basic Law, which, as you may know, guarantee local self-government bodies’ independence. We will strictly follow them and provide a proper environment for each municipality in Russia, so that it can work efficiently for the benefit of the people and actively participate in achieving the national development goals as a dependable, rather than some kind of weak or inert, link in the government.





Moreover, the majority of national projects focus on local matters, and the role of local self-government in implementing them will increase many times over if the municipalities and civil society establish strong and effective interaction.

National projects are being implemented through our people’s efforts, talent and initiative. So, municipal officials should not spend too much time in their offices. They ought to be out there discussing the most pressing issues with the people instead.





Mechanisms for direct communication between the authorities and the people have already been created in many regions. Modern digital technology makes it possible to quickly respond to people’s everyday problems, initiatives and requests, respond appropriately and therefore to more quickly and efficiently resolve everyday problems (we just saw how this is done, and our colleagues from the Moscow Region also showed how this works in real life, not just in the Moscow Region, but in many other regions as well).

We saw great examples here in Krasnogorsk. But Krasnogorsk, Tatarstan, Moscow and a few more regions are not enough. These positive practices need to be replicated throughout the country. Similar digital platforms need to be created in every region, major cities and local self-government centres. Should any of them lack budget funds of their own, such initiatives must be supported at other levels.

It is also necessary to analyse ways of encouraging the best municipalities and local project teams and, as I said, to replicate these managerial solutions.

Let's discuss this.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62701






Meeting with permanent members of Security Council



Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council.



January 31, 2020 - 14:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow







Current issues on the socioeconomic agenda were discussed.





Vladimir Putin also informed the permanent members of the Security Council about his latest contacts with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, in particular, about Israel’s view of the recent American initiatives regarding a Middle East settlement.











In addition, the participants continued to discuss the situation regarding the threat of the coronavirus.











The meeting was attended by Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62705






Mikhail Krotov relieved of duties as Presidential Envoy to Constitutional Court



Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Mikhail Krotov.



January 31, 2020 - 14:50




Vladimir Putin relieved Mikhail Krotov of his duties as Presidential Envoy to the Constitutional Court due to his transition to another office.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62706






Alexander Konovalov appointed Presidential Envoy to Constitutional Court



Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On the Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.



January 31, 2020 - 14:50




Vladimir Putin appointed Alexander Konovalov [former Minister of Justice] Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Constitutional Court.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62707






Meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia



Vladimir Putin congratulated Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the 11th anniversary of his enthronement.



February 1, 2020 - 14:00 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Your Holiness, good afternoon.

I would like to sincerely congratulate you on the anniversary of your enthronement. It has been 11 years.



Patriarch Kirill:

Exactly.





Vladimir Putin:

Time has flown by and I think you may not even have noticed it. But we have: we have observed your selfless work, and society has noticed its results. Thank you very much for everything – for your commitment to faith and your love for our Fatherland.

Congratulations!



Patriarch Kirill:

Thank you very much, Mr President, for your greetings and kind words.

I have always believed that a Patriarch's work serves two causes, two dimensions. First, there is the vertical dimension, service to God, as the Patriarch must pray for his nation. But there is also a very powerful horizontal dimension as the Patriarch must minister to people’s spiritual well-being, which implies developing numerous church programmes.

I would like to thank you, Mr President, for creating conditions in Russia for this dimension of church service to go hand in hand with the work of many government institutions. We maintain dialogue and cooperate in many areas – and this is why we achieve many of our goals.

Therefore, we can speak of a high level of relations between the church and state in Russia. I would like to note this and sincerely thank you for this.





Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62710






Aerospace Forces aircraft to evacuate Russian citizens from areas of China most affected by coronavirus



February 1, 2020 - 17:40



Under an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation will be engaged in the evacuation of Russian citizens from the areas of the People’s Republic of China most affected by the coronavirus.

Russian citizens are to be airlifted by Aerospace Forces aircraft on February 3–4.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62711
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Vladimir Putin arrives in Cherepovets



February 4, 2020 - 13:10 - Cherepovets










The President will visit the local Chemical-Engineering College and hold discussions with the public on training personnel for the economy and social sector. The President will also visit the Martial Arts Centre, which trains over 2,500 children in 30 martial arts.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62724






Visit to Cherepovets Chemical-Engineering College



During a trip to Cherepovets, Vladimir Putin visited the Chemical-Engineering College and had a look at its operation.



February 4, 2020 - 14:10 - Cherepovets

























In particular, the President visited the wiring and welding shops, as well as the electrical machinery and maintenance labs. Vladimir Putin was updated on the implementation of the school-college-university model of education and attended the presentation of a programme for training professionals for the economy and social sector.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62725






Meeting with the public in Vologda Region



As part of his visit to the Cherepovets Chemical-Engineering College, Vladimir Putin met with the public.



February 4, 2020 - 15:45 - Cherepovets







The discussion focused on training personnel for the economy and social sector, in particular ways to modernise the system of secondary vocational and higher education, develop children’s talents, provide support for teachers and popularise science.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues, friends,

Our meeting today and my visit here are taking place because of the joint meeting of the State Council and the Presidential Council for Science and Education, which will be held in the near future in order to see where we stand, talk once again about the priorities, methods and ways of developing education and bringing this area closer to the standards of life and practice.








Frankly speaking, today I have heard something new for myself and, I think, it was very interesting and promising. A flexible system connecting the school, college, university and production.








Our meeting is dedicated to one thing only – I ask you to stick to this subject. This will be not just questions and answers, although if I can I will be glad to answer your questions, but, frankly, I would like to talk with you as representatives of the academic and education community in order to take this discussion into account when preparing the documents which will be drawn up as a follow-up to the meeting I mentioned, the State Council and the Presidential Council for Science and Education.





This is it for the introduction. Let us start.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62726






Visit to Martial Arts Centre



Vladimir Putin visited the Martial Arts Centre in Cherepovets to learn about its operation.



February 4, 2020 - 17:30 - Cherepovets







The President visited the training facilities for kickboxing, karate, fencing and wushu, and then watched a brief demonstration given by the centre’s students.

At the end of his visit, Vladimir Putin posed for photographs with young athletes and their coaches, and also signed the distinguished visitors’ book.







The Martial Arts Centre opened in Cherepovets in October 1994. The school offers training in many types of martial arts, including kickboxing, fencing, karate, aikido, sambo, judo, freestyle wrestling, and hand-to-hand combat. It operates through a network of branches in various parts of the city.








Every year, the Centre hosts the championships of the Vologda Region, the Northwestern Federal District, Russia Cups, international tournaments in various types of martial arts, and workshops given by world-class fighters.











Over the years, more than 170 of the school’s graduates have won medals in European and world championships, other prestigious competitions, including 20 world champions and 23 European champions.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62729






Presentation of foreign ambassadors’ letters of credence



Vladimir Putin received letters of credence from 23 newly-appointed foreign ambassadors. The ceremony was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s Alexander Hall.



February 5, 2020 - 13:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow







Letters of credence were presented to the President of Russia by Graeme Leslie Meehan (Australia), Lotfi Bouchaara (Kingdom of Morocco), Zhang Hanhui (People’s Republic of China), Malena Mard (Kingdom of Sweden), Geza Andreas von Geyr (Germany), Brian McElduff (Ireland), Miroslav Lazanski (Republic of Serbia), Sadasivan Premjith (Republic of Singapore), Eat Seyla (Kingdom of Cambodia), Ekaterini Nassika (Hellenic Republic),Abdulrahman Hamid Mohammed Al-Hussaini (Republic of Iraq), Mohamed Sherif Kourta (People's Democratic Republic of Algeria), Dulamsuren Davaa (Mongolia), Tarak ben Salem (Republic of Tunisia), Kazem Jalali (Islamic Republic of Iran), Kamrul Ahsan (People's Republic of Bangladesh), Deborah Jane Bronnert (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Si'alei van Toor (New Zealand), Alison LeClaire (Canada), Pierre Levy (French Republic), John J. Sullivan (United States), Efrain Villarreal Arenales (Republic of Panama) and Yermek Kosherbayev (Republic of Kazakhstan).







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to welcome you in the Kremlin at this ceremony to present your credentials and to congratulate you on officially commencing your diplomatic activities here in Russia.

You have an important and serious mission: to promote the development of comprehensive relations between the countries you represent and Russia. We proceed from the fact that you will be responsible for expanding our political dialogue and trade and economic ties as well as deepening cultural exchanges and promoting people-to-people contacts. And we are sincerely interested in making your embassies’ work in these key spheres successful. You can always count on the help of the Russian official agencies as well as businesses and civil circles. All your useful endeavours will definitely be supported.





This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. In May we invite foreign leaders and delegations to attend celebrations marking the great Victory in Moscow to commemorate the memory of millions of victims, pay tribute to the veterans and show our committal to the ideals of peace, freedom and justice. The victor countries, members of the anti-Hitler coalition, made these ideals the foundation of the post-war world order embodied in the United Nations Charter 75 years ago.

Unfortunately, nowadays humankind is coming ever closer to a dangerous line. Regional conflicts are multiplying, the threats of terrorism and extremism are growing and the arms control system is being uprooted. The global economy is also unstable.





Ladies and gentlemen,

Today’s ceremony is attended by the heads of diplomatic missions of 23 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia. By tradition, I would like to say a few words about our bilateral relations.

Russia favours pragmatic and business-like cooperation with Australia. We are giving support to the business circles of both countries in their effort to implement mutually beneficial joint projects and are facilitating the expansion of humanitarian contacts.





We are satisfied with the present state of collaboration with Morocco. Our states have achieved decent results in mutual trade, agriculture, and deep-sea fisheries. There are opportunities for advanced Russian technologies and R&D results to reach the Moroccan market.





Our relations with the People’s Republic of China are at an unprecedentedly high level. In fact, this is a comprehensive strategic partnership. Bilateral trade is consistently being built up. The Power of Siberia gas pipeline has been put into operation. Ties in the field of defence and military-technical cooperation are developing successfully. In April, we are planning to launch the Russian-Chinese cross Year of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Cooperation. Our two countries coordinate their positions on key global and regional problems and work in unison at international organisations and associations, including the UN, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. China and all of us have come face to face with the threat of the coronavirus. Leaders of the PRC have been taking resolute and energetic measures to halt the epidemic. We are ready to render help and every kind of assistance to the friendly Chinese people.





We are keen to promote cooperation with Sweden in the spirit of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect. Held in St Petersburg last year, our talks with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven have confirmed that our two countries have the capacity for invigorating our economic, cultural and humanitarian contacts and for joint work on matters related to the Baltic Sea and other regional affairs.





Russia attaches much importance to promoting constructive collaboration with the Federal Republic of Germany. We regularly discuss with Ms Chancellor Angela Merkel current international and bilateral issues. We have supported the idea to hold a conference on a Libyan settlement in Berlin and participated in it in the most pro-active manner. Russia and the FRG are intensifying their mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, and energy, and we intend to continue this joint positive work.





Russia and Ireland are striving for closer trade and economic cooperation, including in high technology, innovation and agriculture. There are opportunities for bilateral cooperation in education, culture and similar areas.





Russia and Serbia are linked by a strategic partnership that relies on traditions of friendship and the cultural, spiritual and historical affinity of our fraternal peoples. Last December, meaningful talks were held with President Aleksandar Vucic in Sochi. Important agreements were reached on bilateral cooperation in an entire range of areas: the economy, trade, the power industry, culture and coordination on regional matters. Russia is doing much to help maintain the situation in the Balkans stable and safe. We want Belgrade and Pristina to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the Kosovo problem on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.





Singapore is Russia’s highly promising partner in the Asia-Pacific Region. We appreciate our political dialogue that is actively promoting practical cooperation. The implementation of the free trade agreement signed by the Eurasian Economic Union and Singapore at the end of last year is designed to give an impetus to mutual trade and investment growth. We hope to conclude a Russia-Singapore bilateral agreement on services and investment.





We are friends and partners with the Kingdom of Cambodia. We are interested in further developing our relations in diverse areas, including politics and security, trade and investment, as well as educational and other people-to-people exchanges.





I am convinced that the further development of relations between Russia and the Hellenic Republic meets the interests of our states and certainly aligns with the centuries-old traditions of friendship and mutual affinity between our nations. In addition to our cooperation in politics, the economy and the power industry, there are good opportunities for expanding our contacts in tourism and culture. In this context, I would like to mention the current Cross Year of Language and Literature.





Russia and Iraq have accumulated a wealth of experience of mutually beneficial cooperation in many spheres, including the fuel and energy sector. Russia firmly stands for the preservation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has helped to ensure Iraqi security. We believe that efforts towards internal political stability in Iraq should be taken within the framework of a broad national dialogue based on respect for the interests of all citizens, regardless of their ideological beliefs and ethnic and religious backgrounds.





Russia has strong and friendly ties with Algeria. The presidential election held there late last year was a big step towards political and social reform in your country. We support Algeria’s balanced policy in international and regional affairs. We see good possibilities for building up our economic and military technical cooperation and for coordinating our efforts in the interests of stronger stability and security in North Africa and the Sahel-Saharan zone. I recently had a short conversation with your President in Berlin. I hope to see him in Russia soon.





Mongolia is a good neighbour and a tried and tested friend. Last year Russia and Mongolia celebrated the 80th anniversary of victory in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol and signed a termless Treaty on Friendly Relations and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We consider it reasonable to complement our close political interaction with practical projects in trade, investment and humanitarian spheres. We are satisfied with the development of the trilateral Russia-Mongolia-China dialogue. We would like to see Mongolia more actively involved in operations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as well.





We are resolved to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Tunis, which is among Russia’s traditional partners in the Middle East and North Africa. We are ready to work together on current regional matters, including a settlement in Libya.





Russia enjoys friendly and mutually respectful relations with Iran. Major bilateral projects in the energy sector, including nuclear energy, in railway transport and other sectors of the economy are steadily expanding. An interim agreement to create a free trade area between Iran and the EAEU came into force in 2019 and gave an additional boost to Russian-Iranian trade and investment relations. We plan to promote cooperation with Iran in fighting international terrorism, coordinate our actions as part of the Astana process and facilitate a settlement in Syria. Russia will continue to make efforts to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Iranian nuclear programme. We believe this international agreement is critically important for global and regional stability.





Russian-Bangladeshi ties are quite dynamic. Trade is up, and a major project to build Bangladesh’s first nuclear power station, Rooppur, is in progress. Given the proximity of our respective states' approaches to most pressing regional problems, we look forward to continuing close cooperation at the UN and other multilateral organisations.





The current state of relations between Russia and Great Britain can hardly be considered satisfactory by either side. We are convinced that restoring a mutually respectful political dialogue, strengthening trade and economic exchanges, and building up cultural and people-to-people contacts is in our common interest. We are ready for this.





We stand for promoting Russia-New Zealand ties in trade, investment and culture. We find it useful to interact on international issues, including counterterrorism, climate change and research in the Antarctic.





We are open to cooperation with Canada based on mutual respect for and consideration of each other's interests. Canada and Russia are neighbours in the Arctic and share common responsibility for ensuring the sustainable development of this vast region, preserving the traditional way of life of the indigenous peoples and taking good care of its fragile ecosystem.





France is one of Russia’s key international partners. We maintain contacts with President Macron, hold regular meetings, discuss issues such as a settlement in Libya, Syria and the Middle East in general, and interact on the Ukraine crisis within the Normandy format. At a bilateral summit held in Fort de Bregancon last August, we agreed to work jointly on ensuring stability and security in Europe. Economic ties between Russia and France, including in industry and energy, continue to expand. On January 16, the Russian Seasons festival opened in France. It is designed to promote friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of our countries.





Global peace and security largely depend on the state of relations between Russia and the United States, as well as on their stability and predictability. We are convinced that these relations should hinge on the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs. We are ready for detailed dialogue with the American side, including on arms control and strategic stability, the fight against terrorism and the peaceful resolution of regional crises. For us, it is absolutely obvious that resuming constructive bilateral collaboration meets the interests of Russia, the United States and the entire world.





We advocate the further development of ties with the Republic of Panama, efforts to streamline the legal framework, cooperation and expanded contacts on the economic agenda. We will continue to encourage educational exchanges and help train specialists for Panama.





Relations between Russia and Kazakhstan are an example of reliable strategic partnership and allied cooperation. Bilateral collaboration is based on solid historical, cultural and spiritual bonds between our nations. We appreciate the current level of trust and collaboration with the leaders of Kazakhstan. Last year, we held nine meetings with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. And, of course, we maintain close contacts with our good friend Nursultan Nazarbayev. Sustainable integration within the Eurasian Economic Union continues to develop largely through joint efforts of Russia and Kazakhstan. Trade and economic relations between our countries are expanding in all areas, including in industry, energy and investment. Russia and Kazakhstan closely coordinate their approaches to matters on the international agenda. It is common knowledge that our Kazakhstani partners provided a venue for launching the Astana negotiating process to achieve a Syrian peace settlement.





Ladies and gentlemen,

Intensive but highly interesting work awaits all of you. I hope that you will be able to get to know Russia better, feel its pulse and watch our country accomplish important and ambitious tasks of political, economic and social development. I also hope that you will provide real assistance in expanding bilateral ties between Russia and the states you represent and will facilitate stronger friendship and mutual understanding between our nations. I wish you every success and all the best.





Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62732






Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Government members.



February 5, 2020 - 16:20 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Before we start, I would like to listen to what Ms Golikova has to say about the measures taken by the Government and all of us to curb the threats linked with the spreading coronavirus.

Go ahead, please.







Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova:

Mr President, collegues,

First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr President, for your decision on the evacuation of our citizens from the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province. I would also like to thank the Aerospace Forces of the Defence Ministry, border guards, customs officers and transport workers, the Federal National Guard Service, epidemiologists and, of course, the leaders and government of Tyumen Region for their efforts. I would like to emphasise once again that the evacuation of our citizens from the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province is a humanitarian gesture. We do not abandon our people. I think it is very important for every Russian citizen to take this attitude.

Now I would like to update you on the current developments. A total of 24,500 cases of the virus are on record in the world. Understandably, the majority of them are in the People’s Republic of China, and 229 cases have been detected in other countries. As of today, as before, only two cases have been detected in Russia. There are no new cases. The Government is doing all it possibly can to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Mr Mishustin signed a national plan to counter the its spread. It consists of 22 measures and is aimed at responding to any situation that may take shape.

I have a few words to say about the most recent decisions. We have suspended the issuance of group and work visas to Chinese nationals. Traffic across the Russian-Chinese and Russian-Mongolian borders has been suspended as well. According to operational headquarters’ decisions, air service with China was significantly limited as of February 1, and regular flights are carried out only to and from Sheremetyevo Airport. A ban on foreign nationals’ transit flights from China was introduced on February 4. The number of charter flights is down. Today, there will be only two, and starting February 14, we plan to stop charter flights altogether to ensure domestic security. Everyone has been notified. Rospotrebnadzor [Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being] is taking the necessary measures at the checkpoints to identify people with acute respiratory disease.

I want to spend a moment to discuss already known information. Today, two planes arrived in Tyumen Region from Wuhan and Hubei Province with 144 individuals, including 128 citizens of the Russian Federation and 16 citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States, specifically 10 people from Belarus, one person from Armenia, three people from Kazakhstan and one person from Tajikistan. All of them were taken to the Tyumen Gradostroitel Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and tested for coronavirus. They will spend the next 14 days there. No one is sick.

I want to emphasise once again that these citizens are quite healthy, and the staff working with them will also be isolated and remain at the centre. Should there be any symptoms, the patients will be committed to the Tyumen Infectious Disease Hospital for individual supervision and treatment. Like any other infectious disease hospital, this hospital is properly equipped to provide all kinds of medical aid to people with viral diseases, including an intensive care infections department. Coronavirus pneumonia is treated just like any other pneumonia. The staff constantly provides aid to such patients and is sufficiently experienced in providing this kind of treatment.

I would also like to say that there is a cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan, which has passengers affected by the coronavirus. Thankfully, they are not Russian citizens. There are 24 Russian citizens on the ship. The operational headquarters, the embassy and the Foreign Ministry maintain contact with our citizens. We are on top of the situation.

In addition, I would like to say that today six experts from Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Healthcare arrived in China to discuss the coronavirus with their colleagues, to get an update and to see what else can be done to protect our citizens.

Also, in accordance with the instructions issued by the operational headquarters and the Prime Minister and as coordinated with China, a list of personal protective items to be sent to China as humanitarian aid has been drawn up. The Foreign Ministry has agreed on the details with them. The cargo is being prepared for shipment.

In closing, I would like to say a few words about the situation in our country. Unfortunately, we saw one pharmacy chain raise prices of medicines and personal protective items. Some pharmacies raised the price of one facemask to 70–100 rubles. Before the New Year, one mask was only 1.5 rubles. This is an unprecedented price hike, and we will hear what the Federal Antimonopoly Service has to say about the effort to mitigate this situation at the next meeting of the operational headquarters. All instructions have been issued.







Vladimir Putin:

They need to lose their license for this, that is all. They decided to make money off this. We need to identify who the decision maker is in every company so they do not feel like doing this again, that is all.







Tatyana Golikova:

All right.

I would also like to say that on February 4 Roszdravnadzor [Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare] opened a hotline at our instruction. Anyone can call for information on price gouging in pharmacies.

Once again, I would like to thank you and all my colleagues who are dealing with this. The situation is under control.







Vladimir Putin:

Our network of pharmacies is fairly large, maybe even too large. So if two or three pharmacies are shut down there will be no negative consequences for people who need medications. But we need to respond appropriately to this.

Thank you very much for the information.

Colleagues,

We are holding our first meeting since the Address to the Federal Assembly was made public. The new Government has been formed and all organisational issues resolved. Now it is important for us to quickly step up our efforts in all areas. As a reminder, our main task is to achieve steady growth in real salaries, wages and income and consistent improvement of living standards. The entire Government must focus on this goal. This should not be divided into financial-economic, social or sectoral blocs. This has to be collaborative work, a team effort aimed at the final result. It is necessary to concentrate our efforts on our economic, social and educational policies and on the development of the infrastructure.

I would like to emphasise that it is necessary to upgrade the performance of the cabinet with a view to implementing the items in the Address I mentioned and the May Executive Orders in a timely manner and in full. I would like to add an important point: the overwhelming majority of specific measures and initiatives are carried out at the regional and municipal levels. Therefore, you need to be in direct and close contact with your colleagues at this management level and work directly with non-profit organisations, with the people and the regions of the Federation. I am hoping that, in cooperation with the regional management teams, the Government will use the most effective mechanisms in reaching our national development goals.

I will add a few words in the same vein. I know that you are already seriously streamlining administrative procedures and have expedited the introduction of advanced digital technology in the activities of the ministries and departments. Mr Mishustin told be about this just yesterday evening. It is important to make this work more effective in every area, speed up the processing of documents and management decisions and use funding rationally. These changes should be felt primarily by our people, families and by business. They should feel that it is much easier and more convenient to receive government or municipal support, services, and social benefits and to open a new business.

In a word, I expect you to make a breakthrough in eliminating red tape across the board. This would earn the confidence of our people. This will generally expedite and improve the quality of work on the national projects and development goals.

I ask the Government to promptly draft and adopt the necessary legislation and arrange the work locally. First of all, this concerns payments to families with children aged 3 to 7, which was mentioned in my Address [to the Federal Assembly]. You will remember that we agreed to start the countdown for these payments on January 1. All formalities must be promptly sorted out so that people can apply for these payments immediately, including remotely.

I am expecting the same precision in the implementation of decisions on the upgraded maternity capital programme, arranging hot meals for junior schoolchildren and other initiatives mentioned in the Address to the Federal Assembly.

Let us start.

Mr Mishustin, please.







Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin:

Mr President, colleagues,

The Government has already started addressing the tasks you set out in your Address to the Federal Assembly, Mr President.

At the previous Cabinet meeting, we discussed ways to organise this work in the most efficient way and accordingly, made a list of relevant instructions with exact schedules and responsible persons at the level of ministries and agencies. Deputy Prime Ministers are also personally accountable in their fields.

Mr President, all Government members are committed to carrying out all your instructions in full and are aware of the significance of the tasks we are facing. We realise that obvious and concrete results must be achieved in the shortest possible time; the priorities are, as you have said, economic growth, improving the demographic situation and increasing the incomes of the population. In other words, our priority is to give people confidence in tomorrow.

A considerable number of instructions refer to the social sphere, primarily demographics and support for families with children, including extending the maternity capital programme until December 31, 2026, and increasing the amount and future maternity capital payments. To comply with your instructions, legislative amendments must be submitted before April 15, and we are on schedule.

The decisions on the social sphere expressed in the Address are comparable in terms of their scope to the national projects adopted earlier. Work on improving the demographic situation aims to achieve two national goals you laid out, which are increasing life expectancy and natural population growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova will report in greater detail on organising work in the social sphere, including drafting respective legislative amendments and the financial support of the decisions you made. In practical terms, we have reserved respective funds and coordinated them with the Finance Ministry.

The second group of issues relates to economic development.

One of the national goals is entering the world’s top five economies. And of course, the key task set forth in the economic part of the Address is increasing investment activities, launching a new investment cycle while maintaining macroeconomic stability and low inflation rates in the first place.

First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov will speak in more detail about the tools the Government plans to use to achieve this objective. I will name several important measures that we expect will allow us to achieve a GDP growth rate increase by the end of this year.

First, we need to encourage consumer spending by introducing the package of social support measures that you spoke about in your Address [to the Federal Assembly].

Next, we need to increase demand for domestically produced machinery and equipment under the national projects and the import substitution programmes, which we plan to continue. Another measure is increasing the export of goods other than raw materials and energy. We plan to finalise and approve, as soon as possible, a draft law on safeguarding and encouraging investment to make sure that the terms and conditions of major investment projects do not change during the implementation of these projects. And we will monitor how well state companies deliver on their investment programmes.

We will also move faster to implement our plan for changing the business environment, along with the so-called technology package, which mainly refers to the digital economy, something you just mentioned. This is about, among other things, linking investment to advanced technologies.

All these measures will be funded in full. The Finance Ministry has been instructed to address the funding issues without delay and, accordingly, to draft amendments to the federal budget. We plan to consider all these amendments at the Government meeting next week and this, along with the agreed on budget funding, will allow us to enhance social support for our citizens and provide impetus to economic growth.







Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

(Next, Tatyana Golikova reported on the measures to carry out a number of instructions regarding social support that the President gave in his Address to the Federal Assembly.)

Mr Belousov, please.







Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov:

Thank you.

Mr Putin, Mr Mishustin, colleagues,

The key objective for the economy as set forth in the Presidential Address is to launch an investment cycle. This objective has clearly fixed quantitative parameters. In the first three quarters of last year, investment edged up 0.7 percent, whereas this year this figure should be 5 percent and in 2021, at least 6 percent and later it should remain at roughly this level. Only given this growth curve, i.e., when investment grows at approximately twice the rate of the GDP, the size of investment in 2024 will reach the target figure – 25 percent of the GDP – set by the President. This is the benchmark for the Government when planning measures to be carried out in this area.

What specifically needs to be done to resolve this challenging task? As a matter of principle, we need to address three main questions: faster market growth, lower risk for investors, and the availability and cost of long-term money.

I will begin with markets. Today, one of the main factors that hamper investment growth is overall market stagnation. Clearly, nobody is likely to invest much money in stagnant markets. The Government has at least three powerful tools that can encourage consumer demand – Mr Mishustin spoke briefly about them.

The first is increasing current consumer spending through the package of social measures set forth in the Presidential Address. As for the consumer spending part of the package – because it also includes an investment part – that is, without counting investment, this year consumer spending is planned to increase by almost 185 billion rubles, next year by almost 400 billion rubles and then over 400 billion rubles every year. Families in Russia will largely use these funds to buy goods and services, that is, to buy products from the food industry, agriculture, the textile industry and so on. This factor alone will account for a growth of about 1 percent in retail trade, or, accordingly, a growth of approximately 0.3 percent in the GDP.

The second lever is additional demand for domestic machines and equipment during the implementation of national projects. Let me remind you that from 2015 to 2019, over 2 trillion rubles were spent in import substitution projects from all sources in industry alone. This funding produced fairly tangible results in the creation of a domestic production and technological foundation. In perspective, the main reserve of import substitution lies in the purchasing of Russian equipment under national projects. Expenditures for machines and equipment exceed 6 trillion rubles. About half of it, 3.2 trillion rubles can and must be spent on Russian equipment manufacturing products, including 1.4 trillion rubles on defence industry diversification. Mr Putin, these figures have been confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and are fixed in your instructions. You have given tough directions to those who oversee these projects. We will carry them out.

Therefore, additional demand for Russian equipment will total almost 500 billion rubles this year, 556 billion rubles next year and over 600 billion rubles later. This is a 3.5–4 percent increase in the entire domestic equipment manufacturing market that adds up to about 14 trillion.

The third lever is increasing the export of goods other than raw materials and energy. Based on the planned support measures for exports under the national project of the same name, the increase in industry alone should amount to about $6 billion or plus 390 billion rubles at the current exchange rate. Next year this figure will be $14 billion or almost a trillion rubles. This is additional demand for produce of the metallurgical, forestry, chemical and pharmaceutical and civilian machine-building sectors.

Altogether, the above factors will produce up to 1 percent of additional growth in the GDP this year and a 1.6–1.7 percent increase next year. We believe this is quite enough to warm up the markets in a neat and gradual way and achieve a 3 percent increase in the GDP as soon as in 2021.

However, these plans will be accompanied by a serious injection of liquidity in the economy. The Government and the Bank of Russia will have to work together with precision to not upset the macroeconomic equilibrium and prevent the growth of inflation.

Mr Putin, we have agreed with the Bank of Russia, with Elvira Nabiullina – this is a counter initiative – to create a permanent online mechanism of consultations on evaluating the situation that is taking shape, and, if need be, for adopting measures independently in our competences.

Now I would like to say a few words about two other areas: investment acceleration, risk reduction for investors and the availability and cost of long-term money.

As mentioned, the first area is the adoption of a law on protecting and encouraging capital investment, which will guarantee predictable rules for implementing large investment projects, the so-called stabilisation clause. Many discussions were held here. Yesterday Government members agreed – I hope finally agreed – to delete the most disputed points and adopt the law sooner. You fixed a date of April 30, but we will try to do this earlier.

Passing a law is not enough; it must also be made effective. A working group to assist the implementation of new investment projects has been established jointly with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. It has received 196 applications, 15 of which, worth nearly 3 trillion rubles altogether, have been examined by VEB and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. We plan to add momentum to the group’s work, focusing on two priorities: first, stimulating a higher degree of conversion and the creation of new jobs, and second, a positive influence on the implementation of national projects.

Our second objective is to accelerate the implementation of roadmaps as part of the efforts to transform the business climate. The National Business Initiative 2.0 comprises 229 events divided into 15 practical plans for liberalising the business environment. Our priority is to lift the regulatory barriers that are of the biggest concern for investors and are hindering the development of new activities. These include the protection of property rights, bankruptcy laws, the improvement of arbitration courts, transition to a risk-focused regulatory approach, as well as the regulation of the intellectual property market and several other spheres.

Most of our plans have been coordinated with business associations, but are stalled because of a lack of coordination between departments. The headquarters for guiding these activities has been established at the Economic Development Ministry. We will meet on a weekly basis to defuse this situation. We also plan to maintain dialogue with business associations while doing this.

Thirdly, we will introduce investment tax deductions in the regions, with up to two-thirds of deductions to be covered by federal allocations. You have set the deadline, July 1. These allocations have been stipulated in the amendments to the budget at 30 billion rubles annually, so far. We are working out the rules now.

What is this all about? It will be a new mechanism; the regions will independently apply these tax deductions, just as they are doing now, but the allocation of compensations is conditional on three things.

First, the volume of the project will be limited by the above authorities, so that priority attention is given to small and medium-sized businesses.

Second, key institutions ensuring investor comfort and protection, the so-called investment standard, must be created in the regions.

Third, the region must have a portfolio of projects within the framework of the regions’ specifics. In other words, we plan to create a system for involving the regions in the investment process, including the sharing of best practices and the training of regional administrations. We will make use of the Centre for Investment Promotion established at the Russian Direct Investment Fund, as well as the State Council’s working groups.

Fourth, the National Wealth Fund should be used for the additional funding of infrastructure projects on condition of repayment. The NWF has over 7.8 trillion rubles or nearly 8 trillion rubles now. This sum approximately equals the margin of safety approved at 7 percent of GDP. According to assessments, which have been coordinated with the Bank of Russia, the annual inflation-safe investment of NWF funds in the economy is estimated at some 300 billion rubles. We also believe that there must be at least four rubles of private money for each ruble allocated by the NWF.

Mr Putin, you issued instructions that a list of transport infrastructure projects be compiled before June 1 to include, among other things, motorways linking regional centres, slip roads to federal roads and city bypasses. The Ministry of Transport has drawn up rough proposals for this list, which include 62 projects with an estimated cost of slightly over two trillion rubles. We will enlist the help of the State Council’s working group and will finalise them. We are planning to obtain the results and finish off the job within the set timeframe.

Fifth, working with state-run companies according to their investment programmes. They account for nearly 25 percent of all the investment in the country. In effect, they are companies with Russian government shareholdings. At the same time, there are state-run ones that are not only reluctant to build up their investments but also regularly reduce them. We understand that there are corporate investment cycles, development priorities and the budget requirement for dividends, but the goal of speeding up investment must be the same for everybody, not for the Government alone.

We are planning to step up the work in this sector, including by analysing the spending of investment funds through participation in boards of directors. We certainly will not interfere with the companies’ development interests or with any other interests, including those of minority shareholders. But, Mr Putin, we will particularly need the President’s support when it comes to this.

Sixth, the longer-term funding and financial instruments for investment. Here we prioritise large-scale project financing, including for the Project Financing Factory created by VEB and the development of the corporate bond market, particularly venture capital financing oriented to investing in hi-tech companies. On this point, there is your instruction to securitise investments of this kind, given the specific risks and uncertainty involved in the implementation of breakthrough hi-tech projects. The deadline is June 1, and we will manage to meet this date. We support the initiative of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs to create a private venture fund of funds and private venture companies to the tune of approximately ten billion rubles. We are considering at the moment how to support them. This is private money, and the initiative comes from our colleagues themselves.

We have arranged with the Central Bank to establish a working group that will be in charge of developing the financial sector so as to be able to accelerate economic growth and give businesses wider access to financial market instruments. The Central Bank will regulate this process, while our job will be to analyse and see how these instruments can be used in industry and other economic sectors. We are planning to collaborate closely with Vnesheconombank, Sberbank, Vneshtorgbank, and major private banks.

And, finally, seventh, the technological content of investments. Let me note the approval of the so-called technological package of laws related, for the most part, as I mentioned already, to the digital economy. This year, we must adopt ten key laws, seven of which have been passed on from last year, when they failed to be approved. As regards two of these – on experimental legal regimes, or the so-called sandboxes, and on regulating the turnover of large amounts of data – the Presidential Address contains instructions that they should be approved during the spring session. We will implement it.

Finally, the national technological initiative: today, it includes seven working roadmaps on the most important technological spheres of focus; another five roadmaps are being drafted.

The National Technological Initiative community is our main resource with a 50,000-strong core group and about 900,000 people involved in its activities. There are study groups for schoolchildren and university students and dedicated educational resources. In modern parlance, this is an established ecosystem with a vast development potential.

This year, we are starting to implement roadmaps for end-to-end technologies developed as part of the Government’s agreement with major companies, such as Rostec, Rosatom, Russian Railways, Rostelecom, Sberbank and Rosseti. We plan on making the presidium of the commission for modernising Russia’s economy and innovative development the headquarters of these activities and, of course, to enlist the Government digital bloc.

Mr President, launching the investment cycle is a fairly complex, but doable endeavour. The previous Government led by Mr Medvedev has created a solid foundation for this. We are aware of what needs to be done and we know we can do it.

Thank you.







Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

Colleagues, does anyone want to add anything?

By the way, I have a question. What is the upper investment limit for the support measure?



Andrei Belousov:

Are you speaking of investment deduction? We are working on it. But we will make sure we do not repeat the situation where 30 billion of deduction went to a respected company that is implementing a major project in one of our regions. In accordance with these rules, we will have to take funds from the budget to automatically compensate 20 billion from this amount. We need to launch an investment process rather than finance individual projects. To do this, we have the law on protecting and encouraging investment. A system for supporting these projects has already been created.



Vladimir Putin:

But you also mentioned a limit to encourage medium-sized businesses.



Andrei Belousov:

I would rather not give any numbers right now. We are discussing them with the Finance Ministry.



Vladimir Putin:

That is fine. Let me know what you decide then.



Andrei Belousov:

Absolutely.







Vladimir Putin:

In closing, I would like to say that Ms Golikova and Mr Belousov have outlined a vast amount of work lying ahead of us. If everyone present here had had the chance to speak, they would have pointed out even more about their respective industries. This is an ambitious endeavour. It is critically important, because we will not have another chance to concentrate that much money to achieve national development goals in the coming years, or maybe even decades to come. Therefore, the quality of work and timely decisions and, importantly, their implementation and getting results, which, as I have mentioned many times, is all about a healthy economy and social well-being of our citizens, are important if we want to be successful.

I think the Government is as good as it gets. It includes the people who drafted these decisions during at least the previous 18 months and worked on drafting national development goals and on the tools to achieve them in the form of national projects. There are people who did not work in the Government before, but were actually involved, one way or another, in this work in their previous positions. Therefore, I believe that the Government does not have a single moment to warm up to the task at hand. We just do not have any right not to start working on it straight away. There is no way to pretend that someone is not aware of something. Everyone knows everything, everyone is committed, I believe, and everyone is up to speed. So, I expect you to do your concrete work in each of the spheres we just discussed and even those which may not have been mentioned yet, but which we all know about.

I wish all of us every success.

Thank you.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62734
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Award ceremony for winners of 2019 Presidential Prize for Young Scientists



The ceremony to award the 2019 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists was held at the Kremlin. Earlier Vladimir Putin signed an Executive Order on awarding the prize.



February 6, 2020 - 14:40 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The prize is awarded for contribution to advancing Russian science, for creating new equipment and technology that can boost the innovative development of the economy and social sphere, as well as strengthen national defence.

The 2019 Presidential Prize was awarded to Alexander Veraksa, DSc in Psychology, for research of the cognitive development of children of preschool and school age; Sergei Makarov, DSc in Physics and Mathematics, for innovations in nanotechnology; and Marina Shirmanova, PhD in Biology, for achievements in the study of oncological processes.







Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends.

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you and all those who work in the fields of science and university education. We are trying to combine these two fields today, and I hope that science will be developing at our universities. I would like to wish you all the very best on the upcoming Russian Science Day – all researchers, those who are here today and those who are not, everyone who is prepared to break new ground, make discoveries and peer into the unknown.

It has become a tradition to award state prizes in science and innovation to young scientists ahead of this day. It is notable that the number of nominees for the prize grows with every passing year, and ever more interesting and promising projects in the key spheres compete for the prize. This rich choice allows us to select the very best and most deserving projects. It also shows that the standards of research projects carried out by young people are becoming increasingly mature.





I have no doubt that the talent and enthusiasm of our young people can lead to a major breakthrough in the key spheres of technology in this decade and the 21st century as a whole. Of course, difficult and ambitious goals and an opportunity to come to the fore and play a crucial role in national development are very strong motives for anyone, but especially so for young people who choose the field of science. Very young people developed Siberia, discovered Antarctica, created nuclear and space projects and accomplished many other things.

You may have noticed that I said in my annual Address that there are many young people working in science. According to estimates, by the middle of the decade every second scientist in Russia will be under 40. Our academic community will be one of the youngest in the world.





This has been a trend for the past few years, and I hope it persists. Your energy coupled with talent and knowledge will certainly produce a positive result for the country.

To create conditions for the work and professional growth of your peers and the younger generation, the Government will continue to update the equipment of our research organisations and universities, as well as research infrastructure, including megascience-class facilities. Major funds – over 220 billion rubles – will be allocated under the Science national project. We are to launch the NICA collider in Dubna outside Moscow before the end of 2022 and the SKIF synchrotron in Novosibirsk by late 2023.

We are about to design and create an unparalleled installation that combines the capabilities of a synchrotron radiation source and a free-electron laser. This will make it possible for our country to conduct unmatched research in agriculture, next-generation materials and pharmaceuticals, as well as other areas that are critically important for technological development in Russia.





To reiterate, the tasks at hand are colossal. We can bring the future closer only if we combine our resources and create a proper environment for scholars, engineers and young researchers. Each of them should have an opportunity to draw closer to their discoveries through hard work, as well as mistakes, perhaps, which are part of the work, and the help of like-minded people and inspiration. The way our today's laureates did it. I am pleased to present the results of their work.

Success in overcoming modern technological and non-technology-related challenges depends on talents and unlocking each person’s potential and gifts starting from preschool age.





Continuing the glorious and internationally recognised traditions of the national school of educational psychology, prize-winner Alexander Veraksa has been studying for 15 years the cognitive and emotional development of children exposed to a turbulent digital and technological transformation environment.

Based on large-scale and extended research, the author has created a proprietary, individually tailored and ultimately effective education system. As far as I understand, this system can be used for a variety of school subjects ranging from PE to mathematics. Today, this method is widely used not only in our kindergartens and schools, but in other countries’ educational institutions as well.





Sergei Makarov’s work opens up vast prospects in many areas of research and technology. He came up with an innovative economical and, thus, widely usable, method for creating ultra-small optical devices. They are very small, but, as I understand, their potential is gigantic.

They will make it possible to significantly speed up information processing and reduce power consumption, which is important for this kind of systems, and to conduct quantum computing. In addition, these devices have successfully passed biomedical tests for conducting cellular level treatments and promoting solar energy. They are used to improve the performance of microscopes and other physical instruments.





Marina Shirmanova, a representative of an innovative school of research, which originated in Nizhny Novgorod thanks to a mega-grant programme, works at the junction of physics, biology and medicine. Innovative methods for studying malignant tumours are being successfully developed at the laboratory that she heads.

These methods make it possible to obtain knowledge about internal processes in the affected cells that was previously beyond reach and use it for targeted treatment choosing the most appropriate treatment method in each case, and effectively treating a variety of cancers.





I congratulate all the prize-winners. Thank you for your significant achievements that expand our capabilities, for your determination and dedication to research.

Congratulations!




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62735






Joint meeting of State Council Presidium and Presidential Council on Science and Education



At the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin chaired a joint meeting of the State Council Presidium and the Presidential Council on Science and Education.



February 6, 2020 - 17:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The meeting was devoted to enhancing the role of the regions in training professionals for the economic and social sectors in accordance with the President’s May Executive Order and the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development.

The focus will be on adjusting the system of vocational and higher education to economic requirements, expectations of the state and society, as well as the creation and introduction of novel methods of interaction between educational and academic organisations on the one hand and bodies of power at all levels and employers on the other, with a view to preserving and improving the country’s intellectual potential.







Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

You probably noticed that I raised many issues during my recent Address to the Federal Assembly, but one of them is especially important. It concerns all aspects of our demographic development.

It includes decent benefits for families with children, improving the healthcare and social infrastructure, the creation of new jobs in order to increase wages and real incomes, and, of course, the availability of equal and fair conditions for receiving a good modern education, so that the coming generations in Russia realise their huge potential.

The Government, the regions and municipal authorities must work consistently together with civil society and businesses in all spheres of demographic development, including education.

In this connection, I propose that the State Council convene at the beginning of the next academic year to discuss the further development of our general education system. As for our meeting today, which is attended by governors and members of the Council on Science and Education, we should use it to coordinate additional decisions to strengthen university education in the regions.

Of course, much has been accomplished in this field: high-performing federal and national research universities have been created and basic universities are being provided with assistance in over 30 regions.

However, there are still many unresolved problems. The greatest of them is the super-concentration of educational resources in Moscow and St Petersburg. They are home to over 200 universities, or more than 25 percent of the country’s universities, and this not counting their regional branches.

In some periods of our history back in the 19th and 20th centuries, this concentration was objective and possibly justified. But it has clearly become outsized, including because of the social and economic disproportions that developed by the turn of the 21st century. This has become a major challenge when it comes to balanced development throughout Russia.

But I will add right away that it would certainly be a crude mistake to deal with this problem “on command,” through strictly administrative means, to talk about lofty national interests and goals and to forget about life, about the teachers and the students themselves. Any talk of relocating Moscow or St Petersburg universities is certainly unacceptable.

At the same time, we must realise that far from all higher educational institutions in the regions can compete with those in the capitals. This is obvious at this point. They cannot compete in the quality of education and the qualifications of the teachers, not to mention the level of equipment. Laboratories and social facilities have become physically rundown and obsolete.

I understand the choice of many school graduates in the regions. They go to the capitals where education is better and life is more interesting. You and I are well aware of this. We know this. Young people often do not return to the places where they were born and grew up. In such cases, the regions lose the most precious things – talent, specialists, and the younger generation.

You know, there are appeals to return all universities to the system of assigning graduates to workplaces. I have heard this many times. They are made at almost every meeting with the public. But let me repeat that we will not resolve any problems with mandatory measures. Life has changed a lot. It is necessary to create conditions for the self-fulfillment of the young people, modern attractive standards of life and study, and opportunities to achieve success. These are the tasks we must deal with together.

Every year – starting in 2021 – we will increase the number of state-financed openings and give them to the universities in the regions, primarily those regions that need modern, young and promising personnel.

You all come from the regions of the Russian Federation and you know the demand for personnel there. Demand is continuously on the rise because of economic growth. In all, we are planning to allocate an additional 70 billion rubles for these purposes in four years. But this move alone is not enough.

I would like to ask the Government to implement a package of measures on modernising the entire system of higher education in the regions. Education oriented and other national projects must come under this overall goal. And, by the way, this work should include the development of infrastructure, the provision of amenities in cities and territories, and the launching of new production lines and investment projects. Of course, it is necessary to make much better use of the allocated resources.

I would like to repeat that even using all sectoral investment we will not change regional universities and will not raise them to a new level unless we achieve real positive change in local life. I would like the Government, regional governors and heads of municipalities to remember this.





Colleagues,

What are the specific measures that must be carried out as soon as possible but certainly with competence and with the utmost responsibility?

First, we need to keep closing dud universities of which there are still many. However, our goal is higher and more complicated than just getting rid of operations like that. It is important to consolidate the resource potential of education and research institutions and merge them legally where appropriate.

At the same time, I want to reiterate this is not about a purely mechanical merger. We must find solutions that will increase the prestige, the scholarly status and income of teachers and professors in the regions and significantly improve the quality of education and research at the universities. This calls for joint departments and laboratories and networking between research and education teams, as well as an advanced infrastructure, including co-working centres, scientific installations and databases.

We plan to finalise these kinds of managerial tools at the first five world-class research and education centres, the creation of which began last year in Perm Territory and Belgorod, Kemerovo, Nizhny Novgorod and Tyumen regions. Minister of Science and Higher Education and former rector of Tyumen University Valery Falkov is here today. I hope he will share his experience with us and use it in his new job.

Secondly, strong regional higher schools are all about the faculty, medical and engineering professionals, breakthrough solutions and designs and a constellation of innovative companies and start-up businesses and teams implementing social and cultural initiatives. The universities’ advanced infrastructure is a genuine driver for developing the urban environment.

In this regard, I propose upgrading and building modern campuses in the regions complete with classrooms, athletic facilities, technology parks, undergraduate and graduate student and teacher dormitories. In any case, we should start doing this.

Already this year, 22 billion rubles from the federal budget will be released for updating facilities and resources and overhauling university buildings. We should take a look at what portion of these funds can be used for renovating campuses.

Thirdly, to reiterate, we need to create a competitive network of regional universities to attract young people and strong professors. The Government has designated and is implementing this priority project, but we must remove all the barriers that prevent the regions and businesses from participating in this project, not in words, but in actions.

You are aware of the situation. The universities work for the region, the professors and students live there, the governors are aware of the problems facing educational institutions, but the thing is that another department, say, a federal department, is in charge of it. Therefore, a region may want to support a university, but bumps into budget legislation and risks being accused of misusing funds.





I agree with the proposal to provide the regions with the right to directly finance local universities’ development programmes and infrastructure regardless of departmental subordination, if resources are available.

In general, I believe it is important to give the regions the authority to promote not only colleges and technical schools, but also research and higher educational institutions located in their territories.

As you may know, in Cherepovets on Tuesday we saw what Russian companies are doing to develop an effective system for training personnel who meet the expectations of today’s employers. I have to say that the results we have seen are quite remarkable, and these practices deserve our attention. We need to support investment by entrepreneurs and Russian companies in education and science by offering new and better tools for enabling the state, the regions and business to work together.

Colleagues, the Russian higher education system in its entirety must keep pace with the ongoing swift technological and social changes, and be on the same wavelength with these developments. First and foremost, practising professionals working in the real economy, as well as young and inspired researchers and faculty must work at higher educational institutions. This primarily refers to the regions that really need to develop both their know-how and competence.

I would like to make a number of proposals to this effect. This year, we are expected to achieve 100 percent employer-sponsored education in medical residency training for the most in-demand programmes. We need to think about ways to update the system for training top-notch researchers and faculty in other key professions as well.

This means that postgraduate schools must undergo serious change by further expanding mechanisms for targeted recruitment. This way, postgraduate students will carry out research for a specific higher educational institution or research centre in the region. After completing their degree, students will go on to work there, create a school of research, new and relevant training programmes, and find practical applications for their inventions. This is essential. We need to ensure this link between research and education, on the one hand, and real life and manufacturing, on the other.

I have already issued an instruction in the follow-up to my Address to enable students to change their educational trajectory after two years of study, and enrol in related degree programmes, so that on top of fundamental theoretical knowledge they master a wide range of the latest essential skills they will need to succeed.

I also believe in the need to do away with requirements and regulations that are clearly excessive, to make educational standards more flexible and up-to-date, and the same relates to the classification of degree programmes and majors. We need to enable higher education institutions to develop educational programmes independently, depending on requests from the students and the needs of the regions, including as part of the so-called short-term educational programmes. This would enable students to learn additional skills, for example in entrepreneurship.

Let me emphasise that everything I am talking about directly applies to vocational training institutions as well. We need to keep up our efforts to modernise them, considering that skilled trade professions are subject to ever higher requirements and can go as far as requiring a higher education degree.

Before we start the discussion, there is one more thing I wanted to mention. We have young researchers here with us today who won prizes in science. I have recently had a meeting at the Sirius Educational Centre with its students and graduates, and met with students, postgraduates and faculty in Volgograd Region.

We have many talented, dedicated young people, and it is our duty to make sure that they stay here in Russia and achieve their full potential. For this reason, I believe that we need to offer greater incentives for excellence in research and creativity. This is what we will do in the near future.

I will now give the floor to Andrei Travnikov, who heads the working group. Mr Travnikov, the floor is yours.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62744






Dmitry Makhonin appointed Acting Governor of Perm Territory



February 6, 2020 - 18:50 - The Kremlin, Moscow



Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Dmitry Makhonin, whom he appointed Acting Governor of Perm Territory by a Presidential Executive Order.







The President signed an Executive Order appointing Dmitry Makhonin Acting Governor of Perm Territory following Governor Maxim Reshetnikov’s resignation.

Vladimir Putin appointed Dmitry Makhonin Acting Governor of Perm Territory until an elected governor takes office.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62750






Executive Order on one-time payment to certain categories of citizens to mark 75 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War



The President signed Executive Order On a One-Time Payment to Certain Categories of Russian Citizens to Mark 75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.



February 7, 2020 - 10:00



To mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, Vladimir Putin has ordered to make one-time payments to certain groups of citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Estonia.

A one-time payment to the Great Patriotic War veterans and disabled veterans and all equal-status persons will constitute 75,000 rubles. In addition, this amount will be paid to former underage prisoners of concentration camps, ghettoes and other detention facilities created by the Nazis and their allies during World War II; widows (widowers) of soldiers killed during the Winter War, the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet-Japanese War; as well as widows (widowers) of the deceased veterans and disabled veterans.

A one-time payment of 50,000 rubles will be made to homefront workers who worked at least six months during the Great Patriotic War. A similar payment will be made to former adult prisoners of concentration camps, prisons and ghettoes.

The President also instructed the Government to provide financing for the implementation of this Executive Order.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62751






Talks with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko



Vladimir Putin held talks in Sochi with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who came to Russia on a working visit.



February 7, 2020 - 15:30 - Krasnaya Polyana







The two presidents discussed current issues of Russian-Belarusian cooperation, including in the context of integration within the framework of the Union State.

The last time they met was on December 20, 2019 in St Petersburg, where Alexander Lukashenko arrived for a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

During several telephone conversations the two presidents had on December 30 and 31, 2019, they held in-depth discussions on Russian oil and gas deliveries to Belarus.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, colleagues,

Unfortunately, our delegation has not yet arrived due to weather conditions. I hope they will be able to join us later.





But we can start our discussion, talk about current affairs. I believe that eventually we will be talking about more than just current issues.





There are many issues on our agenda today. Over the past hour, or hour and a half, of our conversation with Mr Lukashenko, we covered many topics of mutual interest, as they say. Therefore, we can continue our conversation in the expanded format, and when our colleagues join us, we will move on to the second round. I believe that today we are undoubtedly going to have fruitful talks.

I would like to thank you for coming to Russia for this meeting.







President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko:

Thank you.

We have indeed discussed many issues, going as far back as the time when we lived together in one state; we discussed many dates and subjects we remember from our shared history.








We not only discussed matters of mutual interest, as Mr Putin said, but also issues that concern many of our neighbours, the former Soviet republics and the policies we and they currently pursue.








Overall, we discussed many things, and eventually we returned to the present, and we decided to continue our conversation not one-on-one, but together with those who are involved in this process as well.








And then we will, as Mr Putin said, take a pause. We have many other issues on the agenda. We will resume this discussion when the Russian delegation arrives. The skies seem to have cleared. We will continue our discussion later. There is a lot to discuss and a lot to be done.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62752






Presidents of Russia and Belarus took part in a friendly ice hockey match



Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko took part in a friendly ice hockey match at the Galaktika mall in Krasnaya Polyana.



February 7, 2020 - 18:45 - Krasnaya Polyana








































The presidents are playing on the same team: Vladimir Putin is wearing a national team’s uniform with the number 11, and Alexander Lukashenko is wearing a hockey jersey in the colours of the Belarusian flag with the number 01.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62753






Russian-Belarusian talks continued with the participation of the delegations



After a hockey match, in which Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko took part, Russian-Belarusian talks continued with the participation of the delegations.



February 7, 2020 - 19:50 - Krasnaya Polyana
















President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, colleagues,

We will continue our work as we agreed. This is the second half, to use a sports term, since we just played hockey.

In general, during the first part of our meeting we discussed in considerable detail the items on the agenda. Now we can clarify some issues in expanded format.

In addition, I would also like you to meet the new members of the Russian Government.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62754






Greetings to Russian Foreign Ministry current and former staff



Vladimir Putin congratulated the current and former staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on their professional holiday, Diplomats’ Day.



February 10, 2020 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“Russian diplomats have always deliberately and consistently defended the interests of our Fatherland. While continuing the glorious traditions of our predecessors, you carry out your duty with honour and deal with challenging and responsible foreign policy tasks.

Thanks largely to the efficient work of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, we have managed to reach a certain degree of stability in Syria and launch an intra-Syrian Constitutional process. We are seeing visible results in the development of Eurasian integration and the EAEU’s foreign relations, as well as of allied relations within the CSTO. We are improving cooperation with China, India, other Eurasian countries as well as Latin American states. The dialogue with African countries has reached a new level.

At the same time, the international political situation is becoming more turbulent, which means that an even more proactive approach is needed to provide strategic stability and form a just world order. To this end, we should use our position at the UN Security Council, and the opportunities provided by the current Russian presidency in the SCO and BRICS, and participation in the G20, APEC and other multilateral organisations.

It is important to build up efforts to protect the rights and interests of our compatriots abroad, and to protect the Russian language. And, of course, the preservation of the historical truth about the Great Patriotic War is an undisputable priority. This is especially important against the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of Victory that we will mark this year.

I am sure that you will continue to work proactively and creatively while defending Russia’s interests and strengthening its position on the global arena. The country’s leadership will continue to pay due attention to providing support and resources to the diplomatic service.”

The President also wished the Foreign Ministry’s current employees new professional success, and to honourable former employees, he wished good health, high spirits and longevity.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62761
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Meeting with Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Vladimir Yakushev



Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Vladimir Yakushev to discuss housing construction and the substandard housing relocation programme.



February 10, 2020 - 14:10 - The Kremlin, Moscow







In particular, Vladimir Yakushev said that in 2019, 80.3 million square metres of housing were built, which reversed the downward trend that existed since 2015.

The Minister also noted that the number of development companies that switch to escrow accounts and receive project financing for housing construction is growing. Projects implemented under the old financing regulations should be completed as soon as possible.





The Minister also reported that the implementation of the programme to relocate from substandard housing is going well, and that in 2019 the plan was exceeded six times over.





Vladimir Yakushev emphasised that before 2024, over 1 million square metres of housing will be built to replace substandard housing.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62762






Meeting on economic issues



Vladimir Putin and the meeting participants discussed the 2019 results, current socioeconomic situation and plans to bolster Russia’s economic development.



February 12, 2020 - 13:50 - The Kremlin, Moscow







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, good afternoon,

Today we will review the current situation in the Russian economy, look at the results of 2019 and analyse the first trends of 2020.

I would like to emphasise right from the start that our main common task is to achieve more stable, high-quality and sustainable economic growth, also taking into account external challenges and risks. We know about them, they are not limited to healthcare, but, unfortunately, there are economic factors as well.

I will now say something obvious, but still very important, even fundamental. A high rate of economic growth is the basic condition for successful social development, for new jobs, higher real household incomes, and consequently, for positive demographic changes, something Russia needs so much.

What do the latest statistics suggest? According to estimates, last year, Russia’s GDP growth was 1.3 percent, while in the fourth quarter, it accelerated to 2.3 percent.

The industrial production index, a key indicator, was also in the black at 2.4 percent last year; agricultural production added 4 percent, and retail is on the rise.





Inflation decreased to 3 percent in 2019, and now the annual inflation rate is 2.4 percent. Unemployment is at a stable low level – an average of 4.6 percent last year.

The accumulated reserves guarantee a proper safety margin for the Russian economy, its financial system. The National Welfare Fund exceeds $125 billion, with international reserves standing at $560 billion.

All these factors ensure our macroeconomic stability and reduce the national economy’s sensitivity to changes in the global environment.

As I said in my Address to the Federal Assembly, all this is extremely important. Sustainability, including that of the budget system, must, of course, be maintained. However – we have already spoken about this many times – this is not enough, and we need to build on this foundation to ensure further development, growth at the pace necessary for our economy.

In this regard, the main priority on our economic agenda is to launch a new investment cycle, to achieve annual investment growth of at least 5, and preferably 5–7 percent, so that next year economic growth rates will exceed global ones. I look forward to the joint partner work of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Bank of Russia.

In simple terms, each degree of investment growth means new jobs, modernised jobs, additional demand for qualified well-paid professionals, not only in big cities, but everywhere across the country. Today I would like to hear your thoughts on several matters.





First of all, what do we plan to do in the near future to improve the business and investment climate? We talk about this a lot. This has been on the agenda of our work in recent years, but these tasks need to be updated at every given moment, also through adopting the new legislation discussed in the Address.

Secondly, how is the Government planning to build its work with the regions in terms of attracting investment and creating sites for new productions and capacities, as well as the construction of facilities planned under national projects?

And finally, I would like to highlight this: all the declared social and investment plans must be fully funded.

There is nothing new here either. I would just like to hear your ideas on how we will get started with this work, where our starting point is and at what pace we will be achieving our goals.

Let’s get started.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62767






Final part of content published in the Putin: 20 years album: photos and videos covering the period from 2015 to 2019



February 13, 2020 - 15:15



Putin: 20 Years is an album of archival photographs and video footage, mainly from the President’s personal photographers and camera team. The album features selected events over a period of the past 20 years that Vladimir Putin has served as President and Prime Minister.

More than 3,500 photos and 300 videos are now available at 20.kremlin.ru/en.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62775






Meeting with the working group on drafting proposals for amendments to the Constitution



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the working group on drafting proposals for amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.



February 13, 2020 - 17:15 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region



The meeting brought together representatives of legislative and executive authorities, academic community, the arts, as well as prominent public figures.







President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

We met almost a month ago, and I know that the working group almost immediately got down to this, frankly speaking, difficult work.

As far as I understand, when you started, you faced a great response from the public – the number of submitted proposals for amendments has already exceeded 500, if I am not mistaken. This is surely a great challenge not only for the working group but for all of us, as we are working together on the Basic Law. That is what it is called – the Basic Law – in the Constitution because it forms the basis of our entire legal system and regulates all the basic and fundamental principles of our life.

It is extremely important here to double-check every word, every letter, and every comma. But at the same time, we should not omit what was created with great effort of our people and enshrined in the current Constitution; we should not lose anything but, on the contrary, we must meet today’s challenges. I am sure that today we will discuss some issues of precisely this nature, of this scale.

Here is what I mean. In 1993, it was impossible to enshrine certain things in the law, not only in the Basic Law, in the Constitution, but in any law whatsoever, because this simply did not exist. There was no internet then, and so on. This is the first point. Second, the country was not in the same condition as it is now.

It was difficult for us to formulate some things, especially those related to the country’s sovereignty or to the place of our country in the world. At that point we could not guarantee social guarantees, sorry for the tautology, because the economy was in such a state that any laws passed by parliament could not have any financial backing, so it was more or less pointless and moreover, it was even harmful.

Then we realised that it was simply harmful, because law was adopted clearly without any hope that it would be implemented. Because, when adopting the law, we already knew that there were no funds for its implementation. And then, of course, we could only state social guarantees in a general way. But now the situation is different. I mean the indexation of pensions, for example, or the minimum wage, and so on. It was then impossible to write it in the Basic Law. Now our economy is in a different state, so that we can, and if we can, then we must do it.

I understand that there are a lot of questions, and I am not going to distract you with some general phrases. Today we have a purely working meeting. I know that you travel a lot in the regions and work with the public in Moscow, and you are constantly in touch with professional communities. Therefore, we are having the second, but also absolutely working meeting. I am at your service. If there are any questions that you would like to raise at this second meeting, let us discuss them.

Thank you very much for your attention.





* * *

On work on the proposed amendments to the Constitution

Vladimir Putin:

As I have already said, more amendments are coming in. There are over 500 amendments. And, probably – not probably, definitely – we will not be able to include all of them in the Constitution. Is there a need for this? We must think this through, of course. But we must certainly not lose anything that is turned out by the working group.

What do I mean and how will we do this?

If there is no room for something in the Fundamental Law or it is pointless to include something in the Fundamental Law we should keep it and create several packages. One should be sent to the State Duma and the Federation Council; the second package should go to the regions, municipalities and the Government, of course, for it to use proposals made by the public and some NGOs within its various competencies so as to consider them in their work and in the adoption of the delegated legislation. All this should be analysed, in any case. It should never be shelved.





On a national vote

Vladimir Putin:

I will agree with everything the specialists suggest. Any legal system is a complicated organism with many parts and many areas: state legislation; constitutional law is a special branch in law and responsibility is very high. There should be no mistakes here. I will agree to what the specialists recommend. It is only important that everything we do strictly complies with current law and the current Fundamental Law.

I consider only one thing to be important, and I want to tell you about it and draw your attention to it. The adoption of a law on amendments is a relatively simple procedure – this law should be reviewed by the Duma, the Federation Council and the legislative assemblies of two thirds of the regions of the Russian Federation, which is fairly difficult but still a working procedure. However, considering the importance of the issues that we are submitting to a national vote and the significance of the changes we are introducing to the Fundamental Law, I believe that the people should take a direct part in adopting these decisions.

It does not matter to me what certain articles will say. But it is important to me that the law on amendments enter into force only after the results of a national vote are summed up, that this is a true plebiscite and that Russian citizens are the authors of these amendments to the Fundamental Law. This is what matters. The way you phrase them and where you put them and what executive order must be signed are all technical matters.

Importantly, citizens of the Russian Federation should record their authorship of the law. It will be as the people say. If the people reaffirm during the vote that they support the law, it will enter in force and amendments will be made to the Constitution. If they do not confirm their support for the law, there will be no amendments to the Constitution.

As for the voting day and those who should organise it, I fully agree: of course, nobody will do this except for the Central Election Commission. So I will sign this directive and we will issue it today or tomorrow.

We agreed that this should be done on a weekday. That is correct. It will be a weekday that will be proclaimed a day off. But this day off should not be taken from the New Year or May holidays. I would like to draw the Government’s attention to this.





On enshrining in the Constitution Russia’s status as the winning power in World War II

Vladimir Putin:

I have been speaking publicly about this a lot. Attempts to rewrite history are harmful and, of course, have certain implications. These attempts are designed for today and tomorrow, this is obvious.

Incidentally, such a broad social movement as the Immortal Regiment confirms your words to a great extent about how deep this is in the heart of our people, our gratitude to the winners and an understanding of the significance of what they did for us, for future generations. We should repeat this more often.

The archival documents, including the German ones, explicitly phrase the goals that the Nazis set themselves in relation to Russia: to keep a small part of the working population for labour, for slave labour, and all the rest would be sent to the Urals, to the north. A death sentence, in other words. It was about the elimination of the ethnic group as such.

We could have been eliminated. And we must never forget this. That is why we will always be grateful to those who gained this victory for us. Should this be noted in the Constitution? And if so, where? We need to think about it. The idea itself, of course, is a good one.





On amendments regarding the role and status of the family

Vladimir Putin:

Let me debate with you a bit, enter into polemics, if you wish.

As you said, a family is the union of a man and a woman. And if it is a single-parent family, then what? Some things need to be clarified. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. A family is something slightly different. But the idea itself is correct and must be supported. We just need to think about the wording and where to do it.

As for “parent number one,” and “parent number two,” I once spoke publicly and will repeat it: as long as I am President, we will have no “parent number one,” there will be a father and a mother.





On Russia’s nuclear status

Vladimir Putin:

As for the nuclear status, I am not sure this should be written into the Constitution because there is no question that we are a nuclear power today. What matters is for us to always be a step ahead with the latest arms systems. But these systems may not necessarily have to be nuclear. They could be weapons based on new physical principles, or maybe something different that would not be appropriate to discuss now but something our scientists and our industry are working on.

So the nuclear status is not forever. As one energy specialist used to say, the Stone Age ended not because people ran out of stones but because new technologies came along. The same applies to defence; probably, at some point nuclear arms will not be the most effective weapon or will become obsolete. Some experts abroad are working to make nuclear weapons pointless for their owners.

For example, the missile defence system that you know was designed with this goal in mind, notably, to deactivate our nuclear potential, to make it useless. But after we developed hypersonic weapons, their attempts to do this became pointless. Their expenses, which ran into billions, became a waste. This is true: this country should be a step ahead in defence, but I am simply not sure whether this should be written into the Constitution. Let me repeat: the nuclear status is very important today and will be important for a long time, but it will not be forever.





* * *

Vladimir Putin:

I suggest finishing our meeting at this point. I would like to thank you. As is clear from our discussion, there are issues that require additional review. This is obvious. There are also issues that should be laid out more precisely rather than discussed.

But one thing is clear and, honestly, I am grateful to you for what was said. Life has changed and it requires a certain response, in the Constitution as well. This is an obvious fact in terms of technology, the general state of our society, the financial potential of our state and our status. What we are doing now is correct and it should be designed for the long term.

It is also obvious that the Constitution is the Fundamental Law, but this is not a simple law. It is largely of a political and even a moral and ethical character. Therefore, despite any criticism from the outside, it is important to make sure all social strata and professional communities are represented. If Denis Matsuyev is a brilliant performer and some people write about this, they do it only because they are envious of his talent. But he knows what his colleagues think of. Just like our wonderful children’s doctor knows what physicians think, how they live and what they expect from the state. Representatives of public and youth organisations are also aware of their issues. So, the presence of each of you is important.

Yes, probably not everything will be included in the Fundamental Law but it is extremely important to think about the problems you raise and, whenever possible, to reflect them in the Fundamental Law, because in the final analysis this is what will unite the country.

Thank you very much.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62776






Meeting with Vladislav Shapsha



Vladimir Putin met with Vladislav Shapsha who was appointed Acting Governor of the Kaluga Region.

February 13, 2020 - 19:00 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region











The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62778






Meeting with Security Council permanent members



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.



February 14, 2020 - 14:50 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The meeting participants exchanged views on the tensions around the Syrian province of Idlib caused by the activity of terrorist groups.








They also discussed the spread of the coronavirus and its impact on the global economy.








The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62789






Telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky at the initiative of the Ukrainian side. The presidents discussed various aspects of settling Ukraine’s domestic conflict.



February 14, 2020 - 17:50



The President of Russia emphasized the importance of the complete and unconditional implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures and the decisions made at the Normandy format summits, including the one in Paris on December 9, 2019.

In the context of certain statements made by some Ukrainian authorities, Vladimir Putin put the question bluntly – does Kiev intend to fulfil the Minsk agreements in practice?

The presidents also discussed issues of maintaining a steady ceasefire, further disengagement of forces and weapons from the line of contact and mine clearing.

The leaders expressed a willingness to continue releasing and exchanging the detainees involved in the conflict.

In the context of the forthcoming 75th anniversary of the Great Victory the Russian President emphasized the contribution of all Soviet peoples to the Victory over Nazi Germany and noted that distorting the historical truths about the events of WWII was unacceptable.

In addition, Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over the death of Ukrainian citizens in a traffic accident in Pskov Region on February 13.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62792






Meeting with United Russia party faction leader Sergei Neverov



Vladimir Putin had a meeting with head of the United Russia party faction in the State Duma Sergei Neverov to discuss the current aspects of law-making activities in the country’s largest political party.



February 18, 2020 - 14:40 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region







It was another working meeting in a series of regular meetings held with heads of party factions in parliament.

The President pointed out that the United Russia party faction, the largest in the State Duma, was doing a lot to ensure the country’s stable and forward-looking development.





Sergei Neverov updated the President on participation of faction members in meetings with voters held in the regions to discuss amendments to the Constitution. He added that the members of all party factions were preparing their own proposals.

In this context, he asked Vladimir Putin to hold a meeting with four party faction leaders to discuss this subject and their proposals. Mr Neverov said that all party factions were discussing their proposals at the working group set up at the State Duma. The President said he would hold such a meeting in the near future.





Vladimir Putin and Sergei Neverov also discussed a number of practical matters, for example, the indexation of pensions and the lifting of the bank commission from housing and utility payments.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62812






Vladislav Surkov relieved of his duties as Presidential Aide



Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Vladislav Surkov.



February 18, 2020 - 19:30





The Executive Order relieves Vladislav Surkov of his duties as Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.




The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62818
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
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