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Old July 15th, 2017 #521
Alex Him
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Congratulation to Khaltmaa Battulga on his election as President of Mongolia



Vladimir Putin congratulated Khaltmaa Battulga on his election as President of Mongolia.



July 8, 2017 - 17:40



In his message of congratulations, the President of Russia stressed the traditionally friendly and neighbourly relations between Russia and Mongolia and expressed an interest in further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas in the interests of the two countries’ peoples.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55018






Telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the initiative of the Venezuelan side.



July 10, 2017 - 20:50



The presidents exchanged views on a number of practical issues of Russian-Venezuelan cooperation, in particular, the implementation of mutually beneficial joint projects in the fuel and energy sector.

Mr Maduro informed Mr Putin on the Venezuelan government's efforts to normalise the domestic political situation in the country.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55031






Telephone conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the Jordanian side’s initiative.



July 13, 2017 - 21:50



The discussion focused on current situation in the Middle East, primarily in the context of the common efforts to fight international terrorism. Special mention was made of the importance of the memorandum on the creation of a de-escalation zone in southwest Syria, signed by Russia, Jordan and the United States in Amman on July 7, 2017, with the intention of further working toward ceasefire in other regions of the Syrian Arab Republic as well.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55045






Greetings to President of France Emmanuel Macron on Bastille Day



Vladimir Putin congratulated President of France Emmanuel Macron on the French national holiday, Bastille Day.



July 14, 2017 - 10:00



“Relations between Russia and France date back centuries, as we were reminded when we opened together the exhibition at the Versailles Palace to mark 300 years since the visit by Emperor Peter the Great to France. Historical events of this kind are indicative of the special nature of relations between our countries and of mutual respect and sympathy between our people,” the Russian President wrote in his message.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55047
__________________
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 July 15th, 2017 #522
Alex Him
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Vladimir Putin visited Valaam



The President visited the Transfiguration of the Saviour Patriarchal Monastery on Valaam on the day celebrating the memory of Saints Sergius and German, the Valaam Miracle Workers.



July 11, 2017 - 14:00 - Karelia







Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attended a service celebrating the memory of Saints Sergius and German. They continued their conversation after the service.







The Transfiguration of the Saviour Patriarchal Monastery on Valaam is among the most highly respected in Russia. Every year, over 100,000 pilgrims and tourists visit this monastery located on Valaam Island in the north of Lake Ladoga.









The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55033






Visit to Konevsky Monastery



July 13, 2017 - 20:55 - Leningrad Region







During his visit to Konevets Island on Lake Ladoga, Vladimir Putin was briefed on the large-scale project to restore the Konevsky Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery and met with representatives of the Vyborg Diocese.

In particular, Father Sergius told the President about the activity of the drug rehabilitation centre he established several years ago, which accepts not only Russians but also citizens of other countries.







Previously, the centre worked in close contact with the Federal Drug Control Service (the service was abolished in accordance with the Presidential Executive Order of April 5, 2016, which transferred its functions to the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Drug Control). Members of the clergy asked the President to help establish cooperation with the agency following its reorganisation.







Vladimir Putin discussed the matter over the phone with Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and issued the necessary instructions, emphasising the great importance of rehabilitating addicts and fighting drug addiction, as well as the importance of cooperation between NGOs and the ministry in this context.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55046
__________________
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 July 21st, 2017 #523
Alex Him
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Tour of school construction site in Belgorod



Vladimir Putin visited the construction site of a secondary school as part of his working trip to Belgorod Region, and met with members of a student construction brigade.



July 14, 2017 - 17:15 - Belgorod







Taking part in the construction of a secondary school in Belgorod’s new residential district is a student construction brigade of 40 people, who are carrying out finishing work and landscaping.

Construction started in November 2016 and is to finish by November 1, 2017. The school will have two swimming pools, a media library, an assembly hall and language rooms.

More than 1,500 people have joined student construction brigades in Belgorod Region. These students have taken part in building railway infrastructure for the Crimea Bridge, facilities of the Vostochny Space Launch Centre, the M11 federal motorway, and the Leningrad 2 and Belarusian nuclear power plants.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55051






Visit to Lebedinsky GOK



On the eve of Steelworker Day, Vladimir Putin visited the Lebedinsky GOK ore dressing plant that is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and watched the launch of the third sponge iron production shop.



July 14, 2017 - 19:30 - Gubkin







The President visited the viewing platform of Lebedinsky GOK, learned about the production process and observed the launch of the new shop via video link in the presence of the heads of the plant and the region.

Lebedinsky GOK is Russia’s and the CIS’s largest enterprise for the extraction and enrichment of iron ore and the production of high-quality iron ore raw materials and metal resources.

The plant is the only producer of sponge iron in Russia and the CIS It is developing an iron ore deposit by open-pit mining. The deposit’s confirmed reserves amount to 3.9 billion tonnes.

The first shop for the production of sponge iron reached its design capacity in 2001. The second shop was launched in 2007. Construction and assembly work started in 2014 on the third shop with a capacity of up to 1.8 million tonnes a year.

Sponge iron is used in the production of steel. Its distinctive feature is a low content of harmful admixtures and stable homogeneity of the chemical composition.

The President also met with plant workers.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

All I wanted to say is greetings on your double or rather a triple celebration.

The first is the launch of a new modern and very efficient facility. It expands the opportunities of your plant and consolidates its leading positions in the world market.

Secondly, I would like to congratulate you on the 50th anniversary of your plant. This is also a great holiday.

And, thirdly, I would like to congratulate you and all of your colleagues on the approaching holiday, Steelworker Day. I wish you all the best!

We could end our meeting at this point, but since we are having this meeting, I will be happy to talk to you and answer the questions that you are bound to have, if I can answer them, of course.

If not, I will ask for help from your Governor, the Minister [Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov] and the director of your plant.

So, the more questions you address to them the better for all of us because they will do a more competent job. That said, I will also do my best.

Let us begin.



Angelina Morozova:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Angelina Morozova. I work in the administrative department of Lebedinsky GOK.

First, on behalf of our staff I would like to thank you for finding the time to come here for such a wonderful, triple celebration, as you said. For us it is a great honour and source of pride to welcome you here. I would like to use this amazing opportunity to get advice from the head of state himself. Here is my question:

What key qualities should a modern leader have in our age of rapid development of science, technology and IT?



Vladimir Putin:

Decency. Everything else is built on that. But without it, if this basis does not exist, everything else is pointless.

Naturally, this is not enough. Professional qualities and up-to-date knowledge are also essential. So, second is the ability to constantly learn, to learn from those who are better than you in some respects, and there are many people like that.



Yevgeny Gerasimenko:

Good afternoon, Mr President. I am Yevgeny Gerasimenko, chief engineer of the second ore-dressing shop at the plant.

This is my question. Many Western and other foreign automobile concerns have set up production in this country. Yet they are supplying their facilities with their own components and spare parts. I would like to know when we would have here at home not only assembly shops but also shops producing components and spare parts for these vehicles. We have a rich raw materials basis.



Vladimir Putin:

Look, we launched a programme to develop the automobile industry in 2005. It was started by the predecessor of the current Minister, Viktor Khristenko, and his colleagues, of course. On the whole, this programme is doing well.

From the very start, we raised the issue of not just assembly, but significant localisation of production. It is clear what localisation is – production of the main components on our territory. And we had a complicated negotiating process with our partners. I was very actively involved in it at different stages. In general, we came to terms. This was one of the obstacles in the way of our accession to the WTO at the negotiations with the European Union.

Why? Because they insisted on us being simply an assembly line for foreign cars. Firstly, we argued that this was unacceptable for us because the training of our personnel and our economic capabilities were at a fairly high level.

Secondly, if we are talking about significant localisation – up to 50, 60 or 70 percent, our partners will be none the worse off. They will supply components anyway. In fact, this is what is happening.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we are also negotiating on the domestic manufacturing of components. While domestic manufacturing in the automobile industry amounted to about 55 percent in 2015, it reached an average of 60 percent in 2016. This is a very high level of localisation.

Auto parts are also manufactured by specialised companies throughout the world: by an Austrian-Canadian company, by Asian and American companies. There are not many of them, actually one could count them on the fingers of one hand. But even with them we negotiate localisation from the outset. And many of them agree and launch manufacturing on the territory of the Russian Federation.

We want domestic manufacturing of components to go from 30–35 to 45 percent on average, and even now, 35 to 75 percent of some components are manufactured domestically. We will keep moving in this direction. So we are on the same side.

The process is complicated because partners always prefer to manufacture at home and then send it somewhere else for assembly. But Russia is a different country, we have a different competence level. And the experience of the past years proves that what we did was right. Nobody is losing out.

But I understand what you are saying. For metalworkers this is indeed a very significant factor – supporting the market. I may be wrong, but I believe about 23 percent of metal production goes to the automobile industry. So it is a big factor.







Viktor Rasskazov:

Good afternoon, Mr President. Viktor Rasskazov, head of the production and analytical department, Lebedinsky GOK

As you have already mentioned, in accordance with the 10-year programme for developing and revamping our production facilities, we introduced another HBI module, which made us the world’s largest HBI producer. However, the Government, as we can see, is gradually switching to three-year planning.

Last year, a seven-year plan until 2025 was outlined. However, for us, three or seven years is not a very long horizon. How do you see the prospects for our industry and other branches of the national economy over a longer period, say 20 to 30 years?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, we are trying to think in terms of 20 to 30 years, but it is quite difficult given the large number of unpredictable circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, the metallurgical industry was overdeveloped internationally. The rapid development of metallurgical enterprises, say, in China, has led to obvious results. The peak of consumption in our country was in 2015, and then fell a little.

Still I believe that we will retain the need… I am referring to our long-term economic development plans, where our consumption will still be at a level of, maybe, 2015, at about 2.5 million tonnes. This is enough to make production plans for a fairly long period.

Planning for 20 to 30 years is probably a more challenging task. Currently, we are trying to create a strategy for the development of the Russian economy to 2025 or 2030. A planning horizon like that is quite feasible.

This is true of the civilian and the defence industries. Therefore, I believe that this volume of 2.5 million tonnes will remain unchanged over the next few years, which is more than in 2014, 2013, or 2012. This is a fairly large amount which guarantees the stable operation of the industry.



Elina Mishustina:

Good afternoon, Mr President! My name is Elina Mishustina, and I am the head of LebGOK-Zdorovye, a Lebedinsky GOK subsidiary.

Like many healthcare administrators, I am delighted with the current positive trends in medicine. The reform being carried out in healthcare has made it possible to build new up-to-date medical centres providing specialised aid, to supply cutting edge equipment to many medical institutions, including in small towns around the Russian Federation, and to improve the quality of medical services. Nevertheless, the personnel issue in healthcare remains an urgent one, especially here, on the periphery.



Vladimir Putin:

You have a very good, reliable periphery here.



Elina Mishustina:

Reliable, yes. Nevertheless all those support and recruitment programmes for young employees implemented at the regional level have produced meagre results. In the past, in the education system, students of medical universities were provided with jobs, particularly in small towns and rural areas.

Could you tell me please if there are perhaps any solutions in the works at the federal level, such as making it obligatory for students to take on an assigned job for a number of years after graduating from medical universities?



Vladimir Putin:

Such administrative methods as job placement at certain medical institutions following graduation from university are still being discussed. No final decisions have been made yet, but the discussions are ongoing.

There is something that can already be used. What is that? Certain companies and institutions could act as sponsors for students who are then trained specifically for employment at those organisations. The number of such students is growing. Therefore, a certain number of positions can be reserved at universities for municipalities, regions or even large industrial enterprises, which then employ those graduates, students and specialists trained for them.

This would mean that those graduates have an obligation to work for a certain amount of time at the companies that have funded their education. Such a possibility already exists.

As for what is happening in the regions, there has been some progress but there is still a lot that needs to be done. We cannot say that all issues have been resolved. That would not be true. However, you have probably heard of the Country Doctor programme that has been implemented since 2012.

We conceived this programme in 2012, right after a meeting with the medical community. This programme has been developing quite well. I can inform those who are not familiar with the programme: young doctors get a one-off payment of one million rubles if they come to work in rural areas or small towns, or urban-type settlements. And the number of medical personnel, the number of specialists in such towns has greatly increased thanks to the inflow of specialists under the age of 36. However, that is definitely not enough.

I am sure you have enough issues here, but the practice your Governor has developed and applied is good. He told me today how everything is divided into medical districts, and specialists are assigned to specific districts. That makes around 1,500 people in each district, am I right?

A family physician is assigned to each district. This doctor working with each of these 1,500 patients is able, first of all, to monitor the health of each person. Secondly, he or she can refer patients to specialists whenever necessary. This is very good practice. Mr Savchenko, you should consider speaking to our colleagues at a State Council presidium meeting. Just tell them how this is works.

Moreover, you have your own university here. Municipalities and regions have the opportunity to sponsor students at relevant higher education institutions, including federal universities and Healthcare Ministry universities. I cannot remember now, but several dozen places at Healthcare Ministry universities are reserved for Belgorod Region – around 40, I believe.



Gennady Polyakov:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Gennady Polyakov, and I work at the Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant (OEMK).

You met with Donald Trump recently. It would be interesting to hear your impression of him as a person.



Vladimir Putin:

I would tell you more if there were no journalists here. (Laughter) But since we are not alone here…

You know, what I can say for sure (I think I already said that at a news conference in Germany), is that he is quite an open person and he is very different from the TV image that he created during the election campaign. However, there is nothing unusual here, since the election campaign is not something you judge a person by. An election campaign requires a special mind-set and behaviour.

What I also noticed and could share with you – this is no secret, and it surprised me a little, I did not expect this and I believe it is very important for a person who has a public profile, a politician – he has the ability to listen. At least, this is what our conversation was like.

I do not know what he is like with the other people he talks to, but during our conversation I listened to him with attention as well, when he set out his ideas and proposals on developing cooperation, and he did the same. You know, this is something that does not happen all the time. For a person who works with people, who is involved in in politics, I reiterate, this is a vitally important ability – to be able to listen and to respond and communicate promptly.

You have substantial experience, I believe. There are some people who only hear themselves, whatever you tell them – it is like a buzz in the background for them… You are talking to them, but they are not listening at all.

The current US President is different: he responds to what his interlocutor says, to the arguments, and responds to them. Even if he does not like something or does not agree with something, he asks questions and responds to arguments. This is very important. I believe this is a positive quality.

And if this dialogue between us continues in this way on the interpersonal level, as you said, there is reason to hope that our communication will further develop.







Andrei Gerasimov:

Good afternoon, Mr President. I am Andrei Gerasimov, head of the HR Management Division.

We all see the rapidly developing progress. We file reports electronically, and there is a state services portal. In the past, when a person retired, he or she had to submit a work book to the authorities as a document confirming their employment history; now the Pension Fund has all the information it requires. Next year the work book will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, so maybe it is time to pension it off as well?



Vladimir Putin:

This is an area that requires special attention and it is very important for people to understand what is going on. Most people are used to work books; they are used to having documents in paper form. And no matter how fast technologies develop, and they need to develop fast, it is important to help people adapt to these technologies. If we see and realise that many people are struggling with this for a variety of reasons, such as different experience, education and so forth, it is the government’s duty to ensure access for each individual to the base that is vitally, critically important for him or her. Pensions are one of such areas.

Of course, we will need to gradually transition to electronic documents. You may know that the Electronic Government programme has been under development for a long time, but it has yet to be finalised. Almost every agency will have its own databases, and we will need to put it all together, integrate them and move forward.

I would like say that we have a national personality trait: we always compare Russian products with those manufactured abroad and we always draw conclusions that are not in our favour. However, there are areas where we are definitely moving forward even faster than many of our partners. The volume of electronic services provided in Russia to the public is much higher than in many countries. We are definitely at the same level as developed economies, and in some fields, we are ahead of them.

Naturally, everything is linked to the metallurgical industry, including space. For example, several years ago we launched the GLONASS programme, this is a global navigation system, and we started it together with some partners from other countries, including the European Union. Today it is operating in Russia, but not in the EU, they have not set it up yet. And these are the most advanced technologies, the most up-to-date and the most promising ones. The same can be said of electronic government.

We are definitely in the forefront in this field. But we must not stop. Once we stop – that is it, it would mean that we start falling behind. We must treat this area with great attention. We will be gradually moving towards electronic documents, including where it comes to pensions.

It is vitally important that nothing gets lost or deleted in this area. This is crucial. There are big advantages of electronic documents with regard to this system.



Vadim Yurygin:

Good afternoon again, Mr Presdient. My name is Vadim Yurygin, and I am head of the technical department of the mine administration.

We know that a programme for relocating residents of dilapidated housing is underway in our country. We have had many old buildings demolished in the city with new good houses built instead. But as far as I know, the programme is approaching its end. Are there plans to extend the programme or to launch a new one in the same sector?



Vladimir Putin:

We have extended it. The state has allocated 300 billion rubles for relocation of old housing residents in the past years. I have said a number of times and I can reiterate that the programme began, unfortunately, with a scandalous situation connected with an infamous oil company.

When the company was found guilty of tax evasion, the budget received new funds and we started this relocation programme. Let me repeat, the state has already allocated additional 300 billion for this purpose. It is done on a co-financing basis.

Here in Belgorod Region, it has been practically completed, almost 100 percent complete. What is the number, Mr Savchenko? Over 90 percent?



Belgorod Region Governor Yevgeny Savchenko:

That is right, Mr President, we will complete the programme on September 1. However, earlier we raised the issue of extending the programme for housing that was classified as dilapidated after 2012.



Vladimir Putin:

I take it you are working in tandem. Now it is clear.

We have extended the programme for one more year. There are indeed some restrictions the Governor mentioned, which have to do with the cut-off date. We have a lot of dilapidated housing, unfortunately, 2.4 percent of hazardous and dilapidated housing. Actually, it is not quite clear what dilapidated means; the definition has not been clearly established. But the volume of dilapidated housing exceeds that of hazardous housing threefold, amounting to 66 million, whereas hazardous housing amounts to about 22 million square metres. For that reason, we should first solve the problem with hazardous housing. Why? Because hazardous means unfit for living under law. One just cannot live there, it is dangerous. This is why we will act first by solving the issue of resettling residents of hazardous housing.

I very much hope that all the regular maintenance and major repairs will be conducted in a timely manner, both in Belgorod Region and in other regions of the Russian Federation, so that the number of dilapidated and hazardous houses does not increase.

Otherwise, the heads of the Russian regions will keep on raising the issue that we need to extend it again, and again, and again. It will be done by those who do not conduct major repairs and regular maintenance.

We had numerous working discussions of the issue. But one thing is absolutely clear – we should take people out of barracks and living conditions unworthy for people. We will keep doing that.



Yevgeny Zaidulin:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Yevgeny Zaidulin. At present IT technologies are booming, different work processes are automated in our company, and I myself take some part in that. A question follows: will machines replace humans in the future? And what is to be done next?



Vladimir Putin:

They are already replacing them…

You see, it has always been like that. Let us recall the work-to-rule strikes, which were invented, I think, in the UK during the technological revolution. They did everything according to rules, and labour productivity plummeted immediately.

There were different movements that fought against the introduction of machinery that was modern at the time because when workers were removed, people remained in the street without jobs. Since we know about it, and we know the entire history of humankind, not just of our country, all we have to do is think it through beforehand.

We must be aware from the onset about how, where, when and according to which rules we will do retraining and what funds will be spent on this. We have been talking about that for a few years already.

You may remember that we spoke about the need to create 25 million new jobs. It had to do with the awareness that as new technologies are introduced, hands will be released. But if we do not think beforehand about where and how people will be working, then we are going to have problems.

Meanwhile, if we think about it beforehand, develop programmes and introduce them systematically, not by fits and starts, then people will be gaining much more from that than they have now, and the country will be developing faster. It is impossible to move forward without this.

Technologies will be introduced anyway, you cannot escape it. We will have to do that; we will be forced to do it. However, we have to consider right now, how social issues will be resolved. We are drafting certain programmes, including development programmes, development strategies for the coming 10 to 15 years. This is one of the key tasks of all the development strategies proposed by different groups, strategies proposed for implementation after 2018.



Vladimir Kovtun:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Vladimir Kovtun. I come from Donbass, and so I cannot avoid the topic of Ukraine, my heart is bleeding as the situation there is getting worse. How long will it last, and what is your vision of a settlement to the situation?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, this is a rhetorical question, of course, about how long it will last. Our people are very patient. When I say “our” I mean both Russia and Ukraine.

You know my position; I spoke about it a number of times. I believe that we are one nation with practically no differences. There are some cultural differences, and the linguistic colouring is a little different. As for me, for instance, the identity of the Ukrainian people’s culture is worth a lot. It is a very rich culture. But in essence, on the whole, we are one people, and a very patient one.

I cannot say how long this situation will go on in Ukraine, bit it is definitely deteriorating. You know that. The country’s GDP compared to what it was, say, under President Yanukovych, has fallen by over a third in the past years. Peoples’ incomes plunged while costs rose. How much lower are incomes in Kharkov compared to Belgorod Region, for example?



Yevgeny Savchenko:

Two times lower.



Vladimir Putin:

Kharkov is a rich city. Most of the country’s wealth nowadays is generated in large cities all over the world. And Kharkov is a very large industrial and research centre, but you see that the situation there is much worse than in Belgorod. Even though during the Soviet times Belgorod used to be a much more modest city and region. Meanwhile, you see that the development here is very significant, very noticeable.

How long will all that last there? I do not know. It depends on the people living there, on how long they will tolerate it. But I really hope that it will be over one day, and this time, with God’s help, it will be over without blood in the course of democratic processes and the restoration of our natural ties.

After our economic ties with Ukraine were severed, it was Ukraine that suffered most. I have already given some examples, say, with aircraft engines, helicopter engines. I would like to remind you that all Russian helicopters, absolutely all of them, both military and civilian ones, were equipped with Ukrainian-made engines manufactured by Motor Sich.

They stopped delivering engines to us; they thought we would be in trouble. We have already launched two plants in St Petersburg, all complete, using a new technological basis, a modern one. Where are they going to sell their goods? I do not know. Who wants engines for the Mi helicopters? Nobody does.

The same goes for engines for the Navy. Cooperation within the USSR was arranged in such a way that the former RSFR did not manufacture any marine engines – we just did not produce them. It was not only a special kind of manufacturing, but a special branch of science, knowledge and production, and Russia did not have it. This equipment was delivered to us by Zorya-Mashproekt, a plant outside Nikolayev.

Well, they stopped deliveries. We had certain difficulties, and many of my colleagues wanted to purchase engines in other countries, including for the state defence procurement order, and there was such a possibility.

I can tell you that I made a different decision, I said, let us not hurry. We will delay the Navy re-equipment. That is, we will take longer to do it, but will make our own engines. You may have noticed that a new branch of science and a new industry appeared in Russia: we made this engine, and the whole production chain as well. Both for small vessels and for large ships, all that has appeared in Russia, a new engine has appeared. Now the equipment of ships with engines will begin. Actually, we have even acquired a new competence.

Are you from Donetsk?



Vladimir Kovtun:

From Gorlovka.



Vladimir Putin:

You know that a great many boys and girls, men and women from large Ukrainian enterprises have moved to Russia. They are very good top-level specialists, the world level actually, they are working with us, and God give them good health.

Yet we would like to restore cooperation as a whole, not everything has been lost there. It would certainly benefit both the Ukrainian economy and the Russian economy since after the signing of the notorious association agreement Ukraine’s trade volumes fell, both trade with Russia and the European Union.

There are practically no efficiently operating industries left except agriculture. However, if they start selling Ukrainian black soil, and will allow GMO products, if they contaminate (there is such a term) Ukrainian black soil, do you understand? Then they will no longer have it either. That is why the sooner we restore normal relations, industrial and economic ties, the better it will be for both Russia and Ukraine.



Denis Azinov:

Mr President, good afternoon. I am Denis Azinov, Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant.

Mr President, Russia is one of the world’s leading oil producers. But in the past years there has been a tendency for the world oil prices to fall whereas petrol prices in Russia are still going up. Why is this happening and what can be done about it?



Vladimir Putin:

This has to do with a number of factors. The price is determined, among other things, by external markets. As we have a free market, we cannot keep our prices lower than those in neighbouring countries. Otherwise, we will have to set up a new iron curtain.

Petrol is cheaper than in many neighbouring countries anyway, and it is carried across the borders, there is a real flow of petrol running there. This is the reason why we have to keep prices at a certain level if we do not want it all carried away.

This problem is solved in a different way, not by suppressing fuel prices but rather by raising people’s living standards and incomes. This is the way to go. In some countries, let us say, in gas producing countries, they keep gas prices very low. But this is a totally upside-down economy.

They have long been aware that they should act in a different way, yet they cannot make this step to balance the economy because it entails a whole chain of consequences including social ones.

That is why we should never let producers, traders and middlemen raise the prices too much; it is quite obvious that the prices should be economically logical. But it is ultimately not economically sound and even hazardous to keep them at an artificially low level.

However, we still try to keep those prices lower for certain consumers at certain periods of time, such as agricultural producers during the sowing and harvesting seasons. Here the Government works out a number of support mechanisms, agreements with producers, middlemen, and sellers, and we manage to do it overall. This is how we will gradually be able to meet both the demands of consumers and the interests of producers.



Yekaterina Rogova:

Catering company, occupational safety engineer Yekaterina Rogova.

Good afternoon, Mr President. Recently the documentary Putin was released. The film is full of private emotional moments where you speak about your grandchildren, and moments in the church. Or consider the episode where you…



Vladimir Putin:

Do you mean the American film?



Yekaterina Rogova:

Yes. Even if we consider the episode where you give the horse a carrot, on cannot but feel sentimental, it is great.

This immediately brings about a question. I would like to ask about your first-hand impressions, your emotions from participating in that project. And Mr President, will there be a follow-up, like with The Three Musketeers: Twenty Years Later? (Laughter)



Vladimir Putin:

Where is the culprit mister-comrade-master Peskov? Must have dashed out, he is not here. But it was he who talked me into it. And my first reaction was, why? who needs it? Everybody knows everything anyway; I do not even know what I am going to say. But he said, “Nevertheless, there is this director, he is very famous, he even got an Oscar, he is a talented person, and he will tell this story to the Americans, a broad US audience. Because, ultimately, this will not be so much about you as about the country.

And it is important that an American viewer should learn about Russia as much as possible and from you directly. I had a second question to ask, how objectively was he going to convey what I will be telling him, will he cut things out or comment or distort. He said, “I cannot guarantee it, but he is basically a very decent person, a good journalist.” And so I agreed.

You know, I did not view it as a project. You said ‘project’. I want to make it clear how it was done. So, the Executive Office staff, in particular, my press secretary, would come up to me and say, “The team is coming tomorrow, we found several minutes, an hour to meet them.” And I would say all right.

I would occasionally forget that they were supposed to come. They would tell me “They are waiting.” I would come out to them and begin speaking. Then I would leave and immediately forget about them. So it is not the way they usually make a film, with a set, the other things, questions. In addition, the director was the kind of person who does not prepare you for anything, he just comes and asks his questions.

I should give him credit, though; from what I saw…I did not see the complete film. I am going to reveal a secret to you: I watched this film on my way home from a trip abroad, aboard an airplane. But as I had not got enough sleep there, I fell asleep on the plane as I was watching, so I did not see it to the end. But I will definitely watch it. Actually, judging by reviews, everything is fairly objective there, and no sequel is being considered.



Ivan Lapchenko:

Good afternoon, Mr President! My name is Ivan Lapchenko, [I work at] an HBI (hot-briquetted iron) plant. I would like to use this occasion to ask you two questions. They might not let me do it later.



Vladimir Putin:

Who?



Ivan Lapchenko:

They will take the microphone and will not let me ask.

First questions. There are a lot of historians and non-historians who mangle our history, and apply lots of pressure. A lot of versions. And I would like to know whether the state will fight for our history until the end? Maybe it is worth thinking up some special measures, tools? Can we be sure than next generations will know the truth about war, about Victory, about everything?

And the second question. Setting aside all distractions, and without going into any details, do we have any confidence in tomorrow? That’s it. Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

The second part: is it a question or a statement? (Laughter.) Do you have confidence in tomorrow, I mean you?

No. Seriously, jokes aside, I want to know your feelings. Now you know that I am not kidding, I am asking you seriously, about your inner feelings – are you confident, is there any hope inside?



Ivan Lapchenko:

There is, because everything I do today is for a bright tomorrow.



Vladimir Putin:

And the more people we have like you who are doing something, who are involved in specific production, who work with their hands and heads, who talk like you, the more confidence we will have that Russia’s victory is inevitable. (Applause.)

As for various perversions of our history. You know that it has almost always been like that over the course of our history. Why? Because as Alexander III said once, everyone is afraid of our hugeness, because there are only two allies – our army and navy. But this method of challenging Russia has always been used.

Take for example the famous legend that Ivan the Terrible killed his son. It remains unknown in fact whether he really killed his son or not. Many researchers believe that he did not kill anyone at all and that the Pope’s nuncio made it up when he visited Russia for talks with Ivan IV and tried to turn the Orthodox Rus into a Catholic Rus.

And when Ivan IV refused different legends and so forth emerged. He was made Ivan the Terrible, an extremely violent individual. Although, if one examines other countries in this period of time, everything was the same everywhere. It was quite a violent time. I do not want to say that Ivan the Terrible was an angel, he must have been a very tough individual.

But I am talking about something else, about what you said, about the fact that this is a method of fighting our country, this is a competitive struggle that is always ongoing in the world, constantly. And as soon as any rival emerges, all other participants in the process start thinking: no, wait, we have to hold him back. Well, it has always been like this.

We spoke about your metallurgical industry. Since 2000, Russia has invested four trillion rubles in the development of a metallurgical industry. We have ferrous, nonferrous metallurgy. When I came there the first time I thought I was standing in a hospital room. Now that’s high technology.

As soon as the other manufactures saw direct competition, 17 so-called antidumping investigations, and eventually a total of 30, were opened. And what is this? It is a tool to fight you. A tool of fighting you by whom? Your rivals. And the same things are happening in the world, in the global arena.

Russia is becoming more stable, getting stronger – see, getting too strong in fact, we need to put some pressure on it. All kinds of insinuations start emerging, including different perversions of history. If we have always been that bad in their eyes, then what is there to talk about with such people?

And this tool will continue to be used. One cannot neglect this fact. One must not lose his head over this. It just needs to be treated as part of the job. We need to be exact and persistent in clearly demonstrating our own position.

If we do this, if we pay the necessary attention to this, then all attempts to either pervert something or use it against us will be doomed from the start. There are some absolutely obvious things. We just need to talk about them.

Ask the Japanese who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Practically every third person will say that is was the Soviet Union. This is nonsense! But it is so! Ask who made the greatest contribution in the victory over Nazism. Westerners will definitely say: the United State or the United Kingdom.

Around 350,000 people died in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. During the First World War about 1.2 million people died, I believe. And in the Second World War −350,000−400,000. Americans sustained bigger casualties, 550,000 people died, I believe. Russia lost 27 million people! Wehrmacht’s main forces was concentrated in our country.

The Prokhorovskoye field is not far from here. We all know what Prokhorovka is but few people in the world have heard about this. We need to speak out, speak out and not be shy. And not for, I would like to beg your pardon for my mauvais ton − this should not be said in front of cameras, not for thumping our chest about how great we are, no.

But just to show the real role of our country in the global processes, show that we are not going to argue, quarrel, wage war against anyone; we are proceeding from the fact that we will also be taken seriously, our lawful interests taken into account and our lawful rights respected.

The biggest country in the world, in terms of area. Not as densely populated as India or China with 1.5 billion people, but 146 million is still a good number for a population. You understand we simply cannot allow our interests not to be taken into account. We are going to defend them but with lawful, civilised ways and methods. And for this, of course, we need to provide the world with information about us, including about the country’s history, impartially, you are right.



Dmitry Koronov:

Good evening, Mr President! Dmitry Koronov, shop floor manager, enrichment factory, Lebedinsky GOK.

People say that dreams come true. But I could never have imagined that I would be having a conversation with you right now. I always believed in a democratic Russia and now my words, my conversation with you is an amazing testament to this – including the freedom of speech; I did not prepare a speech, I did not prepare a single question.

I learnt that I would be here and the Metalloinvest Director General told us, gathered us here in advance, said that we can ask any questions on any topics, there are absolutely no restrictions at all. By taking the occasion, I would prefer not to just to say empty words, but words coming from my heart and soul. I would simply like to thank you.

Luckily, Yevgeny Savchenko, Oleg Mikhailov [Lebedinsky GOK managing director], are gathered here. I would like to thank Mr Savchenko. I am a native of the Belgorod Region, city of Gubkin, born and raised here. I would like to thank him that over the course of time, over the course of my growth, every year some kind of project is carried out. To clean our courtyards, improve the landscaping of our territories, repair kindergartens and schools, sport complexes. All of this has been done and you are aware of it.

But I would like whole of Russia to know it. I would like to thank Mr Mikhailov not just for the fact that favorable conditions were created for workers of our industry, metallurgists. In the Soviet era there were rooms for releasing emotions, so to speak, red corners and so forth. Now, in the Lebedinsky GOK, in the enrichment factory, a church-chapel in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara has been built. She is the patroness of mine workers. I work there and I try to visit the chapel during each shift, on my routine breaks.

I like being there, and I am not the only one, and to speak with God once again, I am an Orthodox Christian. And I would like to thank Mr Mikhailov for this. For the fact that there is not only production works, processing of iron ore here, but for giving workers a chance to emotionally unload and relax, to get our minds off our hard work, because it is hard indeed.

And I would like to ask you a question. Your attitude toward this and the attitude of other top managers of organisations and enterprises. Can they accept this idea, I don’t know, maybe someone has somewhere… Or interpret it as a request – to create or restore some small sacred places in their enterprises. What do you think about this?



Vladimir Putin:

First, you helped me out a bit, freeing me of the necessity to praise your officials.. I present them with awards sometimes, but my function is more varied. But I have to say that Mr Savchenko is considered among the most experienced and successful regional governors. That’s true. But there surely are issues and problems; you cannot imagine life without some kind of problems. He and I will talk about it today.

To formulate your problem more comprehensively: the social burden on the economy and business. This obligation to be socially responsible was absolutely obligatory back in the Soviet era. Every large enterprise provided financial support to hospitals, school and universities; universities are quite a different matter, they educate the workforce of the future.

And it is just impossible to cut all at once what sometimes took place in the 1990s, when enterprises would just shut down, and also in the early 2000s, and it is also tough, risky and unjust. And it is just wrong. In this regard, of course, large enterprises bear their social responsibilities one way or another; they provide financial support to sports clubs and so on. Overall, this is good.

Yet the general way to develop is to increase wages and give people the opportunity to spend their money and choose what they want to do with it – say, to not go to an enterprise-sponsored health resort but rather to one of their choosing; or to receive treatment not in their neighborhood outpatient clinic but where better medical services and treatment are provided. This is generally the right way.

The social burden on the enterprise should be reduced, with the opportunity to increase wages and give people the right to receive services where they want to or where they think they have a better choice. But to fully shut down this social component of large enterprises is impossible and there is no need, I think.

As for the spiritual side of things – churches, mosques, synagogues and Buddhist temples − they do not cost the heads of enterprises and shareholders much, but they can give a lot in terms of the state of mind of the people working at a certain enterprise or who reside in a certain territory.

You have a good example here – Prokhorovskoye Pole, which Mr Savchenko and I have mentioned today, there is a church and a synagogue. And we have just agreed on… Or you have it already?



Yevgeny Savchenko:

A place of worship for Muslims.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, a place of worship for Muslims. This is a site where people from many regions of the former Soviet Union lost their lives, and their relatives arrive here to commemorate the memory of their heroic ancestors. And, of course, it is very good that such a tradition was established here in your Belgorod Region. I expect very much that this practice will spread to and develop in other regions of Russia as well.



Natalya Cherkashchenko:

I am Natalya Cherkashchenko, Chief Ecologist at the Lebedinsky GOK ore dressing plant.

It is always a pleasure seeing you effortlessly giving exact answers to journalists’ questions, which are not always well-intended and are at times even provocative.



Vladimir Putin:

Always provocative.



Natalya Cherkashchenko:

Always, true. A film has been already mentioned here made by a US journalist, and your interview with a female US journalist has caused large public resonance.

My question is: with whom do you take more pleasure in speaking with – men or…



Vladimir Putin:

With women of course..



Natalya Cherkashchenko:

I am asking about journalists.



Vladimir Putin:

You know, I am being totally frank about this, I am not putting on a show, but it is always easier for me to communicate with people who have both feet on the ground, with workers in a broad sense of this word, those who work with their hands or use their heads. I feel myself to be a natural part of such groups.

Second, this is always useful. You always get a feeling of how people are living their lives, what drives them and what problems they face – this is important for my work. And I say this with complete honesty. And it’s interesting; I mean, this is a real life.

The rest is a kind of playing ping-pong, like some kind of sport. This is more in the realm of propaganda, but this is not what life is about. Life is what you are involved in and what you are working on. This is our life, our country, our people; this is the most important and interesting aspect. What can be more interesting than Russia? Nothing. (Applause.)



Daniil Lysykh:

Good afternoon, Mr President. I am Daniil Lysykh, and I am an electrician at the Lebedinsky GOK.

We have many local residents who have found great success in sports. For instance, Denis Lebedev recently successfully defended his WBA title. Everyone knows that you are fond of boxing and Sambo. Do you have any other hobbies?



Vladimir Putin:

You mean, hobbies involving sport?



Daniil Lysykh:

In general.



Vladimir Putin:

Well, everyone knows what my sports hobbies are, at least I think they do, but I can tell them again. Sambo is where it all began, and then I switched to judo. These are my main sports hobbies. Later I learned how to ski. In the past few years, I have tried my hand at playing hockey. Just like any game, hockey is exhilarating and never boring.

I like music very much. In my free time and whenever I get the chance I gladly listen to music. I have friends who are good musicians, and I love listening to interesting and good recordings. That is pretty much it.

I would like to once again congratulate you on all three of your holidays and wish you all the best. I wish you great success and that you have a very festive time. I also wish you all the best in your personal lives, with your families, that they remain healthy and happy.

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55052






Working meeting with Belgorod Region Governor Yevgeny Savchenko



During his visit to Belgorod Region, Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Governor Yevgeny Savchenko. Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the questions Belgorod Region residents asked during the Direct Line with Vladimir Putin. The Governor also briefed the President on the implementation of a number of projects in the region.



July 14, 2017 - 20:00 - Gubkin





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

I am sure you know that I get back to the Direct Line and we are making an analysis by region of the most urgent issues raised by the people. We made a selection for Belgorod Region, and I will let you have everything we have.

There are several things I would like to turn your attention to at the beginning of our conversation. The first is healthcare. I have just spoken to the people, and there is a positive trend in the sector in fact, but nothing is ever perfect. One appeal concerns insulin.

Buying insulin, the supply of insulin to appropriate categories – this is a regional issue as well. A woman wrote to us that her daughter needs insulin…

Please look into this specific case and in general, you need to see whether people are really facing a problem: perhaps something was not done at the right time, or there were not enough funds allocated from the budget. Just look into that yourself.

Another issue that does not concern you directly is simplifying the naturalisation procedure, primarily for immigrants from Ukraine. Here is a letter addressed to the Federal Migration Service: “It is unlikely I will receive citizenship in this region; they talk about simplification all the time, but the attitude towards us is terrible.”

Please review the situation and talk to your colleagues; I will issue instructions to the Interior Minister, since migration issues are part of the Interior Ministry’s scope, but the main issue is that they are required to present a document showing that they have renounced Ukrainian citizenship.

We will pass amendments to the current legislation shortly so that documents proving that the applicant has renounced previously held citizenship are no longer required, because this is impossible with respect to Ukraine.

It will be enough for a person to submit an application for renouncing citizenship. This will be sufficient to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation.



Belgorod Region Governor Yevgeny Savchenko:

That is a very good decision.



Vladimir Putin:

Let’s have a talk, there are other issues…



Yevgeny Savchenko:

I would like to say that we have analysed all questions received from the Belgorod region residents during the Direct Line and we are working together with the Presidential Executive Office.

We have developed measures on all issues: people are approaching us about environmental issues, as well as housing and utility matters, and we even receive questions from those who invested in private housing projects. We are keeping tabs on all these issues and will solve them in the timeframe set by the Presidential Executive Office and report back to you.

Second, Mr Putin, I would like to thank you for resolving the issue with the plant, Russia’s first bio-industry enterprise, and as such is bound to encounter natural difficulties.

I would like to thank you for resolving this issue, which was pivotal for the plant and for Russia’s bio-industry in general.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.



Yevgeny Savchenko:

The plant is already operating and has reached its production capacity.

Also, I would like to inform you that we have fulfilled your instruction that called for the creation of a museum complex for displaying armoured vehicles following, a meeting of the Pobeda committe at Prokhorovka. Here is the report on the work done.



Vladimir Putin:

Have you succeeded?



Yevgeny Savchenko:

Yes, and here is the report.



Vladimir Putin:

I should visit it and have a look.



Yevgeny Savchenko:

Sure, and you are always welcome.

In this connection, another idea is to establish a museum commemorating those who contributed to the Great Victory, that is, those involved in evacuating people: millions of people were moved from the west to the east. The memory of this human deed and those who forged the victory in the Urals and Siberia has yet to be eternalised in a museum format.



Vladimir Putin:

A good idea.



Yevgeny Savchenko:

Another question, Mr Putin. Mr Usmanov and I have signed a letter addressed to you in which we, that is Metalloinvest company and the Belgorod Region, propose, with the support from the federal budget, to build a sport arena in Belgorod.



Vladimir Putin:

A kind of multipurpose arena?



Yevgeny Savchenko:

Yes, a multipurpose one, mostly for volleyball, this is the kind of sport our region is known for, but it will be used for basketball and other kinds of sports as well.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55053






Congratulations on Steelworker Day



Vladimir Putin congratulated workers and veterans of mining and smelting enterprises of Russia on their professional holiday – Steelworker Day.



July 16, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“Well coordinated and efficient work of all levels of the mining and smelting complex is crucial for the development of our national economy, industry, social sphere and increasing the country’s defence capabilities. This is why your work, which requires deep knowledge, special qualifications and a responsible approach to your work, enjoys well-deserved respect in our society.”

“It is gratifying to emphasise that the current generation of workers of the mining and smelting complex carefully and genuinely honour traditions and build on the experience of their predecessors.”

“Today we face serious, important challenges, the most important of which is the need to attract additional investment in order to modernise our production facilities, extend the range of products we offer with higher value added, and create new, modern work places.”

“And, of course, we need to fully engage the powerful potential of the industry so we can implement large-scale, in-demand projects that are aimed at developing Russia’s regions.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55056
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Working meeting with Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev



Vladimir Putin met with Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev.



July 17, 2017 - 15:15 - The Kremlin, Moscow





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Trutnev, please report on the situation in the region. Go ahead, please.



Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev:

Mr President, we are working as per your instructions. As of today, 15 federal laws have been adopted on the development of Russia’s Far East. These laws relate to creating priority development areas, a free port, the introduction of tariffs, simplifying visa requirements, implementing the under keel fishing quota programme, and a number of other laws, as well as 67 Government resolutions.



Vladimir Putin:

Have the documents on the under keel quota programme already been adopted?



Yury Trutnev:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Have the law and regulations on this been enacted? Are they working?



Yury Trutnev:

The under keel fishing quota programme is up and running, and we are monitoring it. Regular meetings are held with the Government on this issue. All in all, the process has been launched.

Regarding the general situation, fixed capital investment increased 110 percent compared to the same period last year. Construction volume increased 22 percent. All the construction projects that were announced are progressing.

Overall, 637 projects worth 2.11 trillion rubles have been devised for Russia’s Far East. Mr President, we have a clear understanding that these projects to build new enterprises have yet to be completed, but work is underway.

As of today, 35 new enterprises were built (I have photos with me and can show them later). This number will reach 85 by the end of the year. Private investment in Russia’s Far East is expected to exceed 115 billion rubles, and 5,500 jobs will be created. We currently have a multiplier effect of 10, which means that we are able to raise 10 rubles from private funds for every ruble invested by the state. This investment benefits all types of industries: manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and transport.

In addition to these efforts, we are working on a number of high-technology projects (following up on your review), and today these projects account for 19 percent of the total investment. We understand that this is not much. To remedy the situation, along with Far East Development Fund, RUSNANO and the Russian Venture Company, we are about to create an investment vehicle for attracting and developing new technology in Russia’s Far East.

We are also implementing the other laws.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55060






Meeting with Lyudmila Alexeyeva



Vladimir Putin congratulated human rights champion and public activist and Chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alexeyeva on her 90th birthday.



July 20, 2017 - 13:30 - Moscow







Before leaving for a trip to Yoshkar-Ola, the President visited Ms Alexeyeva at her home and presented her with a bouquet of flowers and an engraving of a view of her hometown, Yevpatoria, as well as a decorative plate depicting Moscow State University’s main building.

Earlier, Mr Putin sent Ms Alexeyeva a message of greetings, which reads, in part:

“You followed your heart’s calling and devoted yourself to serving society and defending human rights and freedoms with firmness and determination. Your particular moral strength and faithfulness to your convictions have enabled you to make a significant contribution to human rights activity and to strengthening the institutions of democracy and civic society”.

Following the meeting, the President spoke briefly with Moscow residents.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon Ms Alexeyeva.

I would like to congratulate you on your birthday.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

This is quite a gift!



Vladimir Putin:

I would like to congratulate you on my own behalf and on behalf of the very many people who love you and are grateful to you for all that you do for them.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

They have been calling me all day. I have just relinquished both phones for a time; otherwise, we would not be able to speak. I am very, very grateful to you.



Vladimir Putin:

And I am grateful to you for all you have done over these many, many years for such a huge number of people in our country, people who love you dearly and are grateful to you for the life that you live in the service of others. Thank you very much for this.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

When I began all this 50 years ago, I asked myself, how many years would I get? If they charged me under article 70, I would get seven years in prison and five in exile, but if they charged me under article 190, I would be lucky to get three years in prison and five in exile. It certainly never entered my mind that the president would come to congratulate me one day.



Vladimir Putin:

Much has changed.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

This is a rare case when someone was busy with goodness knows what and has earned recognition. I have just had a call from Mr Volodin [Speaker of the State Duma]; yesterday, Mr Kiriyenko [First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office] called, and today, you have come. People hope for this all their lives but do not achieve it despite their efforts, and I have it all come upon me without even trying. I was busy with quite different matters.



Vladimir Putin:

I know. You were actually doing the most important thing of all.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

My work was with people.



Vladimir Putin:

People, absolutely right.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn had a key idea about preserving the people. He worked on it in his way, and you in your way.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

I could only deal with one person at a time, but to save just one person is already such a great joy.



Vladimir Putin:

This is true.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

When I spoke with Mr Volodin, it turned out we were both raised by our grandmothers, not by our mothers, those Komsomol members, but by our grandmothers. They raised us in the Christian tradition. They did not say so, but this was a Christian upbringing, all about people. They instilled it in us. These values have taken this modern form today.

Do you know what else we talked about?

I welcome your visit not only because it is an unexpected and surprising honour, an event. By the way, it was my plan to drink a glass of champagne with the president in honour of my 90th birthday. Would you drink a little?



Vladimir Putin:

Of course, on such an occasion.







Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Anyway, you know, I was thinking, me, this sinner, that I would ask the president to be the charitable Christian, and do what no one else in this world but he can do. This would be the greatest reward for me, and it would count as a good deed for both of us in the next world. Pardon Igor Izmestyev.



Vladimir Putin:

Good, I will consider it.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

I ask you in all earnestness. You know, he has been in prison for 12 years now, and it has been12 years now that I wake at night, thinking about him. Please, whether he is guilty or not is not so important. I believe he is innocent, and others think he has sinned. When the people were asked who to pardon, Christ or Barabbas, those idiots said, “Barabbas”. But this was an act of mercy. Barabbas was a brigand and a killer, but when a pardon is accorded, people do not ask whether the person is guilty or not, they simply pardon, out of the goodness of their hearts.



Vladimir Putin:

You have much goodness.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

All right.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

You know, we bought some excellent champagne, of course, but your people bought their own, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

They probably bought some cheap stuff, saving money on us. (Laughter)

My best wishes on your birthday!



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

And I wish you good health, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you. I wish you the same.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

You know, I think about you too. Sometimes, when I cannot sleep, which happens rarely, for despite my venerable years, I sleep like a babe. My conscience is clear.



Vladimir Putin:

That is very good.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

And I think about various people, about you too. After all, it is no easy job to be President.



Vladimir Putin:

Any job, if you do it conscientiously, is not easy.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

But you have to do a great many things that you do not wish to do.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, this happens.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

And so I think, why is this so?



Vladimir Putin:

Because I was raised in much the same spirit as you were.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Yes, also by your grandmother?



Vladimir Putin:

By my mother, but I was my parents’ last child and my mother was already getting on in years. She was born in 1911.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Ah, yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Happy birthday to you!



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Thank you. Best wishes to you too.

I cannot drink much otherwise I will kick up a ruckus. (Laughter)



Vladimir Putin:

Never mind, give your loved ones a bit of a chase. It will make them all the merrier. Who wants to see them get bored?

Once more, my congratulations, and I wish you all the very best.

Allow me to give you a present. (Presents an engraving depicting a view of Yevpatoria.) This is your hometown. This is a modest gift, but it is a good engraving.

You graduated from Moscow State University in 1950. (Presents a decorative plate with a picture of Moscow State University’s main building.)



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

You know, the Moscow State University I studied at was different.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, it was a different building.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

When we were students, we were all sent off to help build this Moscow State University building.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, but what matters is the university itself, not the building.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Yes, I still consider it my Alma Mater.



Vladimir Putin:

Of course, of course.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

I will definitely find a place for it. Thank you.

Yesterday, the head of the local administration called and said, “I would like to come to congratulate you and present you with a gift from the President, a dinner set with the coat of arms, and a card”. I said, “Could I send someone to you to collect it rather than you coming here, because I have many visitors”. They agreed. They were very polite.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, of course.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

So they will go today to collect your dinner set.



Vladimir Putin:

Good.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

And as for Gzhel [traditional Russian ceramics]… I was in enforced exile, lived in America for 13 years.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

It is a good country, better organised than ours. But one’s own country is always home, no matter what it is like.



Vladimir Putin:

They have no shortage of problems in America too.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

You are telling me! I lived there for 13 years and know what it is like.



Vladimir Putin:

Of course.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

They have a great country, many good things there. But I could not return, but when I did come back, in 1990, you know what I did? I went and bought a lot of Gzhel, Vyatka toys and so on, and then Americans would come and say, “Oh, it’s absolutely Russian house!” I would say, “What else can it be?” I retained this love. I stopped collecting these things when I came back here, but the love remains. People come and say, “Ah, she’s got Gzhel. And what shall we get grandma as a present?” Me, I only eat porridge.



Vladimir Putin:

I also eat porridge.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Yes, I eat oatmeal porridge every morning. I do not need fancy clothes. I hardly ever go anywhere. People think, “We will give her Gzhel”. So, what am I to do? And now it is like a shop, absolutely full of things, but these are gifts from people, so it all stays.

Mr President, thank you. But please, do not forget about Izmestyev.



Vladimir Putin:

I will not forget.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Please do not forget. Do this good deed. It will be to both our names in the next world, for it is a Christian act.



Vladimir Putin:

Not right away, but I will do this, all right?



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

As you wish.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Yes. I know that you keep your word. I do, too. I either do not make promises, or, if I do promise something, I keep my word.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine. Once more, my congratulations, and now, I must get to work.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Oh you poor thing.



Vladimir Putin:

I am flying now to Kazan, from there to Yoshkar-Ola, and then to Sochi, where I will meet with children.

I set up a big children’s centre at one of the Olympic facilities. We have turned it into a marvellous centre. We bring gifted children from all around the country there, young mathematicians, physicists, ballet dancers, musicians and athletes, hockey players and figure skaters. We organised it so that 900 children come at a time, from all around the country, and spend 21 days there. We accompany them; bring in the best teachers from all over Russia, from Moscow, academicians, professors all come to work with them. It is a very interesting place. The current group is coming to the end of their programme now and I would like to meet with them tomorrow.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Yes. Kazan is a good city too. But what takes you to Yoshkar-Ola, I don’t know.



Vladimir Putin:

We are going to hold a meeting on interethnic relations there.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Ah, the president’s lot, in short.



Vladimir Putin:

Well yes, I have to work.

I wish you all the very best, and a wonderful mood, especially today. I wish you high spirits in general, but especially today.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

You probably know how it is: when you are busy, you do not even know what mood you are in. (Laughter.)



Vladimir Putin:

Good luck to you.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

All the best. I am very grateful.



Vladimir Putin:

All the best. Goodbye.



Lyudmila Alexeyeva:

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55105
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Old July 21st, 2017 #525
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Greetings to participants and guests of the 13th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS



Vladimir Putin sent greetings to participants and guests of the 13th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS.



July 18, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“MAKS’ history began 25 years ago with the first MosAeroShow in Zhukovsky. Over the years, the forum has become an exhibition venue for remarkable launches, innovative achievements in aircraft design, and has truly gained the status of a global event.

It is gratifying that during the Salon, Russian and international experts, industrialists and businesspeople analyse current trends in the industry and present their vision of its future. Contracts signed during the show and joint prospective projects demonstrate our foreign partners’ interest in cooperating with Russia, including in some very ambitious plans that require joining forces, resources and intellectual potentials. Primarily, these programmes focus on designing a family of long-haul aircraft and space exploration. Russia is open to this mutually beneficial and impactful work.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55061






Vladimir Putin visited International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017



Vladimir Putin took part in the opening ceremony of the 13th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 and toured aviation exhibition stands.



July 18, 2017 - 14:20 - Zhukovsky, Moscow Region







International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS is one of the largest aerospace trade fairs in the world. Some 700 Russian and 180 foreign corporations and companies from 36 countries are taking part in MAKS-2017. International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 is held in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, on July 18–23.

The President toured aviation exhibition stands displaying production models, prototypes and pre-prototypes and developments by Russian and foreign aerospace companies.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to the opening of the International Aviation and Space Salon.

This is an anniversary year for MAKS. It was first held 25 years ago, back in 1992. Since then it has established itself as a high-profile event, but we all know that this recognition did not come right away. Building on the persistence and talent of its organisers and with comprehensive support from the state, MAKS has definitely reached new highs, becoming an anticipated event for all those interested in aerospace technology.

Russians have always taken a keen interest in the development of aviation technology and space exploration. It has to be said that this is an important element of our shared culture, and the history of Russian cosmonautics and aviation is a matter of national pride, and rightly so. We are proud of the outstanding achievements by prominent engineers Sergei Korolev, Nikolai Polikarpov, Pavel Sukhoi, Andrei Tupolev and Sergei Ilyushin. Our goal today is to build on the traditions they established.

Over the next few days, Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, will be hosting a large exhibition where leading Russian and foreign companies will present their products, conferences and workshops will be held on matters that are currently relevant for the industry, and where a number of talks are scheduled to take place and major contracts to be signed.

We hope that all this activity will help step up industrial cooperation, foster international ties and promote Russian products on the domestic and foreign markets. We have much to offer.







In recent years the aerospace industry benefited from substantial government support: its production assets underwent substantial upgrades, projects to create new, competitive civilian aircraft are underway, including the Ka-62 helicopter and the MC-21 aircraft.

Let me also note that Russia retains its leadership in military aircraft, as well as missile and space manufacturing. We will continue developing these sectors.

Of course, I have to say a few words about the flying displays, which is one of the most spectacular parts of the MAKS Salon. The show will feature the best Russian and foreign pilot groups, whose mastery is not just respected but admired.







Congratulations to the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS on its anniversary. I wish all the participants fruitful work, and good weather and a spectacular experience to its guests.

Thank you for your attention.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55063






Meeting on the development of civil aircraft engineering



Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting on the development of civil aircraft engineering as part of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS.



July 18, 2017 - 15:15 - Zhukovsky, Moscow Region





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Our meeting is taking place as part of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017. I think this is a good venue for discussing the development of civil aircraft engineering. Incidentally, it is not the first time we are doing this.

We have just seen the latest designs from Russia’s leading producers of aviation and missile space technology. I must say the Russian companies’ potential is enormous and should be used in full.

For Russia the construction of competitive aircraft is one of the key conditions for easing access to remote regions and making air travel more comfortable.

For such a vast country as Russia with its, let’s be honest, poorly developed infrastructure, which has proved difficult to improve even during all the previous years of its history, considering the limitless expanses of Eastern Siberia and the Far East. However, it is vital to use modern technology to consolidate the country and make every corner equally accessible to every person regardless of his or her place of residence. People should be able to move easily and freely throughout the country, travel to our major industrial and cultural centres and return in the same easy and free way.

It is also important in this context to increase the production of high-tech, science-intensive products and promote the development of the entire national economy. Finally, this is a matter of the state’s technological prestige.

I would like to note that the industry is currently receiving substantial support. Last year alone, almost 52 billion rubles were allocated for these purposes under the Aviation Industry Development programme, and there are plans to allocate 60 billion in 2017.

These measures are yielding positive results. Last year, civil aircraft production grew by 21 percent on 2015. This is a good indicator.

At the same time, I am confident that the national aviation industry has the required technological and human potential for long-term growth, for strengthening its positions on the domestic and global markets.

We have mastered batch production of regional airliners. We have just seen the Sukhoi Superjet here. Other promising projects are being implemented involving civil aircraft that can compete with foreign equivalents, including the new Ka-62 helicopter and the MC-21 passenger airliner. We have seen the Ansat helicopter today. There are other highly promising and interesting aircraft, and demand for them will undoubtedly soar in the future.

Today, we will discuss various measures making it possible to support these projects and to address the entire industry’s tasks.

I would like to focus on the following.

First, the MC-21, which I have already mentioned, is currently undergoing flight tests. Today, I would like to hear how these tests are proceeding, to discuss the current aircraft certification stage and preparations to launch batch production of this airliner. I would like to focus on the aircraft’s certification, and I would like to note technical issues that we know about. Everything must proceed smoothly in this area.

Second, as you know, the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation is expected to diversify and expand civil output. This also concerns the defence industry’s aircraft enterprises.

Helicopter deliveries under defence procurement contracts will soon peak. The Defence Ministry has already reduced its orders under these contracts. It is high time that we ponder ways to guarantee that the production capacities are utilised by creating demand from civilian customers. This should be done without delay. Among other things, Russian oil and gas companies, and other state-owned companies could play their part. They buy quite a few helicopters abroad. I believe that this has to change, as we have discussed with the heads of Russian companies. They should opt for Russian equipment, of course on the condition that it offers the same level or even better quality compared to similar imports. I think that this matter should be included in the agenda of the Government Import Substitution Commission.

Moving on, I would like to emphasise once again our intention to expand the market share of Russian aviation equipment on the domestic and international markets. For that, it is essential not only to improve its quality and reliability, but also to develop after-sales maintenance services. By the way this is also an issue for the defence industry: we need warehouses, spare parts, training, and we need to open service centres. We all know that those who are able to ensure after-sales maintenance, guarantee timely repairs and promptly deliver parts stay on top of the competition. Today we will discuss how this work is organised, and what is there to do for ensuring effective maintenance of Russian aircraft.

During the meeting we will also discuss other industry-related issues that have yet to be addressed.

Let us get to work.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55071
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Old July 21st, 2017 #526
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Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Government members.



July 19, 2017 - 15:40 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon colleagues.

Today, we will discuss an issue of great importance for practically every Russian family – how we can use information technology to improve access to medical care and medicines.

But first, I would like to ask Mr Manturov to say a few words about how the INNOPROM exhibition is proceeding. We saw its start recently. How are things now?



Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov:

Mr President, let me begin by thanking you, on behalf of all Russian industry, for taking part in this event.

This exhibition has become Russia’s principle industrial forum. Digitalisation in industry was the main theme of this year’s event and we had a large number of IT companies taking part, even more than from manufacturing sectors. This shows that digitalisation is taking place in all economic sectors without exception and in industry as well, of course.

More than 650 companies took part in the exhibition. This year, we had a record number of visitors – more than 50,000 people from 98 countries.

Next year, South Korea will have the status of partner country for the event. We plan to expand the exhibition space and we hope that this will attract new companies. This is also a good rehearsal for Yekaterinburg’s bid to host EXPO-2025. The bid is built around the theme of accessible innovation for our children and future generations.

We are counting on support from you and Mr Medvedev. We will soon establish an organising committee and appoint a chairperson. Given our country’s experience in organising and hosting big events, I am certain that we can do an excellent job of hosting EXPO-2025 in Yekaterinburg.



Vladimir Putin:

Who else is bidding – Osaka and Paris?



Denis Manturov:

Osaka, Paris and Baku.



Vladimir Putin:

Well, you will have to work at it.



Denis Manturov:

We will do our best.



Vladimir Putin:

We have launched additional programmes for car loans at preferential rates, starting July 11. Could you give us a bit more detail on this, please?



Denis Manturov:

Yes, Mr President. Since the beginning of this year, we have been carrying out a whole range of measures to support the automotive industry. As planned, starting on July 11, we launched five new programmes for car loans. We have the First Car and Family Car programmes (these groups of buyers will be eligible for an additional discount of up to 10 percent). Then there are similar programmes for preferential vehicle leasing, Russian Truck, Russian Farmer, and My Business. These three programmes aim primarily at small and medium businesses. We have raised the discount on the first payment from 10 to 12.5 percent of the vehicle’s cost.

We hope that these programmes will make it possible to sell more Russian-made vehicles, at least 85,000 by the end of the year. Overall, the different programmes in this sector aim to ensure production of around 670,000 vehicles by the end of the year.

So far, everything is going to plan. More than 360,000 Russian-made vehicles have already been produced and sold with state support.



Vladimir Putin:

Good. You can make a detailed analysis of the programme’s results later.

In 2011, we abolished licenses for some types of road transportation, including bus transportation, and since then we have seen a steadily growing number of accidents involving buses. The first half of this year saw a significant increase in accidents even compared to last year. What is your assessment of the situation and what do you think we need to do right now? Mr Sokolov, you have the floor.



Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov:

Mr President,

It is true, overall, the number of road accidents has decreased, but the situation with bus transportation darkens the picture. Over the first half of 2017, accidents were up nearly 1.5-fold compared to the previous period.

In 2015, we adopted the Federal Law on organising regular road and municipal electric-powered vehicle passenger and baggage transportation. This law was a contributing factor to bringing down the number of accidents caused by driver error on regular bus routes by 13 percent. This was the case for regular routes, but for irregular bus services, we see that the number of accidents during transportation for personal or professional needs has increased by 63 percent. Of particular concern here is the fact that 40 percent of these road accidents are committed by people who do not have a business status, in other words, uncertified individuals rather than organisations professionally involved in passenger transportation.

This year, unfortunately, several headline-making road accidents have already taken place, in Trans-Baikal Territory and Tatarstan, for example. We responded immediately. In mid-June at the Transport Ministry and on July 13 at the Interior Ministry, together with [transport safety supervisory body] Rostransnadzor, we had telephone conferences with the heads of all regions and gave instructions to take urgent measures to reduce the number of passenger transport accidents on our roads.

Last year, the Interior Ministry and Rostransnadzor identified more than 1000 illegal transport service providers, opened 26 criminal cases for unlawful business activity, and 500 criminal cases for providing services that do not meet safety demands. Nevertheless, we think this is not enough.

You noted quite rightly that since 2011, when passenger transportation licensing for chartered transport or personal needs was abolished, there has been a steady increase in the number of accidents in this sector. To address this issue, the Transport Ministry has drafted and submitted to the Government a draft federal law making the relevant amendments to the current law on licensing and restoring licenses for all types of road passenger transport vehicles equipped for the transportation of eight or more people. This draft law is currently going through expert evaluation. We think that it will ensure the same conditions for all bus drivers and shippers carrying out regular, irregular, charter transportation and transportation for personal needs.

Also pursuant to your instructions, the Ministry of Transport has drafted a federal law amending the law on road safety, which establishes uniform traffic safety requirements for commercial carriers. We now have the same requirements for legal entities and individuals with regard to mounting tachographs on vehicles. Currently, if a bus is owned by an individual, installing a tachograph is not mandatory, since the number of working hours is not an issue in this case. However, we believe this does not make sense, because the safety of passengers depends on this, and it does not matter which bus gets into an accident, whether it is owned by an individual or a legal entity, that is, an organisation.

This draft law was adopted by the State Duma in the first reading in late 2016. Mr President, we would like you to issue a directive to have the second and the third readings held as soon as possible, so that the draft becomes law and this requirement comes into force.

Speaking about tachographs, many accidents are caused by drivers either falling asleep or getting distracted at the wheel. Over 550,000 buses have been equipped with tachographs and over 23,000 controller cards have been issued. All regions now have the corresponding infrastructure to install and maintain such tachographs. There are over 500 service points accepting tachograph card applications. If we see this system through to its logical completion, and all carriers start using them, then, according to experts, this will reduce the number of accidents involving buses by at least 15 percent.



Vladimir Putin:

At INNOPROM, we saw various modern, comfortable, and efficient devices that monitor the physical condition of drivers. Of course, the issue is about cost and implementation, but, of course, we must follow this path. Look at what is available there.



Maxim Sokolov:

Yes, that is true, Mr President. Safety comes at a cost, but it is worth paying special attention to this issue, and we are willing to develop an appropriate regulatory framework, which would make such devices mandatory for all those who engage in commercial passenger operations.



Vladimir Putin:

Mr Gorovoy, do you have anything to add?



First Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Gorovoy:

Mr President, the Interior Ministry and the Transport Ministry were involved in drafting these federal laws. The statistics show a need, in our opinion, in passing these laws.

I can provide two relevant figures. Four of the last seven accidents involving buses were caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. I am not anticipating or announcing the results of the investigations; this is a preliminary picture of what we found at the accident scenes. The second figure is that of the 115 passengers who died because of bus drivers’ errors, 39 were killed at the moment when we think the drivers fell asleep.

I am fully aware that these draft laws will give us an additional tool, but at the same time, I realise the responsibility for prevention and better results of our oversight activity.

On July 13, together with the heads of the regional road safety commissions and Rostransnadzor, we had a telephone conference with all regions. In the meantime, waiting for these laws to come into effect, if they are passed, we are taking the necessary measures. We have coordinated our posts and teams with bus routes and abolished the order the Interior Ministry issued five years ago prohibiting us from stopping vehicles outside of stationary posts. Our country’s geography and transportation logistics show that this was a mistake on our part when we drafted those laws. If there are violations to rules on working hours and rest time, passenger buses, including and primarily chartered ones, will be stopped and drivers will be given a chance to rest.

We foresee some negative feedback from passengers, but after working a month under the new rules, I believe we will be able to encourage all businesses to follow the demands of Transport Ministry regulation 25 concerning drivers’ work-rest routine.

I would like to note that in Moscow alone we have 2,300 buses coming into the city, carrying out charter passenger transportation. They are not subject to any checks by dispatchers, and passengers board the buses outside the city’s bus stations. We have turned to Rostransnadzor and by August 15, we will inspect the implementation of Federal Law 220 on organising passenger transportation and will provide consolidated information to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the regional prosecutors’ offices.

The school year is approaching, and we have 19,400 schools around the country organising school bus transportation with a fleet of 22,500 buses. We will inspect these buses and drivers as well. Once again, Mr President, we are aware of our responsibility and we will focus efforts on addressing this sad increase by 21 percent in the number of passengers killed as a result of bus drivers’ errors.

This ends my report.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine.

We will return to this issue some time later. For now, please tell me how things are going.

This year the weather has not been good for rural residents. In this context, here is a question to Mr Tkachev: how is harvesting progressing?



Minister of Agriculture Alexander Tkachev:

Mr President, colleagues,

A few words about the harvest. Low temperatures in a number of regions delayed harvesting by two weeks. However, farmers are actively taking in the harvest from fields. They have collected the first 20 million tonnes. This is a bit less than by the same time last year – 20 percent less. Nonetheless, the results in the south (Rostov, Kuban, and Stavropol, where I was yesterday) show that the crop yield will be higher and the quality of grain is fairly good.

So far, crop failure has been minimal although bad weather made it difficult to work in the fields almost in all regions. The south of Russia and the Volga area were hit by heavy rain, frost and hail. Soil is waterlogged throughout Central Russia. The rates of field work have slowed down beyond the Urals, in Siberia and the Far East due to floods and waterlogging.

The only threat we are facing today is that the bad weather will last through autumn, in which case it will be difficult to take in the crop. If it is fairly dry in autumn – September and October are vital for the Urals and Siberia – we can hope to harvest more than 105 million tonnes of grain this year. This is less than last year but enough for domestic consumption – about 70 million tonnes, including 20 million tonnes of food, 40 million tonnes of fodder, and 10 million tonnes of seeds. Another 35 million tonnes may be used for export.

We expect despite the losses that the harvest of vegetables and fruit will be at the level of last year, primarily owing to the construction of new hothouses and the fruiting of new gardens. Cold weather and rains delayed the planting of many vegetables – cabbage, potatoes and carrots. This is why the new domestic crop was late to come to the market. Therefore, bad weather explains the additional price hike in June above the typical seasonal increase in prices.

Usually, price hikes are the highest in May – domestic produce is in short supply while imports are the highest. This year prices became stable only in late June. A seven percent decline in prices was registered on July 17, when the first crops from the south of the country arrived at the shops. Vegetable prices will be much lower in August-September and the situation will be fully stabilised.

In order to minimise seasonal price fluctuations over the coming years, we need to build more vegetable storage facilities that would make it possible to use Russian produce until the summer harvest. The Government State Programme makes provisions for state support for building and modernising storage facilities for potatoes, vegetables and fruit. Last year, we built and modernised storage facilities with a total capacity of 250,000 tonnes at a time. Now, we have a capacity of around 7 million tonnes, and we need around another five million. We plan to bring facilities for about another 2 million tonnes into operation by 2020, which will reduce the storage deficit by half.

We want to carry out this programme not with federal and regional budget funding alone though, but to get outside investors involved as well. This is something we discussed with the Economic Development Ministry and the Central Bank. We will get private pension funds involved in this work, which will protect us from the effects of adverse weather in the future.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

How much new vegetable storage capacity do you plan to build and in what timeframe?



Alexander Tkachev:

We plan to build around 2 million tonnes by 2020.



Vladimir Putin:

Around 2 million by 2020?



Alexander Tkachev:

That is right, by 2020. But we still need to build another 2 million-2.5 million tonnes, and so this will require another 3–5 years.



Vladimir Putin:

So, there is still a shortage of storage capacity?



Alexander Tkachev:

Yes. Mr President, we never seriously addressed this issue in the past, as you know very well. Only over these past two years, with state support, the Government has started working actively with farmers and agribusiness companies. Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin recently came to the Agriculture Ministry and we decided to bring in additional funding from extra-budgetary sources to speed up the implementation of this programme.



Vladimir Putin:

Good, thank you.

Let us now turn to the main item on our agenda today – using information technology to improve access to medical care and medicines.

You know that back in March, the meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and Priority Projects considered ways to improve the healthcare system, including the need to actively introduce digital technology into this sphere, which will open up fundamentally new possibilities for medical doctors and, most importantly, significantly improve the level of medical care in our country.

The task of computerising hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as connecting them to high-speed internet, was also set in the Address to the Federal Assembly. I would like to hear how this work is progressing.

Notably, many medical organisations already make active use of electronic documents, electronic medical records and electronic doctor appointments. Telemedicine services are expanding. We are aware that, unfortunately, there are issues, including, strangely enough, with organising this kind of digital work. Let us discuss this, as well.

To reiterate, all of this will help the patients, regardless of their place of residence, to get qualified medical care, and doctors will be relieved of unnecessary paperwork, and spend more time focusing on the patients.

Today, the State Duma is considering, in the second reading, a draft law that should form a regulatory framework for the functioning of a unified information system in healthcare. I hope that this important document will soon be adopted, and I would like you to provide a clear deadline for completing the implementation of this system.

Next, the Government has already considered the issue of establishing a system for monitoring and controlling the procurement of medicines for public and municipal needs. It should reduce prices and streamline budget spending, which means that the state will be able to provide free medicines to a larger number of eligible patients.

I would like to emphasise that access to free medicines is one of the most acute issues. This issue was raised, as you may be aware, during the Direct Line with the President, and the Minister of Healthcare and I have also discussed it. I am sure people in the regions put these questions to you as they do to me at various events. I would like the Government to focus on ways to resolve this issue.

As far as we know, the drug procurement monitoring and control system has been in test mode since March. It should start running full-scale in January 2018. It is important to make this system fully operational, and make sure the bidders are fully accountable for the accuracy and reliability of the data they put into the system.

Let us work through this issue thoroughly.

Ms Skvortsova, you have the floor.



Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova:

Mr President, colleagues,

Using digital medical technology is particularly important for developing healthcare and enhancing access, quality and effectiveness of healthcare. Digital medicine is thus one of our priority strategic development projects and one of the Digital Economy programme’s five main components.

Mr President, as you have said, you outlined in your Annual Address the priority steps for developing digital technology in the healthcare sector as related to overseeing the market of vitally important medicines and preventing price hikes when hospitals and medical centres make their purchases. This way we can increase the number of people eligible for state-subsidised medicines; improve working conditions for doctors, particularly in primary medical care, by cutting the time they spend on matters not related to their primary activity, and introduce convenient services for interaction between the public and medical organisations.

Acting on your instructions to improve the provision of medicines and reduce inefficient spending in the regions, the Healthcare Ministry and state corporation Rostec have developed and launched the experimental operation of an information and analytical system for the monitoring and oversight of state and municipal medicine purchases.

To develop a new purchase management model, the Healthcare Ministry put together a structured reference book and catalogue of medicines based on state registers, registered medicines, and maximum sale prices. Together with the relevant federal bodies – the Treasury, the Finance Ministry, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service, we integrated the new information and analysis system with the unified purchasing information system. Essentially, the catalogue of medicines is now integrated into the purchasing system. This makes it possible to rapidly analyse information on purchase planning and based on tender results. The system calculates average market prices for similar purchases of international non-patented and trademark medicines and identifies any deviations from these averages.

Pursuant to your instructions of March 1, this system is now working in trial mode, collecting data, and, at the same time, working through some of the technical subtleties of the system’s functioning. To date, the system has registered 29,400 executed contracts for 22,200 trademark medicines worth a total of 20.6 billion rubles. Today, we can already see the average prices in real time, including in terms of producers, suppliers and state customers for medicines.

The plan provides for putting the system into commercial operation on January 1. To make this possible we must adopt some normative acts this year. The main one is the law you mentioned, Mr President. This is the law on a single healthcare information system on the country’s entire territory. One of its components is information and analytical monitoring of purchases. This law will also introduce regulations in electronic document management and telemedicine.

On June 15, the law passed its first reading. Now it has been submitted for the second reading and for us it is extremely important to adopt this law during the spring session.

(The Minister went on to list specific legal acts and resolutions of the Government, which should be adopted to ensure the functioning of the information and analysis system.)

Further development of the information and analysis system is related to its integration with other segments of the Single State Healthcare Information System, which will make it possible to track the entire process of pharmaceutical support: from checking the accuracy of medical prescriptions based on clinical recommendations to assessing the amounts of leftover medicines in medical institutions, pharmacies and warehouses. A relevant pilot project on providing two regions – St Petersburg and Sverdlovsk Region – with oncological medicines was launched this year in cooperation with the company Biokad.

We are also planning to integrate the information and analysis system with the automated monitoring of the movement of medicines on the basis of their marking, which will allow us to quickly find low-grade and counterfeit products, recall them from the market and, most importantly, prevent their repeated return to it, that is, the resale of expensive medicines bought on government money for preferential provision.

As for other components of digital medicine, in 2014 we summed up the results of the modernisation programme in this area and adopted a plan for developing regional medical information systems. In 2015, the Healthcare Ministry signed an agreement on the regional plan for healthcare information support for three years with every region of the Russian Federation. The aim of these agreements was to even out regional differences on information support by late 2018.

To date, 75 percent of the medical workers’ workplaces have been automated; 72 percent of medical organisations and detached structural units, 18,100 in total, have been connected to high-speed internet, with 13,800 medical organisations and detached units waiting to be connected. Of these, 7,100 do not have access to the internet, and 6,700 need their current connection upgraded; 64 percent of medical organisations and detached structural units are connected to a protected data transmission network.

Medical information systems have been introduced in 72 Russian regions and almost 7,000 medical organisations, which is about one-third of the total need. Integrated regional medical information systems have been formed in 82 Russian regions, with the exception of Oryol and Tver regions and Chukotka Autonomous Area.

Centralised Medical Image Archives websites have been created in most regions, with 66 regions actively using this website to transmit images from devices located in over 2,000 medical organisations, as well as a website for lab tests with 61 regions transmitting electronic lab results at outpatient clinics and hospitals. The medical vehicle dispatching system has been introduced in 78 regions, with over 89 percent of ambulance stations connected to it.

The accessibility of medical care, quick and hassle-free doctor appointments are particularly important for our people. To achieve this, electronic schedules of doctors' hours and the possibility of making online doctor appointments have been introduced. Currently, 82 Russian regions are using the electronic doctor appointment system, except Pskov Region, the Chechen Republic, and Chukotka Autonomous Area.

Our goal is to ensure consistent and high-quality doctor appointment service in all outpatient clinics of the country using the patient's user account on the Unified Portal of Public Services before the end of 2018 as medical organisations get connected to the internet.

(Minister Skvortsova then went on to discuss the system to monitor the time spent by patients at outpatient clinics as they wait for the doctor to see them, the introduction of electronic paperwork, and other aspects of implementing information systems at medical organisations.)

The introduction of the information and analysis system in healthcare will make it possible to launch the register of electronic medical documents. This nation-wide uniform register will contain the documents of each patient, which will make it more convenient for patients and ensure continuity in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in various clinics in different period of their lives.

Needless to say, personal data on patients will be strictly protected and anonymous in the database. Access to the register will be given only to patients through personal accounts and an attending physician by agreement with the patient. The federal platform – the register of online medical documents – will be launched this year and will start gathering information after the law comes into force. The complete switch to electronic medical documents will be conducted stage-by-stage until 2024 depending on the readiness of the infrastructure of medical institutions. The deadlines for introducing electronic document management are fully coordinated with the Digital Economy programme.

I would also like to mention the introduction of telemedicine and its technology, which is important for making medical care more accessible and improving its quality.

Remote cooperation between physicians has been practiced in Russian medicine for several years now. Telemedical complexes for communication between regional vascular centres and primary vascular units were established during the introduction of the vascular programme in 2008 and have been actively working for practically a decade. Medical institutions were equipped with telemedical systems involving video links during the modernisation programme.

Today telemedicine exists in 83 regions of the Russian Federation (the Altai Republic and the Chukotka Autonomous Area are the only two regions that are not using it) and over 4,400 medical institutions are actively using it. In 2016, we started the formation of a vertically integrated telemedical system that links our national medical research centres with relevant regional units. Seventy percent of the regions are already connected to this system. We plan to connect all 700 third level regional institutions to the federal telemedical system in 2017–2018. They will be provided with continuous methodological support, remote case conferences with video links and mandatory electronic management of paperwork and preservation of digital images.

The existing base of anonymous digital medical images analysed by the federal centre specialists will form the basis for creating and implementing intelligent systems for supporting medical decisions.

Notably, the first such Russian system for early diagnosis of stage one lung cancer is being effectively tested. After we properly interpreted the first 13,000 computer and magnetic resonance images and put them into the system, the programme began to show high diagnostic effectiveness. This testing is carried out on the basis of the Federal Preventive Care Centre.

Telemedicine technologies are used for individual health monitoring as well. Currently, Russia has a vast array of non-invasive personal telemedicine devices for remote interaction between the doctor and the patient. This year, we will finalise the implementation of two pilot projects in Tyumen and Leningrad regions, where we remotely monitor at-risk patients’ blood pressure. According to preliminary data for the first half of the year, such an approach allows us to correct the pressure in a timely manner, and reduce the number of hypertensive crises, emergency hospitalisations involving an ambulance, and the death rate. Within the framework of the national HealthNet programme, one of the objectives to achieve by 2025 is to expand the individual health monitoring system to all regions of the country.

Mr President, today we have already made good progress in developing digital medical technologies, and all of our plans, both the near- and medium-term ones, will be implemented under three basic conditions. They include the early adoption of the law (we hope, it will be done during this spring session), since it is the law that establishes the mandatory operation of the regional segments of our system. The second is the implementation by the regions of the road maps on regional computerisation signed by the governors. The third is the execution of the plan of the Ministry of Communications based on the directive in the Address, on connecting all outpatient clinics and hospitals to high-speed internet by late 2018.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

The Duma spring session will last only three more days.



Veronika Skvortsova:

Mr President, the hearing of the law will be held today at 18.30.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55098
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Old July 21st, 2017 #527
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Visit to Republic of Mari El National Museum



While on a working trip to Yoshkar-Ola, Vladimir Putin visited the Republic of Mari El Timofei Yevseyev National Museum.



July 20, 2017 - 16:15 - Yoshkar-Ola







The President took in the exhibition on the customs and beliefs of the Mari people – one of the few peoples in Europe to have preserved paganism as their traditional religion.

The Timofei Yevseyev National Museum is the republic’s oldest museum and is a leading research, methodological and information centre with a unique collection. It was named after ethnographer, folklore historian and lecturer Timofei Yevseyev. Today, its collection has more than 230,000 items.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55108






Council for Interethnic Relations meeting



Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations in Yoshkar-Ola. Implementation at regional and municipal level of the State Ethnic Policy Strategy until 2025 was the main item on the agenda.



July 20, 2017 - 18:50 - Yoshkar-Ola



The Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations was established in 2012 to enhance state policy in this area. The Council is made up of the leaders of Russian ethnic and cultural associations, academics and experts, heads of federal executive and legislative bodies of power.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon colleagues.

It has become a fine tradition to hold Council for Interethnic Relations’ meetings in the different regions. This time, we are meeting in Yoshkar-Ola, the capital of Mari El. Let me begin by thanking the people of Mari El for the warmth and hospitality we have met with here.

On our agenda today is an analysis of the implementation of the State Ethnic Policy Strategy at the regional and municipal levels. This Strategy is a document of exceptional importance for a multi-ethnic country such as ours.

As you know, the draft document was broadly discussed. More than 3000 remarks and proposals were taken into account and we outlined the main priorities of preserving Russia’s ethno-cultural diversity, strengthening civic identity and bolstering our country’s spiritual unity.

These are the main areas of work for the authorities at all levels, but these efforts should be even more focused and substantive at the regional and municipal levels. This is natural because the closer to the people you are, the more detailed things become.

Each region has its own peculiarities with regard to interethnic relations, and of course, these peculiarities should be taken into account while at the same time following a common approach to resolving the overall, national ethnic policy tasks.

Take teaching the Russian language and the languages of Russia’s peoples in schools, for example. I would like to remind you that Russian is the state language, the common language for us all, and as such, it is irreplaceable and is a natural spiritual foundation for our entire multi-ethnic country. Everyone has a duty to know Russian.

The languages of Russia’s various peoples are also an integral part of their unique cultures. The right to study these languages is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is a voluntary right. Forcing someone to learn a language that is not their native language is just as inacceptable as reducing the level and time spent on teaching Russian. I particularly draw the regional heads’ attention to this issue.

I have said before that matters concerning national identity and traditions are very sensitive, with many subtleties, and we must act with great wisdom and caution here. Overall, we have built up considerable and, most importantly, fruitful experience in this area over these past years. Suffice it to note the increase in the number of people in Russia who think that relations between people of different ethnic groups are friendly. This view is shared by close to 80 percent of the population now. You will remember that the situation was quite different 10–15 years ago. Our task is to preserve the harmony that we have achieved in society, above all by ensuring ongoing cooperation and constructive dialogue between the authorities and civil society institutions.

At the same time, surveys show that one in five people in Russia think that the local authorities’ work in the area of interethnic relations is insufficiently effective. I would like to draw the municipal authorities’ attention to this. In most cases, conflicts escalate primarily because of failure at the local level to prevent and resolve them in time.

It would be good to appoint someone responsible for overseeing interethnic relations at all local government bodies, as has already been done at the federal and regional levels, and in general to work more actively to spread best practices in the country, including with regard to implementing the State Ethnic Policy Strategy.

This work must be monitored everywhere, and we need the closest possible cooperation between all agencies concerned, including the law enforcement agencies. It is essential to put in place a clear system for training and advanced training for regional and municipal officials in the area of interethnic relations. This task has long been before us but work is progressing slowly. This is also something we can discuss today.

Furthermore, we need not only standard and educational programmes but also a fully-fledged professional standard. I would like to ask the Government to finalise its development. It has been going on for a long time and should be completed. It is also necessary to provide decent methodological support for the activities of the regional and municipal authorities on implementing state ethnic policy. Correct managerial decisions also play a key role in this respect. We expect regional civic chambers, national-cultural associations and non-profit organisations to come up with initiatives to elaborate them.

It is essential to create conditions for establishing relevant on-site consultative venues where Government and civil society representatives would be able to interact, work together, compare and coordinate their actions on a regular basis. Out of over 220,000 Russian non-profits some 6,000 have charter provisions on ethnocultural issues. We must continue steadily, regularly upgrading policies designed to support them.

It is also important to support them with grants. For example, starting July 1, the range of public-spirited services of socially oriented non-profits was supplemented with the priorities of developing interethnic cooperation, protecting the languages and culture of Russian peoples and facilitating the sociocultural adaptation of guest workers. At the same time, in implementing state ethnic policy it is necessary to clearly determine the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of regional programmes and other systemic measures and apply them in distributing relevant subsidies from the federal budget to the regions and their budgets.

One such measure should be regions and municipalities developing and promoting their own ethnocultural brands. Our country is unique in terms of the diversity of its nature and folk traditions but opportunities to learn about them are often limited not only by inadequate infrastructure but also by mediocrity and lack of initiative at the local level. Meanwhile, the demand for ethnographic tourism, for instance, is growing all over the world, including this country. This is an obvious fact. In Russia, we have more things to showcase and take pride in than anywhere else.

As you may know, this is not the first year that internal tourism has been growing, which has a lot to do with the topic we are going to discuss today.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would like to give the floor to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin.

Thank you.



Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin:

Thank you.

Mr President, colleagues,

Since the previous Council meeting in October 2016 in Astrakhan, we have focused on efficiently implementing the tasks mapped out in the Strategy for the State Ethnic Policy of the Russian Federation until 2025.

Firstly, these are measures concerning the management and the funding of the programme. The State Programme of the Russian Federation on Implementing State Ethnic Policy was endorsed and came in effect this year. Its adoption made it possible for the first time to concentrate the powers of all the federal agencies related to the drafting of the ethnic policy. The funding of the programme through 2025 is almost 26 billion rubles. About 2.5 billion rubles have been earmarked for this year and a considerable part of these funds are subsidies to the regions on the basis of co-financing.

In the first half of 2017, the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs signed agreements with 61 regions on subsidising their measures to strengthen the unity of the Russian nation and promote the ethnocultural development of the peoples of Russia. There are agreements with 27 regions on subsidies to support indigenous minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

Secondly, something the President spoke about, there is work with socially oriented non-profit organisations. The required legal terms for their operation have been established. For instance, a tangible role in this respect was played by the adoption in July of this year of an executive order that affords them an opportunity to render socially useful services in the area of interethnic relations, as well as the adaptation and integration of guest workers.

The third issue deals with human resources. For the first time experts elaborated a draft of the professional standard that sets requirements for credentials in interethnic relations. This document was submitted to the Ministry of Labour in June of this year and by this September, the Government plans to complete all the procedures required for its adoption, including public discussion, and interdepartmental approval of its final version.

Labour migration is the fourth critically important area. According to the Interior Ministry, over 2 million foreign citizens work in Russia officially. Clearly, even a brief stay in an unfamiliar environment requires them to be integrated into society. They need extra attention and assistance in difficult situations, be it access to medical care, schools for their children, and much more.

Previously, the adaptation of migrants was handled by a variety of departments ranging from social services to police. That is, each ministry did its narrow part of the job. A draft presidential executive order was put together to assign the Federal Agency the functions of developing and implementing state policy in the sphere of social and cultural adaptation and integration of foreign citizens.

At the same time, a law has been drafted that defines the goals and ways of achieving sociocultural adaptation, which also determines the scope of authority of all levels of government.

Mr President, colleagues,

I believe that the work we have done in the sphere of improving interethnic relations is a good starting point for further advances in this sphere.

To improve efficiency, we need, first, to create a single transparent governance vertical. Now, in the Russian regions, the issues of state ethnic policy are handled by different structural subdivisions of executive bodies. Moreover, in some regions this policy is an optional activity. In 10 regions, these issues are handled by governors’ executive offices, in 15 regions there are dedicated ministries or departments, and in 52 regions this work falls within the competence of a directorate or a department of domestic policy. In the remaining regions, this work is being done by regional ministries of education, culture and relations with public organisations. I believe it is necessary that the executive authorities in each region have a structural subdivision with this unique focal authority. One option is to create an administrative unit supervised by a deputy governor.

The same principles should be used to build interaction with the municipalities, whose experience shows that it is possible to organise sufficiently high-quality work not only in major urban areas, but in rural areas as well.

I would like to give you a couple of examples. In the Republic of Udmurtia, for instance, 30 public coordination councils on interethnic relations have been set up, and in all municipalities of Nizhny Novgorod Region, these matters are the responsibility of deputy heads of the municipal administrations and competent specialists.

But unfortunately, our regions are not all alike. There is a widespread belief in a number of regions that if a district, a city or a village is mono-ethnic, then there is no need to deal with interethnic relations. This is, no doubt, a wrong and shortsighted view. Today, especially in our age of global processes, information technology and population mobility, interethnic relations concern every citizen of the Russian Federation one way or another. And often trouble-makers appear where they are least expected.

I believe that the Federal Agency must actively encourage the positive experience of the Russian regions that use precisely this vertical. The consolidation of power along the vertical axis – the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, regional authorities, municipalities – firstly, gives us a clear understanding of who is responsible for what; secondly, it helps us to overcome a lack of coordination between departments, which results in efforts and funds being scattered away; and, thirdly, it gives us faster and more effective feedback.

Today, a state information system to monitor the state of interethnic and interreligious relations and prevent conflict situations at an early stage, which was developed by the federal agency, is being introduced in the regions. Feedback with municipalities, prompt information from the scene about sensitive points, will help avert conflicts and will also help us to adopt decisions on the construction (where necessary) of social facilities and housing, the creation of jobs, transport and utilities infrastructure.

At present, 37 regions are fully integrated into the monitoring system. In the near future, this practice should be spread to all regions of the Russian Federation.

Now a few words about personnel policy. As I have already said, we have determined the professional standard and must form a system of training specialists and upgrading their skills. Federal and basic regional universities could become a key link in this system. They have the necessary foundation and are the closest to the requirements of the regions of the Russian Federation and know their specific features.

In addition, federal and other major universities have amassed vast experience of working with young people of different ethnic origins. At present, a number of federal universities, including the North Caucasus, Southern, Crimean, and North-Eastern universities have a programme of advanced training that includes an ethnic component. As a rule, this training concerns issues of anti-terrorist security and prevention of political extremism among the younger generation.

I consider it expedient to instruct the Ministry of Education and the Federal Agency, with the participation of the regions, to submit proposals on the establishment in federal and basic universities of centres for regular and advanced training of personnel in the area of interethnic relations. It is necessary to determine the personnel requirements of the regions and municipalities and elaborate an organisational and financial mechanism for their training, retraining and advanced training.

Targeted admission at the request of the regions could be one of the options. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, the greatest interest in specialists in interethnic relations is seen in such regions of the Russian Federation as Stavropol Territory, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Tatarstan. Specialists are now trained in various areas: study of Russia’s regions, political science, religious studies, theology, cultural history, anthropology and ethnology.

In this academic year, the targeted admission quota for these specialist fields amounted to 183 places, seven more than last year. On the whole the demand is growing but there is still an enormous deficit in the training of personnel in these fields in the Russian Federation.

That said, we are witnessing a certain overabundance of some specialists, such as economists and managers who later on experience difficulties with finding a job and have to undergo retraining or get jobs in other areas. I think the regions could redistribute these quotas in favour of specialists in ethnic relations with guaranteed employment.

Colleagues, the peoples of our country are historically united by a common territory, culture and the state language. These are integral parts of developing and strengthening interethnic unity. That is why it is vitally important to support the projects that aim to develop Russian civil identity and civil consolidation, primarily, the so-called internet projects. Today, internet users include not only young people but actually people from all social and age groups. We have quality examples of projects, for instance, the Культура.рф website dedicated to Russia’s cultural heritage. However, so far there are very few such resources, especially at the regional level in the Russian Federation. I think that regional grant contests should prioritise internet projects in the sphere of interethnic relations and strengthening the unity of the Russian nation.

The same applies to cinema and media. Products of a patriotic nature have indeed started to appear in our country, such as stories of legendary figures and events that brought glory to Russia. However, sadly, these products are not hugely popular with film providers. I have to mention the media, who seek scoops and avoid taking any responsibility for the possible negative consequences of the ways they present ethnic themes. To implement projects, we have to take active efforts and use existing mechanism for providing subsidies and grants and awarding prizes to authors.

In conclusion, I will touch upon, probably, the main thing – school. It is school that creates the foundation for civic education, knowledge of Russian as the state language and the language of interethnic communication, respect for the history and culture of a particular people and all peoples of our great country. It is obvious that it is necessary to make adjustments to the Federal State Educational Standards and pay greater attention to issues of interethnic relations, their proper representation, and teaching methods. At the same time, work should be done to develop corresponding textbooks and study guides. Shortly, changes will be introduced to the Social Studies standards. The work has already begun, and the regions of the Russian Federation should be more involved in it.

Mr President, colleagues,

The new school year will soon begin. I propose recommending that schools dedicate Knowledge Day to the interethnic unity and ethnocultural diversity of the Russian Federation's peoples. I am absolutely convinced that members of our Council can take an active part in organising and holding such classes.

Thank you for your attention.


<…>


Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

I understand that we could carry on talking for a long time because we are all passionate about what we are doing, and this is undoubtedly an important matter.

I hope that our work, as I have already said at the previous meetings, will not be reduced to such discussions alone, but will continue. Mr Magomedov, I hope, is doing his job well – collecting materials, participating in your work in the different sections. This work is very important, and I would like to thank you for it and for the specific proposals that you have made during our meeting today. We will try to respond to all that.

I do not know what we will be able to do. I would like to put into practice most of your ideas, because I did not hear a single empty word today. It was all important, all interesting. We will not be able to implement everything in one go, but we will work hard.

Thank you very much for the invitation and the souvenirs. Mr Magomedov will pass all of them along to me later.

Thank you very much. All the best.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55109






Meeting with Acting Head of Mari El Republic Alexander Yevstifeyev



At the end of his trip to Yoshkar-Ola, Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Acting Head of the Mari El Republic Alexander Yevstifeyev.



July 20, 2017 - 19:30 - Yoshkar-Ola



Mr Yevstifeyev updated the President on the socioeconomic situation in the republic. They also discussed questions that Mari El residents raised with the President during the Direct Line.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55110
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Old July 29th, 2017 #528
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Meeting with students from Sirius Educational Centre - PART I



Vladimir Putin met with students from the Sirius Educational Centre for Talented Children in Sochi.



July 21, 2017 - 19:10 - Sochi







Vladimir Putin answered the students’ questions and reviewed some of their projects.

The President was shown, among other things, a device for laboratory blood testing, the so-called Lab of the Future, which, according to its inventors, can replace a number of tests with just one. Vladimir Putin also saw a wireless charging device for drones used to inspect power lines. Also, young scientists showed the President a technology they are proposing for computer processing of x-ray images, and the Moon Greenhouse project which studied possibilities for growing plants in the moon’s gravity.

The Sirius Educational Centre was established on the basis of the Olympic infrastructure at the President’s initiative in December 2014. The aim of the centre was to reveal talent early, and develop and support gifted children from all Russian regions. These are children who display exceptional abilities in the arts, sports, the natural sciences or who have achieved success in technical creativity.

Every month 600 children aged from 10 to 17 receive tuition-free education at the centre. They are guided by over 100 teachers and coaches. The 24-day programme includes studies on a specialty, intellectual games, workshops, meetings with recognised professionals in their area of knowledge, sets of health-building programmes, and general education classes during the school year.









President Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon friends,

Your session and the academic year are coming to a close. So let’s say our meeting is timed to these.

But for the beginning of our meeting, and I hope it will be interesting to everyone, I would like to return to where we started and say how this project – Sirius – came about.

You know that all countries that host major international competitions like the Olympic Games, always face a challenging question – what to do with the buildings and facilities, all that infrastructure that was built for these major international competitions. We, Russia and the city of Sochi, also faced this question. We had various plans for them; and we built a lot. In fact, Sochi has changed its image a lot and become a major international resort destination.

But I really wanted that project to be expanded with something that would truly be worthy of the Olympic legacy. This is how the initial idea came to create sport centres here – but for popular sports for which we, as they say today, have the greatest aptitude. These are primarily winter sports because we hosted the Winter Games and there were plenty of artificial ice arenas. First of all, I thought about ice hockey and figure skating.

Then it occurred to me: Why just sports? Why just sports for which we have developed an aptitude over decades? We have other abilities – for example, in science, education and the arts. We have always been proud of our musicians and our ballet, and the world admires them. Then I remembered that we also have specialised educational institutions that were established back in the Soviet times and still exist. These are not only ten-year schools for future conservatory students but also physics and mathematics schools, chemistry schools, and biology courses that opened later.

All these things I just mentioned are what we need now and what will be in great demand in the short and long term. This is how I eventually arrived at the conclusion that we need to create a multidisciplinary centre. I shared this idea with some of my colleagues in Moscow. They all are very intelligent, progressive people and competent professionals. They told me, although not directly but through our common connections: “This will not work.” I said: “Why not?” “Because if you bring all your big hockey players together, and they are strong boys, they will start by beating up those mathematicians in their nerdy glasses.” (Laughter.)

Frankly speaking, I had certain concerns but then I talked to the outstanding hockey players, our national pride by right. And they said, “Do not worry about it!” I asked why. “Because our guys who achieved real success in sports, they know the true cost of victory and they know it requires talent and hard work. They will absolutely value that in others.”

The director of the centre told me that she believes this is how it is going now. And this means that the project was necessary and it is successful. I want to congratulate you because it is your achievement above all.



Television anchor Irada Zeinalova:

Now we will watch this unchildish conversation that is very important not only for children who will ask you questions but also for us. We will find out what they think and what they really want because adults often do not understand this. We will try to minimise our participation and will not be acting as moderators – we will just be here with the children. So let us get right to the questions.

Guys, raise your hands, stand up and introduce yourselves. All of you have an opportunity to ask the President a question.



Remark:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Artyom. First of all, I would like to thank you for this place. Thank you for Sirius. I think the whole of Sirius joins me in that.



Vladimir Putin:

By the way, Artyom, I can also boast that I invented the name. I was thinking for a long time of a name that would combine everything in your future educational centre, so that the name would make it clear that this centre is for talented, bright young people that look to the future. When I said “bright” to myself, I recalled that Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. This is how the name emerged, by the way. I think it fits well, how about you?



Remark:

I totally agree.

In general, my specialty is science but my question is not about science. I am an active user of the internet and as such I would like to ask you: Do you use social media or are you perhaps planning to use it? Say, when you come home after a hard day of work, do you look at Instagram or watch YouTube?



Vladimir Putin:

A hard day of work ends so late for me that I have no time for Instagram. I think about how to get to my bed as fast as possible. (Laughter.) My staff in the Executive Office use the internet very actively, but, to be honest, I practically never use it myself.







Irada Zeinalova:

By the way, they use a language of their own, such as “tags” or “nicks”, and if you were a user, what nickname would you choose for yourself, as there are already one million accounts named “Vladimir Putin” or “Real Vladimir Putin” out there?



Vladimir Putin:

I am aware that there is a bunch of all sorts of accounts, somewhere around 5,000, I believe. I have nothing to do with any of them, so that you and other users know. What is being written there on my behalf, is not written by me. I hope they do not write anything bad there, but, again, it is not me. This is my first point.

Second, with regard to nicknames. It is a pseudonym. As you may be aware, I started my career in the foreign intelligence service, and I sometimes used cover names out of technical necessity, but using a nickname now would be plainly ridiculous, I certainly would not choose any, and would use my own name. By the way, I think it is the right thing to do for everyone. Why hide behind pseudonyms? When I studied at the intelligence school, my pseudonym was “Platov.” Everyone had pseudonyms, because that line of work involves a certain degree of conspiracy. Why do so here? Why hide? I believe that it should be the other way round: If a person does something worthy and interesting, something he or she can be proud of, one should take credit for it. Why hide behind a pseudonym? I am not sure about this. Anyway, I think I answered your question.



Irada Zeinalova:

We are not hiding, either. This is being broadcast not only on the NTV Channel, but also on ntv.ru website, and (I learned a lot of new words while preparing this programme) on our Vkontakte account and on YouTube video hosting. So everyone can watch us now.



Television host Sergei Malozyomov:

And I would like to draw your attention to the fact that online broadcasting offers us some technical opportunities that, unfortunately, television is unable to provide so far. For instance, in our studio there are two boxes on stands – these are 360-degree cameras. They provide a complete view, showing everything that is happening around them in the studio. And the most important thing is that you can choose, on your mobile device or computer, a segment of the studio that you want to peruse and zoom in on it. And, for example, your parents or your friends, all who have gathered there, they will be able to watch you, what you are doing during this unchildish discussion.



Television host Yegor Kolyvanov:

Well, it is a secret agent's dream. Anyway, let us take questions from the children. OK?







Question:

Good morning, Mr President.

My name is Ivan.

We are aware that being a President is a very hard job, great responsibility lies on your shoulders. And I have a purely human question. Would you like to relieve yourself of this burden at least for a day, during which you would not be a President? What would you do on such a day?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, I regard myself as an ordinary person. True, my job cannot be called ordinary due to its specific characteristics. Even so, I live a normal, ordinary life. There is just certain degree of stress, of course – moral, psychological and physical. And yet, I live a normal, ordinary life, that is, not when there is spare time, but I plan my work schedule in such a way as to afford myself spare time for some creative development, to listen to music, to play sports, to spend time with my friends. I set aside special time for that. But then, I was used to living like that long before I became President. Little has changed for me, except certain specific features related to carrying out my presidential duties.

So, I see nothing special here. And there is nothing special that I would like to do if I relieved myself of this burden, as you said. But still, I will have to do it some day as there are term limits for the President, which are set by the Constitution.

You are all young people, but you probably know, should know, that I had a possibility, and they even begged me at the time to amend the Constitution. I refused to do it, nor do I intend to do it in the future. All is written in the Constitution. As for whether I should continue to carry on in this capacity, I have not made a decision yet, I will think about it. In 2018, as you know, an election will be held. There is still time before the election campaign, so we will see. But, on the whole, I believe that I live a normal life, though with certain specific characteristics, which, to my mind, exist in every occupation.

Look, you have guys in creative occupations here – musicians and future ballet dancers. We know what it takes to be an amazing musician or ballet dancer. It is gruelling work, day and night. Sometimes I look at some of my friends – musicians at a high international level – they are working 12 to 15 hours a day. Those who play string instruments develop callouses, almost to the point that their fingers bleed. This is what it means to devote oneself to something. Or take ballet where guys and girls have to work so hard. Their training is mind bogging. Or take the career of a scientist – they are peculiar people altogether. They are so engrossed in what they do that sometimes they do not notice anything around them.

But I still think that a person must be well-rounded. This is why, to be honest, I thought up this structure for Sirius – for you and your peers to come here, focus seriously on certain specialties and have an opportunity to interact with other students that are engaged in other types of activities. Athletes can see how science lovers – for instance, maths, biology or chemistry – live, work and think, and budding scientists can see what future musicians or ballet dancers do and how they live and set their minds on work. Such interaction is designed to help you develop, and develop in a well-rounded way. I think this is exactly what is taking place here, in Sirius.

I am trying to organise my life in the same way, too. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes not, but this is what I set my mind on.



Question:

And what would you choose yourself – science, art, or, for instance, sports, if you has such an opportunity?



Vladimir Putin:

I think I have already made my choice. (Laughter.)



Remark:

Politics.



Vladimir Putin:

Of course.



Remark:

Thank you very much.



Sergei Malozyomov:

Question from behind your left shoulder. Please, do not forget to introduce yourself.



Question:

Good afternoon, my name is Maria. When you have spare time, what do you like doing the most? Do you do something creative? What is it?



Vladimir Putin:

Look Masha, I have just said that I have very little spare time but I try to do things. It is just that I have a schedule, let us put it that way. At certain times I try to do certain things. I allot certain time – and quite some time – for sports, listening to music and spending time with friends. I allot time for all this purposefully, I schedule it. If I do not do that I will not have time for anything. But there is one more secret – the more you do, the more you are able to do. You should not be idle, should not spare yourself, that is for sure. And I have already said what I do. I like reading, especially historical literature. I like listening to music and playing sports, and socialising with friends – just like everyone else, just like you.







Irada Zeinalova:

And now a question from our rostrum.



Question:

Mr Putin, good afternoon. I would like to ask you what you are going to do after you leave the post of President.



Vladimir Putin:

I have not yet decided yet whether I will leave the post of the President or not. Only after I answer this question for myself will I think about my next step.

There are a lot of interesting things to do in the world. This is not to say that I should sit and only write memoirs. After all, you can engage in political activity outside your presidential duties, really. There are public organisations and there are other areas that are very interesting to me, for example, ecology. I like this area very much and I consider it promising for the present and the future. You may have noticed that for several years in a row I participated with scientists in various activities related to the protection of rare species: tigers, polar bears, white whales, and so on. I enjoy this greatly. It fascinates me, so I will definitely find what to do. First, the main question should be answered.



Question:

Good afternoon, I am Darya Ilyina from Veliky Novgorod. My specialty is painting.

My question is this. You support many Russian artists who have graduated from Russia’s leading higher education institutions. How can young people from the regions get into these institutions considering the problem that many regional schools – not in Moscow or St Petersburg – are simply not supported and not given consideration to ensure that there is a single programme to enter these institutions? In other words, sometimes talented artists have no chance of getting there because they do not paint within a certain school.



Vladimir Putin:

You know, this is a difficult question for me, and I do not really understand what it means to paint within a certain school. However, I believe that if a person wants to achieve a goal and knows that a given institution of higher learning has certain requirements then he or she should try to meet these requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly what there requirements are and do your best, especially with modern methods of distance learning. Perhaps this is not the simplest choice, not the easiest way of solving the problem but when a person decides what to do, he or she should look for ways of doing it, showing talent and perseverance.

Regarding administrative authorities, here of course we will try to do all we can, especially at the regional level, to support art schools. They were traditionally established here in previous decades. And by the way, many of them are quite successful. However, they are focused on ensuring that their students enter two or three higher education institutions in Moscow and St Petersburg, I do not know exactly. If you think this is something that needs to be addressed, we will do so.

And then, you know, when a person is really talented, he or she will be noticed anyway. He will go the Ilya Repin Institute in St Petersburg or Moscow institutes and I am sure professors will not ignore such a person.



Irada Zeinalova:

Mr President, you will agree that there is no precise instrument for measuring talent. It is a very subjective matter. The questions that you are being asked now about something human cannot be measures by an instrument, either. It is only possible to create some categories, to decide what is important to you.

Could you please name three main values in your life? Three main things in your life?



Vladimir Putin:

In my life or in general?



Irada Zeinalova:

In yours. In your life.



Vladimir Putin:

In life?



Irada Zeinalova:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Why three? Why not five?



Irada Zeinalova:

Because preparing for this conversation we conducted a poll of Vkontakte users. We asked them what is important to them. In other words, these unmeasurable things can only be compared. It is important for us adults to see how well we understand those who will supersede us.



Vladimir Putin:

All right, I gained some time to think about it while you answered. What could I say? If I had to name three values in life they would be: first, life itself, it is the greatest value, then love, and freedom. It is possible to write treatises on each of these values. They have already been written and can be written without end. Speaking about life, which is so valuable, is it possible to define it – is it a purely biological condition or is it intellectual? It is possible to talk at length about the nature of love. There are relations between a man and a woman, but there is also love for parents, and love for the Motherland. But, let me repeat that these are all separate things. What is freedom? Where is it? How far does it go? And where does it end? It ends where we start transgressing on the freedom of other people. How to compare one’s own freedom with the freedom of another person?

It is possible to think endlessly on each of these positions but in my mind, these are the most important values – life itself, love and freedom.



Irada Zeinalova:

Thank you very much. We are now launching a poll on Vkontakte: What is important to its users, that is, the younger audience? At the end of our meeting, we will tally the results and analyse them.

And now a few more questions.







Head of the Talent and Success Foundation Yelena Shmelyova:

Mr President, let me introduce one of the youngest students of our session, Kirill Shapovalov. Kirill is a figure skater from Moscow and he is 10 years old. Let me pass him the microphone.



Kirill Shapovalov:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My question is, what is your most vivid memory from childhood?



Vladimir Putin:

Well, I am a big kid now, some of my vivid memories have faded.

You know, probably, speaking of the most vivid ones… As a child, I spent most of my time playing in the street, in the courtyard in the centre of Leningrad, a large city. Boys my age spent most of their time there. This was a sort of “university” and a school of life. I will not go into details, but one such vivid memory I have is – let me put it this way – my incorrect behaviour towards a person and his abrupt response. This happened several times; but it is a thing you can learn from, and you learn not just to be polite to other people but to have respect for them. This is relevant, but it does not mean one should spend most of their time in the street as I did. Such experience can be gained at Sirius as well.

Later, in my adolescent years, when I began to play sports, the most vivid memories are from competitions. I began with sambo, then all of us in our group switched to judo, and even at local competitions there were some highlights I still remember to this day. One such moment was when my opponent and I really pushed ourselves to the limit. I can still remember him clearly. I could barely breathe, and I only won by a hair’s breadth. I am still proud that I was able to win and that I gave it my all.

So these are some memories, vivid memories, that I can still recall. By the way, the ability to go all the way to achieve your goal is a very good quality.



Question:

Good evening, Mr President, my name is Artyom. I am on the Russian national ice hockey team.

As you are aware, hockey is an aggressive sport. My question for you is how do you handle aggression directed towards you? Do you allow yourself to be aggressive towards other people?



Vladimir Putin:

Aggression has been part of our make-up since prehistoric times, when our ancestors were in an animal or semi-animal state. However, the more intelligent and the more educated people are, the less aggressive they are. In any case, they are much better at controlling it.

Of course, I constantly run into stressful or semi-stressful situations, I do not like many things, but I learned to restrain myself. I am not sure how it looks from the outside, but I think that I am good at it. Moreover, I believe that this is a great advantage in dealing with people, especially ones who cannot control these emotions. I may fly off the handle occasionally, which is extremely rare, and, frankly, I get very angry with myself when it happens, because I believe that the manifestation of aggression in today's world, in today's society, in relations between people is a manifestation of weakness. I do not like this. When there are no arguments left to make, a person begins to behave aggressively. Overall, I manage to cope with it, which is what I wish for you, too.



Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Oksana Pshenichko. I'm from Mezhdurechensk, the Kemerovo Region.

I have a serious question related to education. In addition to my studies, I participate in projects and take part in young physicist contests at school. We study physical phenomena from all angles, which includes theory and, importantly, practice. However, physics at school is taught differently, and, unfortunately, the focus is on the Unified State Exam.



Vladimir Putin:

Differently as compared to what?



Oksana Pshenichko:

Different from our contests and research activities. The focus is on the exam, and almost all the time is spent on learning definitions and solving standard tasks simply because they are part of the test. However, the students no longer understand why the world looks the way it does, and what is going on around us. Importantly, interest in physics is declining. How should the education system and the teaching of physics in general be improved, so that interest in the natural sciences in children stays alive? This also affects the state of affairs in our country, does it not? Anyway, is it realistic to make any major changes in our time?

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Global changes occur at all times – simply at different rates. In the Middle Ages, there was one rate of change and in our days it is significantly higher, which has to do with the accumulation of knowledge. The more knowledge mankind has, the faster the changes. In addition, of course, there is the accumulation factor. First, there is accumulation and then there is a leap. So it seems that we are now on the threshold of a leap and of course physics is very important, which means that changes should also be introduced to the teaching system. I will not tell you now exactly what needs to be done or how the teaching of certain subjects should be changed, for example, physics or mathematics. This is up to specialists. I cannot speak for experts and it would be wrong – as they say, counterproductive – and even harmful to do so because this is of course primarily something for specialists to decide.

Nevertheless, we have very good examples of modern methods of teaching natural sciences. For example, Nobel Prize winner Zhores Alferov has wonderfully combined a secondary school and higher education institution. I have been there and was greatly impressed. Young people there earn advanced degrees – Candidates of Science and Doctors of Science. All of this is done in a single complex. So there are good examples, of course, and not only here but also, for instance, at Moscow University. I am a member of its Board of Trustees. Therefore, we do have good examples.

Regarding the Unified State Exam you have mentioned and the associated dogmatism, this is bad, because the USE was not originally conceived as a dogmatic system. And if this is the way it works, of course, something must be changed. However, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that after all is said and done, the USE is not directly related to a pro forma approach toward teaching.

For example, a lot of national academic contests are held in our country and their winners enter higher education institutions directly, without any USE. It is noteworthy that this year, 21 people have scored 300 on the USE. Experts previously said that it was impossible. However, this proved possible – moreover, 21 people have done it. Some of them were allowed to waive the USE but they went and passed it anyway. This goes to show that in and of itself, the USE does not carry any negative elements, but problems do exist and it is important that efforts are taken to address them, as you yourself have said.

On the positive side, as you know, before the USE was introduced on a full scale, only a small proportion of young people from the periphery got into the country’s leading higher education institutions – just 10–15 percent. Today, over 60 percent of young people from the periphery – not Moscow or St Petersburg – enter the country’s top education institutions. This has significantly expanded the geographical scope and opportunities for talented, gifted young people from all over Russia and there are no preferences only for those who live in Moscow or St Petersburg. This is definitely on the plus side but of course the USE needs to be improved.







Yelena Shmelyova:

Mr President, let me introduce colleagues who are not currently here. We have been operating for two years exactly, and over 100 Sirius graduates are winners of international and very significant contests and Olympiads. During this July session, we sent the Russian national mathematics team to the International Mathematics Olympiad in Rio. And we decided that it would be unfair if they cannot ask you a question, which is why we recorded one question from them. Can we show it now?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, of course.



Question:

Mr President, will the work of tutors and teachers be rewarded, those who trained a medalist for an International Mathematics Olympiad? For example, will they be awarded the Merited Teacher of the Russian Federation title?



Vladimir Putin:

We have a whole reward system for both coaches and teachers. And tutors who train you for such large events – and they obviously do good, excellent work, our children keep on winning, taking first place (first and second place) at such internationals contests – so if those rewards do not reach them, it is clearly an oversight on the part of respective administrative bodies. We will correct that oversight.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

By the way, I would like to remind you that a few days ago equally talented children came back from the International Chemistry Olympiad in Thailand, and they did not come back empty-handed. They had won two gold and two silver medals at the international competitions. I think this deserves a round of applause. It is really cool for me as someone who was always just average in chemistry.

Here on the same stand with me are world football champions. See, we do have them. No matter what, we have world football champions. They are Pasha and Sasha, winners of the international competition among children’s homes. Is that right? They would like to talk to you.



Question:

Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

Are you Sasha or Pasha?



Question:

I am Sasha.

Mr President, thank you very much for the gift, all the children are happy, for the football facility. It will open in September. All the children from the Totem football club, from the home, will be expecting you at the opening of the facility.



Vladimir Putin:

I think we met, yes, we did.



Remark:

Yes, at the Confederations Cup.



Vladimir Putin:

Is this an invitation? Or is there a question to follow?



Remark:

An invitation.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.



Remark:

My name is Pasha.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes Pasha, go ahead, I am listening to you.



Question:

Mr President, will our national team win the World Cup?



Vladimir Putin:

Pasha, which of us is the world champion? Answer, please.



Remark:

I am. (Laughter.)



Vladimir Putin:

Please, tell me, as an expert, will our national team win the World Cup? (Laughter.)

Sit down. (Applause.)



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Anything could happen.







Question:

Good afternoon, my name is Alla.

Mr President, there was a torrential downpour on June 22, the Day of Memory and Sorrow, during the wreath-laying ceremony. You stood in the rain without an umbrella. Does this gesture have anything to do with paying tribute to the memory of fallen soldiers?



Vladimir Putin:

First, the rain started unexpectedly, which it does now and then.

Second. I do not think that those who used their umbrellas broke any rule, especially women, since they do … Here, the artists know what women do. (Laughter) Therefore, they must take precautions and look good.

As for me, it never occurred to me. You know, war is not just about blood and death, no matter how sad it may sound. Of course, there is both blood and death, and they are part of the horrors of war. But, among other things, war is also about hard work. The troops either advance or retreat, and they are in the field all the time, during the day, at night, in the summer, in the winter, in the snow, and in the rain. They never catch a break. They do not go home when their fighting day is over. They live and die in the field. This is a terrible situation. So, it did not even occur to me that I could grab an umbrella at the very moment when the wreath was laid. Indeed, it was raining heavily, but I did not think about it. I did not make a decision to do something in particular. It simply did not occur to me that I could do something differently. I believe that this is normal. We are not made of sugar, we will not melt.







Question:

Mr President,

My name is Eva. I am a pianist, in the art department.

I have a question that, I think, concerns many young musicians. Currently ninth-graders take four exams under the Main State Exam: Russian language, math, and two subjects of their choice. Is it possible for the students of specialised music schools to take the musical exam under the Main State Exam, such as specialty, musical literature, or solfeggio? After all, we devote most of our time to musical subjects.



Vladimir Putin:

You know, this question should also be answered by experts. There is an Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, a corresponding ministry, and you also have mentors. I believe, but I am not well-versed in this subject, that it is possible. However, I am sure that there will be objections regarding the fact that if someone receives a certificate of education at a certain level, he or she must necessarily have a certain set of knowledge, and an all-round education. So, they will tell you, it is necessary that our students know this and that. However, in my opinion, I would listen to what you are saying, and I will talk with my colleagues about this.



Remark:

Thank you.







Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

Hello.



Question:

It is good to see you in good form.

My question is this. Recently, Oliver Stone made a documentary film about you. Tell me, what do you think about the filming process as a whole? What about the film director? Did he take any liberty with the truth? And what did you like more – your interview with Vladimir Solovyov or this documentary?



Vladimir Putin:

What I like the most about this film is Oliver Stone himself. He is a remarkable man, a profound, well balanced and pleasant interlocutor.

How was the process organised? I am a little hard put to say because it was so unexpected for me. Of course, I knew that a film crew would come but with the pressure of work – my press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, would come to me for the umpteenth time and say: “Mr President, it is time to go. They are waiting for you.” I would go and we would talk and then I would forget about them. However, they would not forget about me. They would return again and again. In other words, this happened several times – two, three, five – I do not even remember how many times we met.

Regarding how objectively they got everything across. From what I saw, and I did not see everything – as I said earlier, they gave me a cassette with all the episodes. I was flying home from abroad and I put it on to watch but fell asleep because I was tired, so I did not see it to the end but will definitely do so. Still, I believe – actually, I am sure that Oliver Stone is a very decent person and that he did not distort anything. From what I saw – to repeat, I saw one and a half instalments – everything is correct.







Question:

Good afternoon, my name is Svetlana. I am at the Russian Ballet Academy in St Petersburg.



Vladimir Putin:

So I see. I could tell right away.



Question:

I have a specific question. In May 2013, we had a grand event – the opening of the Mariinsky Theatre 2. After that, the Mariisky Theatre 1, the historical stage, was to have been renovated. However, time is going by and nothing is happening. What could – let me put it this way – help expedite this process?



Vladimir Putin:

I do not know. This needs to be taken up with Valery Gergiev. I do not think there are any financial problems behind this process and I do not think that there are any difficulties with architectural or other agencies. When the new buildings were built – you are a young girl, but surely you know that there was a lot of controversy in St Petersburg about whether such a modern building as the second stage should be introduced into the city’s architectural ambience. However, finally, a decision was made to build it and it was built. In my opinion, it is one of the best theatres in the world in terms of technical equipment, acoustics and convenience for both the performers and the audience.

Regarding the old stage, everything should be simply renovated – there are no difficulties or disputes there. I will look into this, I promise you, but I do not know what has caused the delay. Maybe someone is not ready for this. I do not know, maybe Mr Gergiev’s repertoire is so arranged that at this point he wants both stages to be in operation. I will find out, but there will be no problems. We will renovate the old building as well.

There is another, more pressing problem there: Troupe members need housing. We are currently working on this and Mr Gergiev is thinking about it, too. He is working on it but I will help him.

Yes, please.



Question:

My name is Alisa. I study science. Here is my question. What event in your life influenced you most?



Vladimir Putin:

An event in my life?



Remark:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

You have put me in a somewhat difficult spot. There were probably no such events that caused a sudden change, or rather there were, but as for the influence… I will try to talk seriously. Perhaps it was the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is an adult answer, sorry, but you asked me an adult question.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Tell us, please, what year you were born.



Remark:

2000.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

The girl was not even there to see it.







Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Maria. Here is my question. How did you do at school? What do you remember from the school curricula?



Vladimir Putin:

I did fine at school, but nothing outstanding. What I found curious and what, I believe, is important for you as well, is that I studied at one school up to eighth grade, including the eighth grade, and then moved to another school. It was a school affiliated with a technological university and it specialised in natural sciences: chemistry, physics.

I went there, but something occurred to me, and I decided to enter the law department at university. But when I saw what entrance exams had to be passed in the law department, I realised that I might have made the wrong choice. In order to pass the exams, I needed to improve my foreign language skills, which were very poor, and to focus on history and literature. My teachers immediately noticed that.

But what is important and what I would like to say now is that I am very grateful to my teachers. They noticed me, summoned me and asked me: “Will you study?” I told them honestly that I made up my mind to go to university. They asked me just one question: “Are you being serious? Is that true?” I said: “Yes.” “In that case,” they said, “you should do this, this and this.” I said: “Yes, I know it.” And they deserve credit, they helped me, took care of me. I am still grateful to them for their help. I got into university and graduated. And so on and so forth.

So, first, it is important to decide as soon as possible, make this choice and, second, it is important to understand how to attain your goal, what is necessary for it. And, of course, it is very important to meet understanding people who would support you. I was lucky to have such people.







Sergei Malozyomov:

Mr President, many have the same goal you were talking about, I think actually everyone who has come to Sirius.

I wanted to note that the talk we are having today is serious, unchildish – by the way, this is our event's official hashtag that girls and boys use when posting their pictures on social media. Is it also unchildish because many of those present here are engaged into activities that many adults would find complicated.

As one of the people behind the popular science programme Chudo Tekhniki (Technological Marvels) on NTV, I have found here many potential themes and characters, and they are absolutely grown-up.

For instance, the Aircraft of the Future is a device designed after a living organism – its creators will now speak about it in detail. Please, go ahead, this is very interesting.



Remark:

Good afternoon, I am Sasha.



Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, Sasha!



Remark:

I am from Moscow.

While developing this aircraft, we used optimisation technologies which replicate the evolutionary process – that is, we used the latest programmes to develop the fuselage virtually.



Vladimir Putin:

Naturalistic technologies are the most promising area.



Remark:

Biological design. And we checked which zones of the material were used the least in analysing the stress, and we got rid of them. So we made a fuselage with a shape similar to an animal skeleton, and this shape is the most optimal one.



Vladimir Putin:

What animal?



Remark:

We will see how it will come out.



Sergei Malozyomov:

They removed everything unnecessary, with only bones and ligaments left.



Vladimir Putin:

Can I see it?



Remark:

Sure.



Sergei Malozyomov:

The result was a very light structure to save fuel and material.



Remark:

I also have to say that one rather important point of our project is that we are the first to have used the optimisation technology for developing not separate parts but the whole of the aircraft fuselage.



Sergei Malozyomov:

Guys, have you got a question to ask the President?



Remark:

Yes, our team would like to ask a question on behalf of the Future of Aviation section that built that drone. I’ll pass the microphone to my colleague.



Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President, My name is Alexei, I am from St Petersburg.

As is known, the main sources of energy in Russia are non-renewable resources such as oil, natural gas and coal.



Vladimir Putin:

Well, actually, that is debatable, they are said to be renewable to a certain degree, but it does not matter.



Remark:

But the resources may one day run out. And what will happen when that happens? How do you see the energy future of our country?



Vladimir Putin:

First of all, it is not going to happen any time soon. We keep on discovering more and more new deposits, confirmed ones at that. This concerns all the hydrocarbon raw materials: oil, gas and coal. As for what will happen, you and I know perfectly well: I think you are quite aware that the whole world is working on hydrogen energy, on renewable sources of energy, on bio fuels. Humankind has a wide variety of choices. The challenge is that it should be more efficient and cheaper than hydrocarbons. But this issue must be addressed today, and we must think about it today.

I have already quoted one of Saudi Arabia’s energy ministers, I like that quote very much: he said the Stone Age ended not because people ran out of stones but because new technologies appeared. It is the same here, new technologies keep springing up, and we must be on top of this progress, we have to think about it now and get ready for it. And we do, we do so fairly actively in various fields. And I hope we will be fully plugged in when it becomes necessary.







Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Daniil, I am from Dolgoprudny in the Moscow Region. I would like to ask you whether there will be further material support for the projects that we are doing here in Sirius and the many projects by budding inventors throughout Russia? Or will they never see the light of day?



Vladimir Putin:

As for whether they will see the light of day or not, I would like all of them to. Of course, this largely depends on how interesting they are, how much demand there is for them and what prospects they have. We have a whole system of grant support for young researchers in different areas. You have probably heard that in 2010 we launched mega grant support. But this is for outstanding scientists who have worked both in our country and abroad. Many of them came to Russia and established, if I remember well, 200 large labs since 2010. I met with them several months ago. They asked me to extend this programme and we have done so.

We have established several options of grant support for young researchers. One is individual support for, I think, a year or a year and a half. A small sum is allotted for it but it is still 1.5 million roubles. There is also support for research groups. Three million roubles are earmarked for it, and it may be extended. I think its term is two years plus another three.

And there is also support for labs. This is for a fairly large team of researchers and the grant is already 30 million roubles.

This year we allocated an additional three billion roubles. In all, we will earmark 50 billion roubles for the grant support system in the next few years. Let me repeat that this is an additional sum. Apart from funding science, academic science in general, all this is aimed at supporting young researchers.

By the way, those colleagues whom I met in Moscow, in the Kremlin, who asked me to extend grant support, spoke about the need to attract young scientists in many areas, such as environmental protection, agricultural sciences, physics and artificial intelligence. Work is being conducted in all of these areas. In the framework of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, we have several options for supporting young specialists in various areas, for instance, Rusnano and Skolkovo that is building technology parks now. Technology parks for children are being established in 24 regions; 24 technology parks have been set up for young people, and another 17 technology parks will be established in 17 regions before the end of this year. So in general, there are places for you to go. I wish you good luck.







Sergei Malozyomov:

Mr President, when we spoke here with young inventors, scientists and innovators another problem came up. They want not only financial but also legislative support. For instance, there is Sasha Kesarin, a molecular biologist from Pskov. Were you 14 when you illegally went to a university and a lab? Formally his documents did not allow him to go there but he made a deal and went there all the same. Tell us about it.



Alexander Kesarin:

I was working on ecology when I went into a university because our labs did not have the necessary equipment and there were no specialised labs for research in biochemistry and molecular biology. But I have a different question: How can young researchers get a license for a patent? Under the legislation, this is not quite legal because such permits are issued to people 18 and older, if I am not mistaken. Or am I wrong? What about children who managed to create something when they are 14 or 15, before coming of age? They simply cannot act as entrepreneurs or engage in such activities.



Vladimir Putin:

Look, as for entrepreneurship and the age when it becomes legal and full-fledged, our current legislation, our law allows a person upon reaching 14 years to be employed but it is necessary to observe many labour rules and restrictions. They apply to the number of hours of work per day and per week, and also other aspects. For instance, if a young man studies, he must be granted opportunities to continue his education and so on. There is a whole package of requirements.

Next stage is 16 years – 16-year-olds are allowed.

As for entrepreneurship, there really are certain restrictions. What do they involve? Say, a 14-year-old man is not quite legally competent. Suppose, a person involved in business at this age wants to take out a loan. Who will be responsible to the creditor? There are also a number of other consequences. But I still think that considering how this area of activity is developing and that many young people starting at age 14 can do it, it is necessary to make this legal. It is simply essential to think over an arrangement that would guarantee human rights without creating additional complications from the standpoint of exploitation of child labour, responsibility and the like. This can be done in principle. I have already thought about this. I will instruct the Executive Office and we will give it a try.

As for patent protection, to be honest, I do not see any problems or restrictions here. If someone invents something it does not matter what his age is. His invention must be protected. At that point, without attracting any financing, it is possible to receive an income and this income must be fully legalised. I agree with you completely.





[Some part of the conversation is missing here - Alex Him

Irada Zeinalova:

Agree, Vladimir Vladimirovich, absolutely non-children's issues are discussed, completely non-children's problems of patenting, the beginning of work activity, the legalization of their labor. And to us "VKontakte" on our page a lot of such questions came, which is surprising. On the one hand, it seems to us that somewhere in the Silicon Valley children start working at the age of 12 because they have completely different brains. No, here we have nothing worse than Silicon Valley. We are now launching a blitz poll on our "VKontakte" page: from what age would you like to start working - from 14, from 16, from 18, from 20 years? We, probably, something else will understand about this generation.



Vladimir Putin:

Write from fifty years there. Maybe someone wants to start working with fifty years.



Irada Zeinalova:

They have completely different brains.



Sergei Malozyomov:

I want to remind you about our Internet broadcasting capabilities, which provide these wonderful cameras with 360 degrees. You can put an image on any segment of interest to you in the studio. This device gives a voluminous picture, and your parents, your friends, can consider you or someone else. This is such a wonderful toy for those who watch us on the site of NTV.ru and on the official channel of NTV on YouTube.

But there is some technological fun for us and for you, Vladimir Vladimirovich. We have prepared a special version of one of the most popular programs of NTV, one of the oldest programs, it's already 23 years on the air - it's "Your game". Slightly changed the rules. As questions, here are questions from children. But we recorded them in advance, when the children did not know that you were coming here. We asked them hypothetically: what would you ask the President if you had the opportunity?

So, please, now on the screen there will be several topics, categories, in each category a few questions. We will offer you a choice of topic and question number. Please attention to the screens.

Today's categories: "The Price of the Matter", "We Have Been Through That", "With Friends It’s Fine", "Home Is Best" and my favorite category "A Pig in a Poke" - the most unexpected questions is here. Please choose a topic and one of the three questions within this topic.



Vladimir Putin:

Should I choose?



Sergei Malozyomov:

Yes, please.

"The Price of the Matter" is the economy,
"We Have Been Through That" it's education and science,
"With Friends It’s Fine" it's an international policy,
"Home Is Best" it's domestic policy,
"A Pig in a Poke" is questions are unexpected, with a surprise.



Vladimir Putin:

I chose "A Pig in a Poke".



Sergei Malozyomov:

What is the number of the question: first, second or third?



Vladimir Putin:

The first.



Sergei Malozyomov:

"A Pig in a Poke". The first question.]





Question:

(A video is shown.) I would like to make sure that our president is just an ordinary person. He goes to some places; he talks to somebody; he is always on an airplane or in a car. In fact, where is he? When does he get some time to sleep? Does he have any time left for his favourite dishes? What if he feels like having some fast food? This is a natural wish. In fact, does he ever go anywhere on his own, without a security detail in tow?



Sergei Malozyomov:

Supposing, Mr President, you would like to have a hot dog. Can you go and buy one? Is that the question?



Vladimir Putin:

No, I would not. (Laughter.) I do not want a hot dog.

Do you want me to tell you a story? Some of the guys who work with me will probably be hurt, but it is interesting and straightforward.

When I became the President they asked me in the Kremlin – you know, they do something, they cook something special there, so they asked me: “Mr President, what do you like? What dish would you like?” I said: “It makes no difference to me. What you make is okay – I do not need anything special.” “Perhaps you have some preferences?” I said: “I do not know.” Prior to that I had been to some place as a tourist so I said: “Grebeshki [Russian word meaning both scallops and chicken combs] would be nice.” They said: “Right.” The following day they brought me the grebeshki. I started eating. They asked: “Do you like them?” I said: “Yes, they are not bad.” However, I thought they tasted a bid odd. They said: “Thank God you like it because we had to behead so many chickens.”



Sergei Malozyomov:

They gave you chicken combs?



Vladimir Putin:

They thought that grebeshki meant chicken combs.

They are simple folks – this is just to show you that there is nothing special there. They are simple, unsophisticated people. Granted, now they know what grebeshki really are – that this is seafood.

Of course, taking this question further, I can say that there are certain limitations in my work and I cannot simply go out for a walk in the street – you know, how can I? Traffic will stop dead in its tracks. Although, whenever possible, wherever I have an opportunity, I try to talk to people, mingle with people when I attend certain events. Perhaps you see this when it is sometimes shown in the media. This is useful. Even just a few words in passing also matter.

Otherwise, as I said, despite the pressure of work, I try to organise my schedule so as to leave a little time for something else as well.







Sergei Malozyomov:

One more question. Choose a topic and a number, please.



Vladimir Putin:

Let us do “The Price of the Matter,” number two. What is it about?



Sergei Malozyomov:

Economics.



Vladimir Putin:

All right.



Question:

(A video is shown.) Mr Putin, I have an idea to introduce a common currency all over the world. What do you think about it? And do you think this idea is realistic at all?



Vladimir Putin:

The idea is good but it is unlikely to be carried out, at least now.

We have Bitcoin and other currencies. Our attitude to them is extremely wary because almost nothing has been regulated in this area. If you are interested in this you probably have seen that there were very high fluctuations on their markets quite recently. They may lead to very serious losses for the people or legal entities investing in these currencies. So today this project is difficult to realise but in the future it will certainly be possible. And if we think about this future, we must think about it now and in this sense nothing will probably be wasted. I wish you good luck.

“With Friends It’s Fine,” number three.



Sergei Malozyomov:

“With Friends It’s Fine,” number three. International politics.



Question:

(A video is shown.) I would like to ask you about the colonisation of Mars. Is it planned at all?



Vladimir Putin:

You think this is international politics?



Sergei Malozyomov:

Beyond. Not at home. (Laughter.)



Vladimir Putin:

All right, so be it. Colonisation of Mars. Look, Mars is a stunning planet, very interesting. It is also called the red planet because of its colour. It is believed, or strictly speaking it is an established fact that it had an atmosphere. Apparently, due to various reasons it disappeared or rather it is very thin and light, not comparable to the atmosphere of the Earth, so Mars essentially does not have an atmosphere. Apparently it had oceans that do not exist anymore but recent studies have uncovered the presence of methane in the thin Martian atmosphere, and methane does not last for a long time, it disappears. Those of you who study chemistry know that probably as well as me. If it was detected in the atmosphere of Mars today, it means that some processes, such as decay, some boggy processes are taking place there. This shows that apparently there is water there in some state, most likely underneath the surface, and that something is going on underneath the surface.

This is extremely interesting and important for understanding the processes on planets of the solar system, including our planet, now and in the future.

There is another planet that is just as interesting: Venus. The processes that took place there are the exact opposite. The atmosphere there has become denser – many times over. However, whereas the processes on Mars are what I said they are, on Venus it is plus 700 degrees today. And some interesting processes are also taking place there. In fact, what is happening there is what we call the “greenhouse effect” – something that we are so afraid of. This has already happened on Venus, this greenhouse effect. Granted, it was not related to human activity but was due to objective, large-scale events in the solar system. But it happened. And it is very important and interesting to understand the processes that are taking place there.

In this context, I would like to tell you that we are planning to participate in studying Mars with our European colleagues. Actually, we are already participating in this project. Just recently, our European colleagues, with our participation, tried to land Mars rovers. Unfortunately, the attempt failed. Now – I do not remember exactly when, but I believe in 2020 – we plan to make another attempt with the Europeans, but this time we will build our own landing system. I hope that we will make it.

The next project is the movement of the moons of Mars and sending a lander there. So there is a clear-cut deadline. The launch is planned for 2019 and several years later the landing on Mars will take place, and because the atmosphere there is highly rarefied – in fact, there is almost no atmosphere there – the lander will have to move around Mars so that everything happens as scientists plan. We are continuing to work on this.



Sergei Malozyomov:

Is the person who asked the question satisfied with the answer? By the way, all the people who asked questions are here.



Vladimir Putin:

Are they? And who asked it?



Irada Zeinalova:

Gordei, are you happy? Are you satisfied with the response?



Remark:

Yes, thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

This is an interesting field of activity. We have an entire research institute working in this field. I advise you to go there as well. Actually, I will ask Lena to invite specialists from it and they will talk to the kids.



Yelena Shmelyova:

Absolutely.



Vladimir Putin:

What they have to say is fascinating.







Sergei Malozyomov:

Let us take another question, “Your Game”. Please chose another category and question number.



Vladimir Putin:

We did number 1 and number 2… Which did you like more?



Sergei Malozyomov:

We have not been over “We Have Been Through That” yet – that is science and education.



Vladimir Putin:

Right.



Sergei Malozyomov:

“Home Is Best” – domestic politics.



Vladimir Putin:

“Home Is Best.” Of course, home is best. Let us have number 3.



Question:

(A video is shown.) Does he have a political successor and who is it?



Vladimir Putin:

Who is “he”?



Sergei Malozyomov:

As I said, we recorded the interviews with them when they did not know yet that you would come here, so they talk about you in the third person.



Vladimir Putin:

I see. In other words, do I have a successor? I would like to tell you right away that general international practice is that if a party leader, country leader or state leader leaves office, as a general rule, but not always, he or she presents and recommends to society a particular person who could lead, for example, a government, country or party. However, at the end of the day, it is the people who decide who will lead the country – by direct and secret ballot in keeping with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. So, whoever is put forward, it is the citizens of the Russian Federal who have the final say.







Irada Zeinalova:

We will come back to the game later. We have just received results of the instant poll on the age when people want to start working.

Mr President, the results are very surprising. Please put the results on the screen. Around 41.7 percent want to start working at the age of 14 and this is the majority of the respondents. It is a great surprise for us all but these must be people who truly have ambitions for the future, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

No, the question had slightly different implications. The young man was talking about entrepreneurship. The legal age of employment is 14, subject to certain restrictions. He was asking about starting a business at 14. Did I understand your question right? Yes, of course. So you did not formulate the question correctly.



Irada Zeinalova:

Perhaps the point is that one begins to produce something, to do some work and take responsibility for one’s actions.



Vladimir Putin:

This is what entrepreneurship means.



Irada Zeinalova:

Starting at the age of 14.



Vladimir Putin:

But your question was phrased in a different way: at what age do you want to start working? It is legal to be employed at 14. But there are other options besides employment. So, next time please be more specific: at what age do you think one can engage in entrepreneurship?



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Generally, I think the aspiration is commendable.



Vladimir Putin:

Of course.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Regardless of the implications.

I would like to bring your attention to this side of the audience. We have another very interesting project. You have seen an aircraft that pushes off a bird, as I understand it. Now, there is an even better high flyer. We have a black box here, let us see it. What do you think is in this black case? A real what?



Vladimir Putin:

I have a black case of my own, you know. (Laughter and applause)



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Your black case is, no doubt, much cooler. But this one may surprise you too. This black case contains a real satellite. Now tell us about it.



Alexander Vorontsov:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Alexander Vorontsov, I am from Kachkanar, Sverdlovsk Region. We developed a real satellite that has the dimensions of 10x10x10 centimetres and weighs only 1 kilogram.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

This is what you would call a nanosatellite.



Vladimir Putin:

Can I take a closer look?



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Absolutely. This is a rare opportunity to see it. Recently our carrier rocket launched 72 nanosatellites into orbit. That was a record number and now we can see what they are like.



Vladimir Putin:

What are the satellite’s purposes?



Alexander Vorontsov:

This satellite can be used for studying space weather. We developed a sensor that can detect charged particles and record their energy. My colleagues are demonstrating this process right now. As this satellite will be put into the constantly decaying orbit, during its flight we will be able to collect detailed data on which orbits contain which charged particles, that is, to develop a map of charged particle distribution that could later be used to verify the existing mathematical models.



Vladimir Putin:

How do you plan to launch it?



Alexander Vorontsov:

We hope to get help from Roscosmos. In 2013, the corporation announced that it would launch training satellites for free. Therefore, we have a question for you because we have no information about the satellite launch procedure.



Vladimir Putin:

How much does it weigh?



Alexander Vorontsov:

CubeSat satellites usually weigh 1.33 kg but this model weighs, if I am not mistaken, one kilogram.



Vladimir Putin:

How much?



Alexander Vorontsov:

One kilogram.



Vladimir Putin:

Let me see, I can talk to Roscosmos. My understanding is there would be a tender, most likely. You probably need to win a tender.



Alexander Vorontsov:

We are ready.







Yelena Shmelyova:

Mr President, we also collected questions from our students, wrote them down on cards and suggest that you draw several random questions.



Vladimir Putin:

This is really no nonsense. Please draw a question for me. What is your name?



Remark:

Kirill.



Vladimir Putin:

Kirill, go ahead, draw a card for me. Read it out, please.



Question:

What do you think of the people who dodge the draft?



Vladimir Putin:

Very good question, well done.



Irada Zeinalova:

While we have a brief pause let me remind you that we are live not only on NTV but also at ntv.ru, our YouTube channel, and our Vkontakte page. We have a huge audience that uses all these platforms.

Mr President, so, what do you think of those who dodge the draft?



Vladimir Putin:

Kirill pulled out a good question. What do you think of those who dodge the draft, that is, avoid army service?

You know, I would like to begin by saying that the humankind has made a very difficult journey to be where it is today. If we look at ancient times, when people lived in tribes, even then protection of the fellow tribe members was a very important duty, if not the main duty of a man. It was an extremely honourable and important job.

Today people do not live in tribes; they live in countries. However, you can draw a certain analogy. If we look at the defenders of the Fatherland, defenders of our country, what do they do? What is the point of military service? It is willingness to give your life for your fellow countrymen, your loved ones and even the people you do not know but still consider family. This is the meaning of military service. When a man avoids fulfilling this duty one cannot help but feel repulsed and judge this person.

Of course, there are many aspects of military service. There were times not so long ago that the army is not proud of, for example, harassment of new conscripts, and so forth. There is nothing good about this. We have mostly eradicated this phenomenon by now. But this is not the point. No matter what, the army must exist, and men must serve. Some choose military service as their main career, while for others it is only a temporary conscription. But every person must contribute to the country’s defence. And I strongly condemn the people who dodge the draft. And on the contrary, I have great respect for those who are ready to serve their nation and protect it even if it means the ultimate sacrifice. We have many people like this in Russia and many among young people.

You know, we have endured great hardships caused by international terrorism. I will never forget those men who gave their lives and demonstrated their courage and heroism. I was particularly impressed by the fact that, for example, while during the Great Patriotic War entire society was geared towards and all the resources were used to drive away the enemy and win, we did not see a similar situation in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. And young men, many just a little older than those present here, went to the army at the age of 18 or 19 and participated in very fierce military action. They were heroes. When I saw frontline reports, I was honestly fascinated by our young boys’ dedication to the service, their military duty and the country. And, which is very important, they faced bullets not thinking that tomorrow the country will talk about them like today the country is talking about Alexander Matrosov and other heroes of the Great Patriotic War. They just performed their duty to the nation. This deserves great respect.

Those who dodge the draft should think about what I said.







Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Masha, and I study music.

As a musician I would like to thank you for supporting Russia’s national legacy, our classical music and performance arts.

So, here is my story. I am a student at the Moscow Conservatory’s Central Music School. From the very beginning, I have been learning two instruments, the piano and the violin. I think my studies have been successful. I have won many contests, including the Tchaikovsky Competition, in both instruments. I do not pay tuition for my violin courses but I have to pay full tuition for the piano studies even though the subjects are the same except for the practice itself.



Vladimir Putin:

The subjects besides the practice are also important.



Remark:

Yes, and all the other subjects are the same.

So I have the following question. Unfortunately, there are not so many of us, musicians who study professional performance of several instruments. Is it possible to introduce a regulation that would allow practicing several instruments without paying full tuition and only paying for the practice?

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

I believe it is up to the school to make this decision, not the Government.



Remark:

But my second practice is additional education.



Vladimir Putin:

I think this is more of an exception, not an ordinary case. We can definitely make an exception for you. I will ask my colleagues who are present here without being seen to make a note and to look into this issue. We will make it possible.



Remark:

Thank you very much.







Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Danil, and I am from Kazan.

My question is this: which unsolved historical mysteries would you like to find an answer to or unravel?



Vladimir Putin:

Mysteries of which history? History of the world, the origin of the universe and the solar system? This is a very interesting history, by the way. I would really like to unravel it. I would love to understand what lies at the origin of the solar system’s formation. Is it the Big Bang or some other phenomena? I will move to other topics as well now.

Several years ago I invited researchers from the Academy of Sciences and asked them to hold a series of discourses, not lectures, but discourses with members of the Security Council. My colleagues do not argue with me much as a rule, but it felt like they did not want to waste their time on very abstract matters such as this. Nevertheless, eventually everyone was carried away by these stories, these discourses.

If we consider the Big Bang theory, the people studying it know that it is one of the today’s main versions of the origin of the universe: there is a giant explosion dispersing matter, and gradually stars, our sun and planets are formed. And then all of this is gradually drawn into the so-called black holes, which is a huge mass of matter, followed by another explosion, and everything starts all over again. And when we reached this issue, I asked the researcher from the Academy of Sciences who was holding these conversations: “Listen, is that really possible?”

“Yes, it is feasible that this is how it happens,” he said. I asked him: “But where did this mass come from initially?” He looked at me and said: “This is not the issue we should be addressing. We do not know the answer yet, so perhaps you could try asking a priest.” It is very interesting to think about these things and to try to understand them.

If we are talking about the history of humanity, of course, it is very important to see how epochs changed, very interesting to see how humanity made the transition from one way of life to another. Slavery, feudalism, capitalism – I hope this is something you study at school. There are other ways to describe the stages of humanity’s development. It is fascinating to get deep into the subject and to look at the way epochs changed.

As for our country, which is a subject of special interest to me, and I hope to you as well, it would be very interesting for me to see how our country made its way out of critical situations, from the most difficult periods. How did it first get into those times of troubles, and which inner forces lead the country out of the situations it found itself in. The so-called time of troubles that I just referred to, the attack on Moscow: those who study history know about this period, how the popular movement originated in Nizhny Novgorod and how it all unfolded.

How peoples and ethnic groups became consolidated over the huge territory that our country occupies today, how some ethnic groups disappeared while others emerged, and how they interacted. It is no secret now that, let’s say, the Finno-Ugric tribes lived not only in the areas around Lake Ladoga, but in the central part of Russia as well. And archaeological sites, artefacts and utensils show that Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes coexisted in harmony. It is very interesting to get there and see. There are a lot of things to think about and study.

Thank you very much!







Irada Zeinalova:

Mr President, could you please choose the next person who will get the microphone? By the way, the people standing in the balconies can also get the microphone, they can also ask questions, so please tell us who I should give the microphone to next.



Vladimir Putin:

Please.



Irada Zeinalova:

Please choose who will ask the next question.



Vladimir Putin:

There, give the microphone to the guys over there.



Question:

Hello, my name is Irina, and I would like to ask a question about Russia’s environment. Which projects is the state ready to support and which concessions is it ready to make for this?



Vladimir Putin:

Concessions to whom?



Question:

For instance, young people propose specific projects, so which concessions is the state ready to make to have these proposals come to fruition?



Vladimir Putin:

Well, first of all, this year has been declared the Year of the Environment in Russia. You are aware of that, aren’t you? This is not a coincidence. I would like to raise public awareness regarding the complicated processes underway in this sphere, the threats which we encounter or face or will be facing in the near future so that government agencies and NGOs unite their efforts in addressing environmental problems.

There is also an absolutely practical aspect which has to do with introducing new technologies. We have adopted relevant laws in this area making it obligatory for companies to shift to the most efficient technologies that have gained recognition around the world. Unfortunately, we were forced to postpone the laws’ entry into force because the country experienced economic problems over the previous several years and companies convinced the Government that new environmental requirements were an additional burden for them, making it even harder to tackle the current economic problems. On top of that, introducing the most up-to-date technologies required large outlays.

Therefore, we postponed it a little, but the final decision has been made and all of our companies will be shifting to these modern technologies. I hope this will result in significant benefits to high-tech production branches, because this will boost both high-tech technologies and the environment. This is one area of our work.

Another very important area is something I am sure you heard about during the Direct Line because it is an issue that people raised. This issue – rubbish – may not seem important, but all these landfills are located all over our country. There is supposed to be processing of solid wastes there, but unfortunately it is too limited and absolutely insufficient. We have a big programme, but unfortunately, there is only enough financing to cover it partially, but we are making first steps and we will be definitely moving forward.







Question:

Hello! My name is Misha. I developed the Govorilla mobile application. I would like to ask about your relationship with your parents when you were a teenager? Whose advice did you follow: the advice of your parents or the advice of some mentor? Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

It was different in different periods.

First, we should proceed from the fact that our parents love us. Our parents love us very much. And we do not understand this early on. We do not understand the mother’s role. You are adults now. But we forget a lot of things; we forget all kinds of things all the time. But our mothers never forget, they do not forget how they raised us, fed us and cared for us. And we must never forget this as well. Therefore, everything our parents try to suggest to us, to advise, they are doing it from the bottom of their hearts, because they wish us well. But this does not mean that an individual cannot have a choice of his own; in fact, just the opposite is true. Educated, experienced people realise that you cannot impose anything on anyone.

I would like to tell that your whole life is ahead of you, and one day you will be parents as well. As future parents, you will not have any rights to someone else’s life, including the lives of your children. You need to treat them like people, like individuals, with respect for them and for their choices. But you should try hard to direct them. This is a very fine line. One needs to be a good educator, but not everyone has a talent for it. You need to do your best to teach moral values to a young person, to guide his or her interests in the right direction. But the final choice is up to the individual.

This is why I had a very good relationship with my parents. They loved me very much, and I could feel it all the time. But still I tried to make my own choices. My points of view, my choices did not always coincide with the choices of my parents. And I tried to explain to them without hurting their feelings that my choice was right.

For instance, at some point I wanted to go to university. My parents were totally opposed to it, because by that time I was a judo champion among youth in Leningrad, I trained at the Trud organisation, and our club was allotted to a specific enterprise, very large one, and there was a higher educational institution attached to it, which it would have been easy for me to get into. I made a completely different choice, a choice that was dangerous to a degree, because there was a chance that I would not get in, which would have lead to problems, but I made up my mind that the best way to the target is a direct one. And, despite my parents’ objections, I managed to convince them that I must do what I decided.

Of course, from a certain period in time I deferred to the opinion of my coaches. I had a very good coach, Anatoly Rakhlin, a very thoughtful person, and we never had any doubts about his sincere attitude to us, to the boys he was training. This is why I respected his opinion, deferred to it, although in terms of university studies he strongly advised me to choose a different path. But I made my own choice.

A few words about mentors at different stages.

I believe that it is wrong to disregard the opinions of other people, but eventually we have to make our own choices, even if these choices and paths are fraught with difficulties or mistakes. Everybody needs to go through this.



Irada Zeinalova:

How difficult it can be to hear each other, even for people who love and trust each other very much.

Questions keep coming to our VKontakte page. We would like to ask some of the questions that seemed the most interesting to us, because these are the people who are following our conversation and would really love to ask these questions. Could you put up these questions on the screen, please?

Maxim Sintyakov: “Did you do well at school? How did you achieve everything that you have? What does success mean for you?” is the last question is probably the most important one.



Vladimir Putin:

I already talked about how I did at school and I do not think it is worth talking about this again, it would be a waste of time. As for success – what does success mean for you? Success for me is a chance to use the results of some achievement. An opportunity to use the results of reaching a goal. You set a goal and reach it, but that is not enough: you must be able to and know how to use these results either by yourself or by delegating it to others.







Irada Zeinalova:

Another question on the screen please. Dominique Mare: “Do you consider censorship, limiting the freedom of speech in the Internet justified?”



Vladimir Putin:

I would not speak about censorship, we have no censorship. There was censorship in the Soviet time, but it was official, there were corresponding authorities, censors, they worked, it was their work, they were paid for this. Now there is no censorship in any sphere.

As for the Internet and freedom. I already told you that freedom as I see it is a fundamental value. However, as you may remember, I said that freedom either ends or is transformed in some way at the point where it collides with the freedom of another individual.

The same applies to the freedom of the Internet. Everything that does not violate the law must be allowed there.

For example, drug trafficking, promoting terrorism, the so-called groups of death, which push young people to commit suicide, and so forth – what is that? Do we have to grant everyone the right to engage in destructive, criminal activity? Of course not. Society must defend itself against crime.

This is why the Internet must be governed by the same laws that are valid everywhere, regulating public activity.







Irada Zeinalova:

If you don’t mind, we will take another question, the third one, very briefly. Nastya Denisova: “How far are you ready to go to reach a goal? That is, does the end justify the means?”



Vladimir Putin:

Nastya Denisova asked a very profound question. Many of us are familiar with this formula: the end justifies the means. If the goal is good and noble, it does not matter what methods and means we use to achieve it. I totally disagree with this, because if you use some appalling means to reach your goal, you actually destroy the very goal you live for.

The end does not justify the means, at least not always. To reach a noble goal, a goal that is worth living for, you need to think about the means you can use to achieve it.



Irada Zeinalova:

Thank you.



Sergei Malozyomov:

Another round of “Your Game”, if you don’t mind, Mr President. Let’s give a chance to the guys who recorded an interview ahead of your visit. Let us take some new categories, not the ones we have seen already.

Eyes on the screen, please.

So, ZOZHizn, ECOnevidal, Ballet Ticket. And A Pig in a Poke – surprise questions.

You need to choose a topic and a number of a question. ZOZHizn – health and medicine, ECOnevidal – the environment, Ballet Ticket – the arts, and A Pig in a Poke – something unexpected.



Vladimir Putin:

How about a Ballet Ticket. I wonder what it is about.



Question:

What kind of music do you like?



Vladimir Putin:

You know I have always enjoyed listening to the so-called popular classical music, both by European and Russian composers: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, of course. Maybe Mozart, first and foremost, for me, in any case. Then, some Russian composers: Rakhmaninov, I love his Vocalise. Schubert, Liszt, the Serenade is a great melody, I really love it, and Liszt’s interpretation of Shubert. Then, from Russian composers: Tchaikovsky, this is magic music. Stravinsky, Shostakovich. It is difficult for me to understand a composer like Schnittke, although he is very well known and we are also proud of him, but, as they say, only a well-educated listener understands all the diversity and all the depth of his work. I have not reached this level yet. But I hope I will make progress in this direction.



Sergei Malozyomov:

One more subject and number, please.



Vladimir Putin:

Let’s do ZOZHizn. What is it?



Sergei Malozyomov:

ZOZHizn – health, healthy living, medicine.



Vladimir Putin:

All right.



Sergei Malozyomov:

And the question number?



Vladimir Putin:

Two.



Sergei Malozyomov:

ZOZhizn, question two.



Question:

What is your favourite martial arts technique, and why?



Vladimir Putin:

My favourite martial arts technique? I already talked about it, and those who love it and who practice martial arts will understand it, but the others will not. The arm throw, first, and the forward trip, second. And why? That’s just how it has turned out, I did them them, and they suit me, my body the best. I was good at them.







Sergei Malozyomov:

Let’s do A Pig in a Poke, please, if possible.



Vladimir Putin:

All right.



Sergei Malozyomov:

And question number?



Vladimir Putin:

One.



Sergei Malozyomov:

A Pig in a Poke, question one.



Question:

Did he ever go nuts when he was a kid?



Question:

Did you misbehave as a child, Mr President?



Vladimir Putin:

I did not understand anything, what did Masha say?



Remark:

She said: did you go nuts as a kid?

Masha is here.



Vladimir Putin:

Masha, could you repeat the question, please?



Sergei Malozyomov:

Were you a well-behaved child, if I understood it correctly.



Vladimir Putin:

Masha, could you say it again, please?



Remark:

Hello.



Vladimir Putin:

Hello



Sergei Malozyomov:

Go ahead, repeat your question.



Vladimir Putin:

Masha, say it again please. I am too far to bite you.



Question:

Did you ever fool around as a child?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, of course I did. And I wish you the same.



Remark:

Thank you.







Irada Zeinalova:

Let’s go! Does anyone else want to ask a question? Mr President, pick anyone you like. As you can see, there are still a lot of arms in the air.



Vladimir Putin:

Guys, you put me in a difficult position. Here is a young man in a red tie. He probably wore it on purpose today.



Sergei Malozyomov:

Looks like an MP, doesn’t he?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, he does.



Ivan Aleksandrov:

Hello, Mr President. I am Ivan Aleksandrov, and I am from Mariinsky Posad in the Republic of Chuvashia. At school, I take part in the Zarnitsa game. My team does well in municipal competitions every year, and in 2017 it became a participant in the republican finals. The games teach us to be unwavering, strong, and to achieve our goals. Mr President, did you take part in military patriotic games Zarnitsa and Orlyonok?



Vladimir Putin:

Unfortunately, I did not, I can tell you this honestly, I will not lie, I do not like doing this. I did a lot of sports at that time. There was a period when I was a semi-professional. I became a champion of Leningrad among youth quite early, and I devoted all of my free time to it. This is why, honestly, when I studied at the military department at the university, there was a Major Gvozdev, I still remember his surname, he was in charge of military training, and my specialty was a howitzer artillery officer. And since I was often absent because I went away to training camps, he was quite hard on me and urged me to study the equipment.



Question:

Mr President, how many pull-ups can you do?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, I used to do 15–17 pull-ups in a rep. But once when I was President, I started doing pull-ups – I always do them in the morning – and I had probably not warmed up enough, for sure I hadn’t, and I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. But you remember, as Vysotsky said, “If I decided something – I will definitely drink it until the end.” So I went on with my pull-ups, even though my shoulder was hurting, but I thought I have to finish what I started. Eventually, I could not do pull-ups for six months, and I have stopped doing them since then. This is why you have to be careful. But I used to be able to do 15 to 17 pull-ups. And how many can you do? How many do you do, Vanya?



Remark:

25 times.



Vladimir Putin:

Well done. Vanya does more pull-ups than the President. Great job.

Actually, I have a good rule I try to follow: if you respect, really respect a person, then you must admit that he is better at something than you are. Vanya is better at this.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55114
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Old July 29th, 2017 #529
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Meeting with students from Sirius Educational Centre - PART II



July 21, 2017 - 19:10 - Sochi





Question:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

I am Kirill Lakhminov from Moscow. As you know, the world is on the verge of a breakthrough in biotechnology. I have a question. How prepared is Russian science and Russia for implementing incredible and sometimes crazy ideas in biotechnology?



Vladimir Putin:

This is a key area of development in the near future along with digital technologies and artificial intelligence. I really hope that specialists working in this sphere will fully execute the tasks facing them. We will help them in every way we can.

I already mentioned that we have a system of grants and support, apart for the current financing of the relevant academic institutions. These mega-grants, including those connected with biology, bio-engineering, and so forth – I am not a specialist and cannot list all of them, hence I name the main, principal and most promising areas of research. But I meet with these people, though not regularly, but we have a whole division in the Executive Office that deals with providing support for science. We created funds that allocate grants and we will be monitoring this.

Academician Tamm used to say that if the 20th century was the century of physics, then 21st century will be the century of biology. It seems to be so.



Irada Zeinalova:

Thank you.

Mr President, let us move to this sector, since the audience here is starting to look bored. Who has brief questions, so that everyone can have a turn?



Vladimir Putin:

If we let everyone have a turn, we will spend all night here.



Question:

Hello, my name is Marina. I am 16 years old. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to be here. I think that many in this audience have the same question in the light of recent developments. I would like to hear what you think about political competition in Russia and your assessment of some opposition activists.



Vladimir Putin:

Here is what I think about this. There was a time when the number of parties was limited in our country. The law was engineered in such a way that in order to register a political party a number of conditions had to be met and meeting them was not so easy, if not quite challenging.

Several years ago, we radically eased these requirements. Today, there are several dozen registered political parties. By the way, there are practical people in politics who do not think that it was a good thing to do, arguing that it makes these political parties less responsible for what they say, what they offer and completely relieves them of responsibility for their work and fulfilling the pledges they make. This is not an easy matter. Anyway, we decided to opt for maximum liberalisation.

What is the value of political parties, even the ones that are not represented in the State Duma? They put forward ideas and criticise the authorities. There are always things the government can be criticised for. Life is complicated and diverse, so trust me no one can resolve all issues and come up with ideal solutions. No one can do that.

This does not mean, however, that we should not try. The issues at stake should not be a matter of speculation. What we need instead are proposals on ways of dealing with these issues. For example, corruption should not be a matter of speculation, since it exists across the world. It is true that in countries undergoing economic transition and where economic laws have yet to take root, the situation is more complex, which gives rise to corruption.

Look at what happened with our neighbours. The current government was voted into power on promises to fight corruption, but this was just one of the banners the opposition used to take over the country. Unfortunately, they chose to do it by staging a government coup. Now that they have the power, what are the results? There is even more corruption. Ukraine is choking with corruption from the top to the very bottom. This means that merely shouting ‘Catch the thief’ is not enough. The ones denouncing the thieves should also stop steeling.

For this reason, society in general, and I personally, look for people offering interesting and sometimes courageous breakthrough solutions that would enable Russia to move forward, regardless of whether they have power or not. There is no doubt that we will always work with people like that.



Question:

Good evening, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

You see, there is competition as we speak, the microphone is switching hands all the time.



Anna Negasheva:

My name is Anna Negasheva, I represent the Yunost synchronised figure skating team. We are all present here today.



Vladimir Putin:

Can I see all of you, girls?

How many of you are there on the team?



Anna Negasheva:

There are 16 team members plus some substitutes.



Vladimir Putin:

And all of you perform on the ice at the same time?



Anna Negasheva:

Yes. This is, actually, what my question is about. Our team won the national championships 15 times, and in March 2017, we won the junior world championships in Canada.



Vladimir Putin:

Congratulations.



Anna Negasheva:

Thank you.

It is quite frustrating that this spectacular and wonderful sport that attracts so many people is unfortunately overshadowed by other sports. Very few people know about us, and not a single national television network is willing to broadcast competitions or even help promote this wonderful sport. Meanwhile, Russia is a world leader in synchronised figure skating. For example, Paradise, the team from St Petersburg, holds two world titles. Almost every Russian city has a synchronised figure skating team, including Kazan, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St Petersburg, Salekhard and Perm.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

So what is your question?

The kids are waiting. Go ahead and ask your question.



Anna Negasheva:

My question is: what can we, athletes, do to change things so that synchronised figure skating finds its way into the Russian information space?



Vladimir Putin:

I think that you have done everything you could by becoming champions. From here, it is no longer up to you, but up to government agencies and the leading national television networks to do their part of the job. But I do think that they will hear you, and I am on your side as well.



Anna Negasheva:

There is one thing I wanted to ask you on behalf of the whole team, if I may. Could you make one of our dreams come true by taking a photo with us? It would be a great pleasure for us if you could pose for a photo on ice with our coaches and another four team members. We invite you to our gala performance, to be more exact, to a gala figure skating show tomorrow at Sirius’ ice arena. We would be very happy to see you there so you can experience the world of figure skating and fall in love with it, just as we did.



Vladimir Putin:

You want me to look out of place with all of you? (Laughter) First Vanya, who can do 25 pull-ups, humiliated me, now you want me to look like a duck on ice, is that what you are saying?

I am joking, of course. It will be a pleasure for me to take a picture with you today, and maybe tomorrow, if I can.

You know, I am also learning to skate, although not in the same way as you. It is not easy for me, since I started skating only five years ago, or even four and a half years ago, to be more exact. I could not skate at all and could hardly understand how people do it. When I first tried skating four and a half years ago, I thought, now that I got moving, how do I stop? I finally managed it somehow. My second thought was that I would never learn to skate, would never be able to do it. I kept saying to myself, just take off your skates and stop this nonsense.

There is some progress, but the way you skate is still beyond my comprehension. I simply do not understand how this is possible. But you are showing us that you can do it. As for broadcasts, this is not an Olympic sport, right?



Anna Negasheva:

There are now discussions about making it an Olympic sport. A special commission was created to examine rules for including synchronised figure skating in the 2022 Olympics programme.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, I know that, and I am confident that as soon as it happens, television networks will look at you differently. The authorities and I personally will try to make sure that you get the treatment you deserve.



Question:

Good evening, Mr President. My name is Shamil Mukhtarov. I come from the city of Yelets in Lipetsk Region. I have the following question: what do you believe to be the key issues in agriculture that Russia is currently facing?



Vladimir Putin:

There is an issue that is quite relevant for both cattle breeding and crop farming: Russia needs its own seed grain, its own foundation stock. Even though we are seeing robust growth rates in agriculture, we still depend on imported pedigree cattle stock and seed grain. This is something we should be paying special attention to in the near future.



Yegor Zaytsev:

Hello, my name is Yegor Zaytsev, and I am from Kaliningrad. Russia is currently on the black list of countries with negative population growth. When will we get off this horrible list?



Vladimir Putin:

It is not true that Russia has negative population growth. Quite the contrary.



Yegor Zaytsev:

We are being told at geography classes that almost all regions have negative population growth, with only few exceptions.



Vladimir Putin:

You are being misled. This is not the way things really are.



Yegor Zaytsev:

Have things changed?



Vladimir Putin:

When did you learn it?



Yegor Zaytsev:

This year, or maybe last year.



Vladimir Putin:

This is not true.



Yegor Zaytsev:

When did the trend change?



Vladimir Putin:

Two years ago.



Yegor Zaytsev:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Support measures for mothers and children have been in place for several years now. This, as well as substantial, albeit insufficient, improvements in healthcare, has increased life expectancy in Russia and substantially reduced infant mortality. Russia is now among the top countries with maternal mortality at almost zero, despite the fact that we adopted international standards for measuring newborn weight and a number of other indicators, which complicated the statistics. Russia is no longer in this downward spiral. For two years now, or even for a slightly longer period, Russia has reported natural population growth.







Question:

Good evening, my name is Anastasia. Here is my question: how can we further develop the country, if the number of state-sponsored scholarships is declining, while the cost of education is increasing?



Vladimir Putin:

The number of state-sponsored scholarships is not declining.



Remark:

I have the statistics.



Vladimir Putin:

No, the number of scholarships is on the rise.



Question:

Hello, my name is Anastasia. I am from Novy Urengoy. It is no secret that it is hard for university graduates to find a job, since all employers require experience, but how can a graduate obtain this experience, if you cannot get a job without it? I know that attempts are already being made in Russia to resolve this issue. For example, the company where my parents work holds a contest for young specialists with an employment grant as a prize.

My question is the following: could the Government offer tax benefits to companies that hire a certain number of young specialists? Perhaps 10 or 15 first-time employees or some other number.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Regarding tax benefits, this may not be the best solution. There are many issues. If we try resolving all of them with tax benefits, we would destroy the budget, it would simply cease to exist.

That said, something has to be done. A programme for working with the economy, businesses and corporations has been devised to address this. For instance, this is one of the items on the agenda of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. We also keep in touch with business associations. We promote internship programmes so that corporations and higher education institutions can work together on selecting and training potential employees. This is a major initiative, and I very much hope that it works.



Question:

Hello, my name is Yegor, and I am from Sochi.

You have told us that you seek to support gifted school students in Russia. In doing so, you are trying to help students from all across Russia. If that is so, why do only Moscow students get prize money for winning academic Olympiads? Starting this year, winners of national academic Olympiads from the regions are no longer entitled to prize money, while these prize earnings for Moscow students have increased. Is there a way to fix this situation?



Vladimir Putin:

To be honest, I have not quite understood the question. An academic Olympiad is what it is, if you win, you get a prize. Is it not the case, if you are from Sochi?



Remark:

Prizes are not being paid starting this year.



Vladimir Putin:

How come? You mean, if a student wins a national academic Olympiad, he or she is told: “Since you are from Sochi, step aside.” Is that so?



Remark:

Yes. From 2006 and until 2016, runner-ups received 30,000 rubles, and winners got 60,000 rubles. But this year the system stopped working.



Vladimir Putin:

What about Moscow students?



Remark:

In Moscow, runner-ups get 100,000 rubles, and the winner gets 200,000 rubles.



Vladimir Putin:

This is the first time I hear about this. I will look into it. Yet, this seems a bit strange.



Remark:

This is the way things are.



Vladimir Putin:

I mean, I can hardly imagine such a situation. You compete in a contest, say in an academic Olympiad, you win, and then they tell you that since you come from Sochi, you will not be paid.



Remark:

This is not just about Sochi, but also about all other cities.



Remark:

Yes, all the regions, except Moscow.



Remark:

It seems that Moscow students get payments from the city budget.



Vladimir Putin:

I will have to look into this. To be honest, this is the first time I hear about this.



Remark:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Maybe you are referring to the prizes that are paid by the regions, and Moscow still pays them. I will find out.







Vlad Belkin:

Mr President, my name is Vlad Belkin, and I am from Orel. Here is my question: there are many children in this studio from all across the country, and they all have specific interests to which they dedicate their time and efforts during off-school hours. Some dream of becoming actors, while others want to become Olympic champions. I would like to ask what you did for extra-curricular activities when you were still in school?



Vladimir Putin:

What did I do after school?



Vlad Belkin:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Mostly sports. I sometimes went to classical music concerts, and occasionally read history books.



Vlad Belkin:

What were your favourite school subjects? I mean, what were you interested in, and what subjects were boring for you?



Vladimir Putin:

There were various subjects I preferred at various times, depending on my future life plans. As I have already said, at a certain point I switched to a specialised school, thinking that I would go on to enrol in a technology university. When I had this in mind, I focused on the relevant subjects. I later decided to go to law school and focused on history and foreign language studies. But I always had time for sport.



Question:

Hello, Mr President. I come from the city of Zadonsk, Lipetsk Region. My name is Vladimir Vladimirovich, just like you.



Vladimir Putin:

A story from my university years just came to mind. We had a professor, Avksentiy Melitonovich,
[Avksentiy and Meliton very rare names. I have never met people with such names. And Avksentiy Melitonovich is an extremely rare combination of the name and patronymic - Alex Him]
who taught collective farming law. There was this discipline in those days. Since there were collective farms back then, there was an area of law covering them. So, a student shows up for an exam in collective farming law. The professor looks into his grade book and says, “Your name is Avksentiy Melitonovich?” The student answered affirmatively. The professor looked at the grade book again, then again at the student, then gave the student an A and sent him on his way. The professor was a very nice person.

So, Vladimir Vladimirovich, I am listening.



Question:

For two years now, I have been attending a rocket modelling class, offered by a youth activities centre in Zadonsk. We make paper rocket models and launch them using a solid-fuel engine to an altitude of 200 to 300 metres.

The problem is that over the past two years, we have not received any financing. I asked around, and it turns out that youth centres in other regions are also receiving very little financing, so students have to pay in order to keep attending these workshops. Can this be fixed? Can you help us?



Vladimir Putin:

This is a regional issue. Where are you from? Can you say it again?



Remark:

The city of Zadonsk, Lipetsk Region.



Vladimir Putin:

I will have to ask your governor to pay attention, since extra-curricular activities are financed by municipalities. Unfortunately, there are many issues in this area. This is true. However, you have a very experienced governor, Mr Korolev. He has been in office for a long time, and I think that he can figure out what to do to improve things.



Remark:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

What do you launch? Rockets?



Remark:

Rocket models. This is the rocket modelling division of the aero-modelling sport.



Vladimir Putin:

This is great, since all our remarkable engineers also started with modelling, and later went on to become world-class experts. Best of luck to you!



Remark:

Thank you.







Question:

Hello, Mr President,

My name is Robert, and I am from Kazan. I am here as a science student, but I also do karate. I would like to know whether there are any plans to organise a karate training camp within Sirius?



Vladimir Putin:

What kind of training camp are you talking about?



Remark:

Training camps for students of karate.



Vladimir Putin:

We have thirteen disciplines, including four sports disciplines. In fact, there are three sports disciplines at Sirius: hockey, figure skating and chess. So far, there are no plans to expand this list.

As I said at the outset, I conceived Sirius with the idea that we have to focus on areas where we have a clear competitive edge and are unrivalled, where we have an internationally recognised level of competence.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case for karate so far, but I am confident that with your help and with the help of children who take karate, we will get there.



Remark:

Karate became an Olympic sport in 2016.



Vladimir Putin:

There are many Olympic sports. There is no way we can have them all at Sirius. This does not mean however that there is no need to develop karate as a sport. This is a very interesting martial art. There is no doubt that we will support it, especially since it is now an Olympic sport.



Remark:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Give the microphone to the girl over there, or she will break into tears.



Question:

Good evening, Mr President. My name is Alyona, I am from Moscow, and enrolled in the Sirius’ New Materials programme. I have a personal question for you. Could you tell us what was the happiest and the most unusual moment in your life? You have said so much tonight about time. Do you have time in your day for happy or unusual moments to occur?



Vladimir Putin:

This is not an easy question. Could you answer it yourself if you were asked the same question? There are a lot of happy moments, so it is really hard to tell which one was the happiest. As a general rule, these moments are usually related to achievements, victories and life choices. These are the moments you remember, so I think that even if a victory is small, it still matters, since it helps shape a person’s character and identity. For example, I have mentioned that I remember competing one time in some tournament at pretty basic level. It may not seem like such a remarkable event, but it was then that I first started believing in myself, and finally understood that I have the ability to overcome many challenges. There were quite a few moments of this kind in my life. I hope that more are to come, and I would wish this to be the case for all of you.







Irada Zeinalova:

We have the results of the survey. As you may remember, at the beginning of our talk we decided to find out what VKontakte users consider most pertinent, how well we understand them, how well they understand us, and how much we have in common. Let us take a look: family, friendship, freedom, health, jobs, well-being. Family ranks first, as you can see. And today's generation of VKontakte users value the same things that you hold dear.

Now, I would like to say that our conversation turned out to be very serious and informative, even for me for the most part, and although I always thought of myself as a well-informed person, I learned a lot from these children.

We started the exchange with a question from one of the youngest participants, one of the youngest students of this educational centre. Now we would like to finish our conversation, as, frankly, we are running out of time and you probably have some state meetings on your schedule. We would like to close the excahnge with a question from a participant of the programme ”You Are Super!“ It is a music show whose participants are children left without parental care, or orphans, as we call them. This little boy came from the Trans Baikal region. We have tried to make all participants' dreams come true, but we were unable to make Vitaly's dream come true as it is beyond our control. He is in the studio now. Vitaly Tolochkin – here he is. He has a dream that only you can make come true; to be more precise, it is already coming true. Vitaly, tell us about your dream.



Vitaly Tolochkin:

My dream is to meet Vladimir Putin.



Vladimir Putin:

And has it come true?



Irada Zeinalova:

Let us capture the moment; let us take a photo of you together. Go stand by the President.



Vladimir Putin:

Let us take a photo together now. Come on up here.



Irada Zeinalova:

Come over here. Do you have a phone? Let me take a photo of you together. Fabulous!

And do you have a question for the President? Go ahead and ask it.



Vitaly Tolochkin:

My question is, what did you dream of in your childhood, and what do you dream of today?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, this is not an easy question actually. One’s dreams constantly change as one evolves. When I was a little boy, I dreamt of one thing, when I got a bit older I dreamt of other things, and so on. This is normal. We have to be grateful that we have dreams. Because this is a kind of beacon, a sign that we have to make progress in our lives in order to make our dreams come true. And if our dreams change a bit along the way – that is fine. The main thing is to have a dream. It is my wish that your dream comes true.

But before we finish – although this is a good final question – to make things fair, we will do the following: I will take one question each from this sector, this one and this one.



Question:

Mr President, I am Olya, I am from Fryazino, in Moscow region.

I think that my question is relevant for the entire science sector. Maybe not the entire section, but part of it. The list of academic competitions and Olympiads recommended by the Ministry of Science and Education includes 87 Olympiads and two or three conference-type competitions where participants are allowed to present their projects. In fact, no special benefits are provided to those who develop projects, although one specific project can change thousands of lives. Our children successfully present rather serious projects on a global level. They are already preparing for the Unified State Exam and preparing for enrolment at universities, but there are 87 Olympiads and only two or three competitions, you see. Are there plans to do something about this or change anything?



Vladimir Putin:

We can expand the number of these competitions. Let us think about how we can do this. Why not?



A remark:

Only recently, our team has returned from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair that took place in the United States, and it is a shame that these 11th grade boys have to take entrance exams right after returning, and imagine how difficult it is for them, despite their projects being very impressive.



Vladimir Putin:

Let us give this some thought and increase the number of competitions.



A remark:

Thank you very much.



Question:

Mr President, good evening. I am Mikhail, and I am from Belgorod. What prompted you to run for president? Have you achieved the goals you had set when you became President?



Vladimir Putin:

I have already spoken about it, but I will say it again: I did not plan on becoming president, and nothing had prompted me to do this. But Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin invited me when I was Director of the Federal Security service – or already Secretary of the Security Council, I do not remember quite exactly – and said that he wanted to nominate me to the post of prime minister, so that I could later run for presidency.

I instantly told him: ”Mr President, I am not ready for this! I would have to change my life completely – and I am not ready for this.“ He thought a little, and said, ”Give this some thought. We come back to this later.“ But then he did nominate me at the State Duma, as they are the ones who vote for the prime minister. I became Prime Minister, and then things eventually proceeded from there to the presidential election campaign.

As for reaching my goals, you know, you have to set ambitious, challenging goals. Overall, I think they have been reached or are being reached. This primarily concerns economic development. However hard it may be, our economy has grown almost twofold. The real income of the population has increased many-fold, despite our current difficulties. There has been a bit of a reduction in real incomes, but now this is on the rise again. Compared to the year 2000, the situation with people's incomes, wages and pensions has considerably changed.

These are serious, adult matters, but I will speak of them anyway. By 1999, our Armed Forces had actually fallen apart. Now we have a totally different Army. It is compact and efficient. There is much that still needs to be done – but there are plenty of reasons to to believe that we will reach these goals and solve the tasks facing our country.







Question:

Good evening. My name is Ksenia. I am from Ulan-Ude. My question is, are the environmental issues facing Lake Baikal being resolved?



Vladimir Putin:

They are. There are many issues there, including those dealing with the shutdown of the pulp and paper plant. Not all these issues have been resolved, of course. This is a very sensitive matter.

The main issue is probably that the chemical discharges of the agriculture enterprises that operate on the shore or close to the shore eventually find their way into the lake, with rainfall or just by themselves. There is work to be done, and on a large scale. There are also other issues, which must be resolved.

We know about these things and the corresponding structures at government and regional administration level are considering them, and proposing various solutions. We will not leave these matters unattended.



A remark:

Thank you very much.



Question:

Mr President, my name is Alyona, I am from Serpukhov. Thank you very much for all you do for us and our country. I am learning to become a painter, and we have an issue that concerns many painters like me. To be a professional watercolour painter, one needs quality materials, such as paper. We need paper made of 100 percent cotton. Now we purchase paper produced in England, Germany, France, with one sheet costing about 500–700 rubles. I know that in Soviet times, our Goznak enterprise manufactured such paper of very high quality. Can this production be restored today?

The second question concerns paintbrushes. Until recently, we purchased domestically produced Kolinsky sable brushes from a company called Baikal. They are of a very good quality and give the best value for money on the market. But in the past six months, their price has grown from 400 to 2,500 rubles. How is it that goods produced in Russia are now becoming unaffordable for us?



Vladimir Putin:

Of course, this has to be examined. As a rule, this is explained by, say, change in exchange rates and that some components have to purchased abroad. Maybe these brushes are assembled here and some parts are bought from other countries, and such purchases have become more pricey as the ruble lost value. This is the most likely cause, and these explanations are rather basic. But this has to be looked into, we have a special agency that handles such issues – the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service. I will tell Mr Artemyev about this to draw his attention.

Secondly, as regards paper, this domestic production sector is actively developing, and we have considerably reduced foreign purchases, but this primarily concerns the paper used for printing newspapers and magazines. Your issue is a very specific one; we will see what can be done here. Okay?



Question:

Hello, Mr President. My name is Margarita, and I represent the Sirius figure skating programme. International relations are a very important topic these days. Have you ever considered creating a centre that would bring together children from various countries so that Sirius students could interact with children from other countries? I think that this is an interesting idea that would be popular among children.



Vladimir Putin:

We have a centre with a mission of this kind. I am referring to Artek. There is also the Orlyonok children’s centre, and the Okean children’s centre in Russia’s Far East. In fact, the idea behind Sirius was to bring together young talented children from Russia in the key areas of science, art, education and sport in order to create the necessary conditions and accompany them once they finish secondary school, specialised and higher educational institutions right until they are employed by institutes or companies, join research or artistic teams. This is about the Russian elite who will hopefully come not only from Sirius, but also from elsewhere. This effort is primarily aimed at shaping a national elite. We can and we will maintain contacts with similar centres in other countries, although there are no centres of this kind anywhere else, but we will still look for partners. Of course, inviting someone to Russia is always a possibility, but overall we will focus on Russian children, our young generation and teenagers.



Remark:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

I see that a girl has stood up over here. Since you are already standing, go ahead.

I wanted to give you the microphone, but the girl is already standing. What can I do? Go ahead, I am listening.

It is your birthday today? Then we will surely take your question. Who else has a birthday today?



Remark:

Over here.



Vladimir Putin:

Go ahead.



Question:

My name is Yevgenia, and here is my question:

Mr President, what do you think about feminism?



Vladimir Putin:

You see, feminism emerged quite a long time ago as a movement to promote women’s rights. Overall, there is nothing bad about it. On the contrary, I believe that defending women’s rights is the correct approach and the right thing to do.

You know, there is a question that we always discuss in various international formats. I am referring to education for girls. This is a major issue for many countries, where girls are unable to go to school due to religious or cultural traditions. For example, I spoke to one of my colleagues for whom I have great respect. He comes from a Muslim country and has already left office. He said, “What are we doing? By denying women and girls a decent education we are cutting off so many opportunities with our own hands.” That said, this is an issue for a number of countries, but not Russia.

We have issues of a different nature when it comes to women’s rights. This has to do with wage disparity. This is an issue not only for Russia, but also for a number of other economies. For example, the same happens in the European Union. Over there, women on average make less than men do. These are statistics, and nothing else. For this reason, there is no doubt that we have to work on this problem. However, just as with any other area, it should not be twisted or distorted in any way, so that no one loses his mind over it, as has sometimes been the case.

Let us do it this way. I will answer the questions of those who are celebrating a birthday today.



Irada Zeinalova:

Mr President, I am all for equal rights, education and birthdays. Presents have already arrived, my arms are sore holding them; I will place them here now.



Vladimir Putin:

So you knew there were birthdays!



Irada Zeinalova:

Yes, I have a list of four people who are celebrating their birthdays.



Question:

My name is Alexander. I am From St Petersburg and a student of the Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No 239.

Question number one. Is the President going to visit the presidential lyceum at least once?



A remark:

Let us all ask one question.



Vladimir Putin:

That is right, fight for your rights, hold that microphone.

Seems like everything that is happening has to do with the President, one way or another. I mean, everything good, of course. That is why this is not about the name but about how well your lyceum is run.

Unfortunately, I am unable to visit every place where events are held under the name of or on behalf of the President, or that has something to do with the name of the President. I wish you lots of success. This is a very good educational institution. If I have the opportunity, I will be happy to visit your lyceum. Fine?



A remark:

And a related question.

As is known, our lyceum teaches future scientists. It is known that the most prominent scientists and athletes receive different pay and have a different quality of life. This is especially obvious in the Russian Federation. I personally know astronomers who work at the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory and they live on a very strict budget. How can we change this? Tell us, please.



Vladimir Putin:

Wage levels should be increased in all sectors. But they cannot be the same for everyone. As for the fact that they barely make ends meet – this is bad; if this is so, the issue has to be examined. We have a programme for increasing wages in higher educational institutions and in the research sector. The task has been set to bring these wages to double the average wage in the country by 2018, if I remember correctly. We will continue to make efforts to achieve this, I hope, this will be the first step. But this is not all, wait, I will take my answer further, and this is serious. It is necessary that heads of research institutions and higher educational institutions become aware that their wages and wages of common staff members should not differ so greatly. Sadly, this is what we have in many cases today. Therefore, we have to introduce certain adjustments to avoid this.

Who else has a birthday today?

Go ahead, please.



Question:

Good evening, I am Yury Safronov, and today is my birthday.

We know that you have a Volga car. Do you want to make it unmanned?



Vladimir Putin:

Unmanned?



A remark:

Yes, and our team is ready to handle this.



Vladimir Putin:

Will my Volga remain intact?



A remark:

It will.



Vladimir Putin:

Good. It is a deal then.



A remark:

This would be an excellent present for all of us.



Vladimir Putin:

Good.

And what will we do with this unnamed vehicle? That is, with my Volga as an unmanned vehicle?



A remark:

We will have it drive on its own.



Vladimir Putin:

Where to?



A remark:

Wherever you like.



Vladimir Putin:

Will we put it to work as a taxi, make some money?



A remark:

Yes, if that is what you wish.



Vladimir Putin:

Good. But it will be a joint project then – my Volga and your unmanned device. We will think how it can be used. But fine, it is a deal.



A remark:

Great. Looking forward to this.



Vladimir Putin:

Who else has a birthday today? You? Fine. What is your name?



A remark:

I am Roman.



Vladimir Putin:

How old are you turning?



A remark:

16.



Vladimir Putin:

Where are you from?



A remark:

From Tula.



Vladimir Putin:

And what is your question?



Question:

Are there plans for launching a targeted nationwide programme for dealing with and recycling domestic glass waste with the use of automatised devices – and if this is planned, then when?



Vladimir Putin:

I do not know. Now, that is quite a question. Recycling of glass, right?



A remark:

Plastic and glass domestic waste, glass containers, and things like this.



Vladimir Putin:

Look, we have a separate programme for municipal solid waster treatment. The program is operating, and, among other things, it provides for separating waste into different categories, including plastic. In this sense, yes, we have such a programme. It only has to be expanded and provided with additional financing. We have plans to build several plants, most of them in Moscow Region, because this is the region where the situation is especially serious. Nearby is the huge city of Moscow, with all the waste removed from there to Moscow Region. But we also have to plan the building of plants in Crimea and in a few other regions, and will definitely do this and take efforts in this regard.

Go ahead.



A remark:

Let this be the final question.



Vladimir Putin:

Our colleagues from NTV are having problems as this is broadcast live and they have scheduled programmes that need to go on the air.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Mr President, it is you who is having problems as you have four presents to give.



A remark:

And tomorrow's birthdays are beginning already.



Vladimir Putin:

I will have a problem in one hour. I have a meeting with President of Azerbaijan.



Remark:

Good evening, Mr President!



Vladimir Putin:

Is it your birthday today?



Remark:

Tomorrow.



Vladimir Putin:

Tomorrow? Return the microphone then. (Laughter).



Remark:

He is a person of the future!



Vladimir Putin:

But we have agreed to listen to those who are celebrating their birthdays today.

Good evening!



Remark:

My name is Ashot Shidnyan, I am from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).



Vladimir Putin:

Ashot from Sakha (Yakutia)?



Remark:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Are you freezing there?



Remark:

No, it is fine there.

I would like to ask a question on the formation of a national sponsored team of young scientists and researchers who would represent our country at all international conferences and fairs. Is it possible to organise something like this? And how do you see the selection process for such a team? Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Look, we have national teams in various fields. And they are very successful. I do not quite understand why we need a national team of this kind. If we create such a team, it would mean members would have to perform somewhere and compete with similar national teams – but are there any teams like this in the world? Have such national teams been created? National teams are created based on their main field of activity – mathematics, physics, artificial intellect, biology.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Mr President, they need funding, they want the state to finance the creation of this smart team.



Vladimir Putin:

Everyone wants state financing.



Remark:

For instance, I have an invitation for the Intel international fair. But the Step to the Future programme, which has issued the invitation, does not provide any financing, of course, and the cost is about 300,000 rubles.



Vladimir Putin:

I will speak to Governor Yegorov. He will help you.



Irada Zeinalova:

Mr President, it appears that all those celebrating birthdays today have asked their questions.



Vladimir Putin:

Does no one else have a birthday today? Has everyone asked a question?



Irada Zeinalova:

Everyone. Even a future birthday boy got his chance.



Vladimir Putin:

Is it your birthday today?



Remark:

Here is the boy.



Vladimir Putin:

You call him a boy? Well, then he is quite a big lad, isn’t he.

What are you saying?



Remark:

It is not my birthday today, but my father’s. Happy birthday dad!



Vladimir Putin:

Your father’s? Pass him the microphone then, please. We have agreed, let us keep this fair.

So has everyone asked their question?



Irada Zeinalova:

And a family discussion has already begun. All of today's and tomorrow's birthday people have already spoken.



Vladimir Putin:

Guys, we cannot stay with you until morning just simply due to certain technological matters related to television programming and due to my schedule.

I am of course willing to speak to you some more and answer all your questions, but it is just not possible. All right? Do not be angry, please. We may have the opportunity to see each other at Surius, and not just once. I will try to visit Surius on a regular basis.



Irada Zeinalova:

Mr President, I am positive that these children will have every reason to meet with you, as they are very success-oriented.

Thank you very much for this serious conversation, without making allowances for the fact that they are children. Thank you very much for these presents as well. Those who are celebrating your birthdays, feel free to come and collect them.



Vladimir Putin:

I will sign them now.



Irada Zeinalova:

Come here, all of you. These are real, big and good books.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Let us all congratulate them.



Irada Zeinalova:

Give us your mobile phones. We will take pictures for each of you.



Yegor Kolyvanov:

Do you need any help?



Irada Zeinalova:

Frankly, not really, but it would not hurt. This will be quite a memorable birthday for them.

Mr President, these are cunning kids, and very ambitious at that, and they will definitely be successful in life. They received the books, and had their photos taken by a professional photographer, and will have their photo taken with you.



Vladimir Putin:

I would say they are smart, rather than cunning, quite smart.



Irada Zeinalova:

Yes, they grasped the situation fairly quickly.



Vladimir Putin:

Now we will take some photos with the birthday people and wish them happy birthdays.

I want to thank you all for your professional attitude. You gained the right to arrive here in Sirius – and this means you are successful and talented, and you have a bright future. I want to thank you for this and for today's talks.

I would like to express my hope that many more children like you will arrive here. You come from all territories and regions of the Russian Federation. And I want to express hope that you will feel that you have gained another family here, a Sirius family, and that you will support each other after you leave this centre. I also want to wish all of you success in achieving your goals and implementing everything you want to devote your life to.

I wish you happiness and good luck! Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55114
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Conversation with World Chess Federation President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov



Vladimir Putin had a brief talk with President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov while viewing project displays at the Sirius Educational Centre, where chess is one of the subjects taught.



July 21, 2017 - 19:20 - Sochi





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.



President of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov:

Mr President, good afternoon,

First of all, I would like to thaank you on behalf of the World Chess Federation for last year’s inclusion of chess into the programme for gifted children. Chess, as Mikhail Botvinnik [1911–1995, multiple world chess champion] said, unites sport, science and culture. It also develops both the left and the right hemispheres of the brain in children.



Vladimir Putin:

Did you have a holiday yesterday? My congratulations.



Kirsan Ilyumzhinov:

Yes, it was yesterday. Fifty years ago, UNESCO declared International Chess Day. Chess is the only sport with an International Day. In those fifty years, the World Chess Federation has become the largest federation with 188 member countries, over 100,000 competitions held by us, and 600 million chess players. Now we have set a goal to increase the number of chess players to one billion by 2020. One billion chess players means one billon clever people. And the Sirius centre helps us increase the number of smart and talented children.



Vladimir Putin:

I congratulate you as an organiser of this process and all the people who love chess and play it, and we have hundreds of thousands of them.



Kirsan Ilyumzhinov:

We now have to produce a men’s and women’s world champion.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, we have to work on it.



Kirsan Ilyumzhinov:

FIDE is to hold the next election of its president next year. I think that Russia should not yield this position, and I decided to run for FIDE president again.



Vladimir Putin:

I think it will be decided by those eligible to vote, but as we see it from a distance, I think you are quite worthy, you do a good job with the responsibilities and running the federation. Undoubtedly, you have already gained significant experience and have every chance of winning. At any rate, you have the right to run and fight for it. For my part, I would like to wish you success.



Kirsan Ilyumzhinov:

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55116






Meeting of Talent and Success Foundation Board of Trustees



During his visit to Sirius Educational Centre, Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Talent and Success Foundation Board of Trustees.



July 21, 2017 - 19:45 - Sochi





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues, friends.

You have probably watched the meeting with the kids. It was a great pleasure talking to them, hearing how they live, what makes them tick and what they think about their future and the future of the activities they engage in.

Sirius has been working for two years. During this time 15,000 people from almost all parts of Russia have been here. And of course, it cannot accommodate all the gifted, promising children that we have in our country. So the next stage is to promote such systems in the Russian regions (this is up to the regions themselves).

As you know, several new fields have appeared: painting, chemistry, biology, chess and computer science. We believe that these are promising, much-needed fields.

Another large building was handed over to Sirius – to be more precise, the entire complex of the Olympic Games Organising Committee. Let us talk about how it will develop, as well as about the short-term development prospects in general.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55115
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Meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev



Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Sochi. The two leaders discussed various aspects of the bilateral relations and the regional agenda.



July 21, 2017 - 21:50 - Sochi





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Aliyev, I am very glad to see you, this time in Sochi.

You may be aware that I have just met with students from our new Sirius Educational Centre for Talented Children. I was very pleased to see the progress of this project and will be glad to share my impressions with you.

I am glad to have this opportunity to talk about our bilateral relations and the current state of affairs in the region. The situation is not simple but I hope today’s meeting will be another step towards a solution of all the complicated issues.

We will, of course, discuss the bilateral links between Azerbaijan and Russia. We have a great deal of work to do together and many joint plans for the future.

I am glad to have this opportunity to meet with you and talk over all these issues.



President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev:

Thank you, Mr Putin.

I am also glad to meet with you today. We meet on a regular basis and these meetings give a good impetus to our bilateral relations, which are developing very successfully.

We are satisfied with the high level of our relations. We cooperate extensively in politics, trade and the economy, as well as on cultural projects. There are good prospects in the transport in energy sectors. Our relations are multidimensional and cover almost every aspect of our countries’ lives.

It is important to hold regular consultations on topical issues of the regional and global politics, as well as on the bilateral relations and security in the region.

Once again, I am very pleased to see you. I am certain this meeting will move our friendly relations forward.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.





The source of information -
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55117






Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev



In a telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Vladimir Putin congratulated him on his 60th birthday and wished him further success in his state activity.



July 24, 2017 - 12:30



The two presidents discussed current bilateral cooperation issues in the context of implementing the decisions resulting from Mr Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Russia (on April 4–5, 2017).

Earlier, Mr Putin sent Mr Mirziyoyev a message of greetings.

The telegram reads, in part:

“You deservedly enjoy great authority at home and abroad as an experienced and far-sighted statesman who has made a great personal contribution to resolving the tasks facing Uzbekistan.

Russia values highly your principled policy of developing the strategic partnership and alliance between our countries. I hope to continue our substantive dialogue with you and continue our fruitful work together to further develop all areas of our mutually advantageous relations for the benefit of our fraternal peoples and in the interests of ensuring regional stability and security”.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55123






Telephone conversation with Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Petro Poroshenko



As per prior agreement, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in the Normandy format.



July 24, 2017 - 16:15



The four leaders heard reports by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan and Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug about maintaining the ceasefire on the line of contact between the parties to the internal Ukrainian conflict and also about other aspects of OSCE SMM activity.

After that, the leaders exchanged opinions on the situation in southeast Ukraine in light of serious violations of the Minsk Agreements that were signed on February 12, 2015.

Vladimir Putin spoke in detail about Russia’s approach to the key provisions of the Minsk Agreements.

The four leaders have agreed to maintain contact, including at the top level.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55126






Meeting with Vice President of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki



Vladimir Putin met in St Petersburg with Vice President of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki, who is in Russia on a working visit, to discuss bilateral cooperation and the situation in the Middle East.



July 25, 2017 - 15:10 - St Petersburg





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Vice President,

I would like to cordially welcome you. We first met back when you served as the Prime Minister of Iraq, and I am very happy to see you again.

The situation in the Middle East and in Iraq remains challenging. We are fully aware of this.

We have established an intergovernmental commission, and it is now hard at work. A lot has yet to be done in terms of economic cooperation. But there are other areas as well, specifically military technical cooperation. Russia is proactive in this area, and Iraq benefits from its assistance.

Today, I would very much like to discuss with you the situation not only within Iraq or its bilateral relations with Russia, but also the situation in the region in general.

Once again, I am very happy to see you.



Vice President of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki (retranslated):

Thank you very much for your kind invitation, for the opportunity to meet with you and discuss questions of mutual interest that are relevant to our countries and the whole world.

This is my third visit to Russia. With every visit, we take yet another step toward the common goal of further improving our relations. There is great potential in terms of cooperation, and our strategic choice is underpinned by an understanding of the important role Russia plays in the region and in Iraq.

We have done quite a lot to step up our cooperation, specifically in energy, the economy and the military technical sphere. A number of agreements have been signed during previous visits. Russia and Iraq are implementing bilateral cooperation agreements, and we are committed to ensuring their full implementation

I am always eager to emphasise Russia’s immense contribution to preventing our region from falling apart, specifically in Syria and Iraq. You have our most sincere gratitude for that. If it were not for Russia’s contribution, the map of the region would have changed for the worse for us.

Now that we have achieved so much in the fight against al-Qaeda and ISIS, we still recognise that more needs to be done to expand our cooperation.

We have achieved a number of military victories in many regions, including in Mosul, so it is now time to focus on security, since these terrorists are poised to continue threatening civilians and cities.

We now share a great responsibility to counter the ideology of terrorism and religious extremism, because it underpins the emergence of ISIS, and before that Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups operating in Syria and around the world. If we continue to be guided in our relations by creed or ethnicity, we will leave the door open to the resurgence of terrorism.

In 2011–2012, we succeeded in restoring control over the territory and overcame terrorism through military means. However, the spectre of a resurgent terrorist threat will always be there, as long as Iraqis remain divided by religious quarrels. This is what happened in Syria.

Given the current situation in Iraq, if the power continues to be divided on the religious or ethnic principle between the Sunnis, the Shiites, the Arabs, the Kurds, Christians and Muslims, this could result in a new round of terrorist activity.

Therefore, we have prepared a special project, and we would like everyone who cares about the future of Iraq to help the Iraqi people. The idea is to restore real democracy, when the power is based on the victory of a political majority rather than on the assignment of quotas to various movements.

I would like to express my gratitude for and my deep appreciation of your personal efforts and those of the Russian Federation. At a time when we were subjected to a large-scale aggressive attack, which was launched for political purposes and affected the region and the global situation – I am referring to the fight against terrorism – Russia took an honourable and honest stance and agreed to speed up the delivery of weapons under previous agreements.

We succeeded, of course, but we believe that the only option for the terrorist organisations is to foster religious strife. This will be their strategic choice. Hence, we must be ready in both military and political terms.

I believe that an exclusively military solution cannot help settle the crises in Iraq and Syria. We must make political efforts and find solutions that would put an end to strife between various parts of our society, a strife that has lasted for the past 14 years since the fall of the regime in Baghdad.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55129






Russian-Finnish talks



Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto held talks as part of the Russian President’s visit to Finland.



July 27, 2017 - 15:20 - Punkaharju





President of Finland Sauli Niinisto (retranslated):

Mr President, members of the Russian delegation.

I am honoured to welcome you to this landmark place, Punkaharju.

We very much value your decision to come here for the centenary of Finland’s independence. This is a great honour for our country.

Welcome to Finland.



President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

I would like to thank you, Mr President, for inviting me and my colleagues here.

We are celebrating the centenary of Finland, the centenary of its independence. Also, this year we will mark 25 years of the friendship treaty between Russia and Finland.

The centenary celebrations include a series of cultural and historical events. One of the special and very pleasant events is a performance by Bolshoi Theatre artists in Savonlinna today.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55168






Joint news conference with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto



Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinisto gave a joint news conference following bilateral talks.



July 27, 2017 - 17:30 - Punkaharju





President of Finland Sauli Niinisto (retranslated):

Welcome! I am sorry for keeping you waiting, but we had a lot of interesting topics to discuss.

This year, Finland celebrates the 100th anniversary of its independence, and we very much appreciate the fact that President Putin came here and will join us in celebrating this event. At the same time, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of relations between our countries.

Once again, welcome. We very much appreciate your presence here.

Currently, as befits good neighbours, we have extensive bilateral relations and ties. We are also witnessing some new life, an upswing in relations, as things are looking up in the economic sphere in both countries. There are more tourists going to both countries, and bilateral trade has picked up significantly.

We also have common goals that we are striving to achieve. Notable is the toxic waste disposal site, Krasny Bor, near St Petersburg. We discussed this issue last year. We made some progress, and samples were taken at this site. Indeed, our goal is to move forward in resolving this issue.

We also talked about the projects that were implemented in the Baltic Sea region. We mentioned the sewage treatment plants that were put into operation in Kaliningrad, and this also serves as a reminder about the Northern Dimension initiative, which has come to a standstill due to sanctions, but I believe that, nonetheless, we should not forget about it and keep it alive, at least in our thoughts, because Northern Dimension allowed us to achieve a lot of good things. We can mention the treatment facilities in St Petersburg, and now the treatment facilities in Kaliningrad, too.

We also talked about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region. We are planning major military exercises, West-2017 and Aurora. We are also keeping an eye on a certain intensification in the movement of military aircraft, ships, troops. In order for us to avoid negative consequences, situations that no one wants, we need to maintain dialogue.

I would also like for people here in Finland to see that not all is as bad as it seems and that progress has been made.

I also want to recall the interview that NATO Secretary General Mr Stoltenberg gave. He described the recent NATO-Russia Council meeting as constructive.

The need for this kind of ongoing dialogue is also clear from the discussions taking place in the working group at ICAO, in which the Russian Federation is represented, as well as the other Baltic Sea countries and NATO. Working in this format, we have reached agreement on best practice regarding aviation and flight safety. Discussion and examination of the issues related to turning on transponders during flights continue there, and in a positive spirit, as far as we know.

We also discussed matters related to Finland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Our country has only just taken up its functions as chair. President Putin showed great understanding with regard to the idea I put forward, the idea that Finland would make a proposal that would be very difficult to reject. This proposal is about fighting black soot pollution. This pollution is caused by aging energy production facilities, power stations, and flaring associated gas. Fighting black soot pollution does not impair anyone’s economic interests.

We also discussed the situation in Ukraine, in which we see no improvement. The most urgent task would be to agree on a truce. It is possible and essential to move forward, even if with only small steps. Such steps could include an exchange of persons in custody, for example. It would be possible to begin with these kinds of small steps.

Our talks were very substantive and interesting. We did not even manage to discuss everything. We have not yet discussed Syria, for example, or disarmament, which is another issue I very much hoped to discuss. But during the boat trip we will have a chance to talk about these and other matters, and I think there will be some time for us to talk in the evening, too.

Thank you very much for an interesting discussion.



President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,

I want to start by thanking Mr Niinisto for the invitation, all the more so in this year when Finland is marking the 100th anniversary of its independence. In this connection, we have a big programme of joint cultural events.

As for our talks, they took place in the constructive and friendly atmosphere, traditional for our contacts. This was our second meeting this year. We also visited each other in 2016. I am sure that this political dialogue is most certainly a positive factor for stimulating development of our bilateral ties.

Mr Niinisto already mentioned that this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the treaty on the foundations of relations between Russia and Finland.

Today, we took a detailed look at the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation matters. We noted that our bilateral trade has picked up and posted an increase of close to 51 percent for the January-May period. Our common task is to support and do all we can to keep this pace going and preserve this trend. Our Intergovernmental Commission and Business Council are working on this.

I note the consistently high reciprocal interest of our countries’ business communities. Investment cooperation continues to develop. Russia’s direct investment in Finland came close to $3 billion in 2016, and Finland’s investment in Russia came to nearly $4 billion, even more if investment made via Finnish companies’ subsidiaries in other countries is counted.

We are carrying out a number of big projects, particularly in the energy sector. They include the Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power station. Preparatory work is fully underway at the site, equipment is being delivered, and the first tranche of our loan, about one billion euros, has been transferred. Let me remind you that the total amount of financing is five billion euros. Half of this will be financed from Russian government resources and half by Rosatom.

We are also working on renewable energy sources. The company Fortum, for example, and our Rusnano are establishing a fund with more than $500 million to develop wind energy.

Companies such as Valio and Nokian Tyres continue to develop their business activities. Our company Biokad plans to organise production of chemical and biological products in Turku. Yandex is launching a data storage centre in Finland’s Uusimaa region, and there are other interesting projects too.

During the talks we noted the efficient work of the environmental agencies of both countries. Mr Niinisto has already mentioned our joint work on hazardous waste at the Krasny Bor dump site near St Petersburg. We have just started this work. The renovation of Kaliningrad’s water supply system has been completed. This is a very serious, large step in ensuring environmental safety in the Baltic area in general. We intend to continue expanding our bilateral cooperation in environmental protection.

We highly value that our Finnish partners strive to conduct an independent and balanced foreign policy and consider it to be a major factor of stability in the north of Europe. Naturally, we are ready to continue dialogue with Finland and all interested states on enhancing security in the region.

We still have to discuss the settlement process in Syria. I promised to inform my colleague in detail about it but right now I can say that in our view the main task is to stop the bloodshed once and for all and ensure the necessary conditions for a peaceful political settlement. Then the Syrians should decide, in a broad-based dialogue under the aegis of the UN and on the basis of Security Council Resolution 2254, what kind of country they want to live in.

I shared with the President the particulars of developments related to Ukraine’s domestic crisis.

We continued our exchange of views on the issues I discussed with Mr Niinisto at the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue forum in Arkhangelsk on March 30. We agreed to build up our cooperation in the region, in particular, considering Finland’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. I listened with interest to the President’s ideas on potential ecological cooperation in the Arctic. Needless to say, we can certainly do much in this area if we combine our efforts.

I would like to thank our hosts for their hospitality and cordial reception. I would also like to thank Finnish citizens who met us on our way to this hotel for their friendly and warm attitude. They greeted me with friendly waves. I cannot wave back to each of them but I want to say hello to them through the Finnish media.



Question from Yle (retranslated):

My question concerns the military exercises conducted jointly by China and Russia in the Baltic Sea. I would like to ask President Putin: What message are China and Russia sending to others, what message do they want to send to other countries located in the Baltic Sea region?

My second question is for President Niinisto: What does Finland think about this? What thoughts come to mind?



Vladimir Putin:

With regard to Russia-China interaction, it is a full-scale and very broad strategic partnership that includes economy, politics, military-technical cooperation, and purely military affairs. We have been regularly conducting military exercises for many years now, and participating in what is called war games and contests for many years now. To reiterate, we do so both on land and at sea.

The cooperation of Russia and the People's Republic of China in its entirety, including the military component, is a critical element of international security and stability. It is not directed against any third country. We are not creating military blocs or military alliances. In this case, our militaries are simply honing their skills, interacting, and this again sets a good example for cooperation in any region of the world, including the Baltics. We respect the neutral status of certain states of the Baltic region. However, we are ready for any form of interaction with the neutral states as well.

We decided to revive the Main Naval Parade, which will be held in St Petersburg soon. Make no mistake, it is not about brandishing arms, but reviving traditions that are more than 100 years old. In fact, such a parade was held earlier, perhaps on a slightly smaller scale, on Russian Navy Day. We invite everyone to come to St Petersburg and enjoy the show. We are ready to invite our partners and countries of the region to participate in this event, and are ready to make it happen as a collaborative effort. Thank you.



Sauli Niinisto:

As far as I understand, and as President Putin mentioned, indeed, this is not the first time such exercises are conducted jointly by Chinese and Russian naval forces, or joint military exercises in general. The Chinese Navy was also in the Mediterranean, and now they are here in the Baltic Sea. Also, as far as I understand, in order to maintain combat readiness and military skills, it is important to conduct exercises in various conditions. Conducting these exercises here in the Baltic Sea does not imply that they are intended precisely for these conditions, it is just that it is important to conduct such exercises in variety of conditions.

Importantly, Finland also conducts such exercises, and takes part in the exercises that take place here in the Baltic region. We will be taking part in major exercises named Aurora off the coast of Sweden. Of course, the Swedish forces will be the main participant, but other states, including the United States, will also take part. The purpose of the Aurora exercises is also not about brandishing arms or forming any blocs against someone, either. But as long as we live in a world with armies and military forces, we must bear in mind that such exercises will be conducted no matter what.



Pavel Minakov, Interfax:

A question for both presidents.

At present we are noticing modest but positive dynamics in the development of bilateral trade, as noted at the news conference. At the same time it is difficult not to see that new and quite serious political risks are being added to the continuing economic risks. This, in turn, is exerting pressure on economic factors. Do you have apprehensions that the modest positive dynamics are threatened by the current situation in the world?



Vladimir Putin:

We live in a complicated, contradictory and very fragile world. The task of the people who do the work we were called upon to do is to avoid these risks, curb and minimise them, and to work on areas and ways of cooperation that would lead us to development, to the consolidation of international relations, the economy and improved living standards for our citizens. This is what our meeting today was about. As for the future, we will have to wait and see. We will respond to emerging problems.



Sauli Niinisto:

Yes, indeed, it is just as you said. There are risks and threatening factors in this world, for instance climate change. We discussed this issue when we reviewed our agenda in the context of our chairmanship of the Arctic Council. In addition, we have rampant migration and these flows are probably partially determined by the first factor mentioned – climate change – and may grow in the future as a result. And, thirdly, there are wars – armed clashes and conflicts that are heating up in many places in this world.

We need an open spirit of global cooperation on all of these issues. I believe in dialogue, and I believe it is possible to find solutions via dialogue.



Matthew Chance, CNN:

First, I have a question for President Putin. President Putin, with these US congressional investigations – and they are thoroughly underway – into allegations of Russian meddling in the US election, and with the possibility of US sanctions being tightened shortly, do you sometimes sit in your office in the Kremlin thinking about how badly US-Russian relations are going and regretting the day that Donald Trump was elected?



Vladimir Putin:

First, as for the election of the President of the United States, this is not our business, and it is not up to us to assess Mr Trump’s performance in his very high office. This is up to the American people. And the second point.



Remark by CNN:

We also have a question to the Finnish President.



Vladimir Putin:

Wait a second, I have something else to say.



Remark by CNN:

Sorry.



Vladimir Putin:

I was just waiting for the English translation.

As regards the investigations you have mentioned, I do not think it is an investigation, because an investigation would imply considering all the circumstances, examining the causes and hearing from different parties. What we are seeing is merely growing anti-Russian hysteria. Most likely, Russophobic tools are being used for domestic political purposes, in this case the fight between President Trump and his political opponents in the United States.

It is a great pity that Russian-US relations are sacrificed in the course of resolving internal US political issues.

Answering your question on whether I regret the worsening of Russian-US relations, I can answer directly: of course we regret this. It is a shame, because if we worked together, we could resolve the pressing issues that concern both Russia and the United States much more efficiently. I am speaking of solving acute international crises, tackling terrorism, nature conservation, resolving environmental problems, handling illegal migration, fighting organised crime and so on, and contributing to economic development ultimately. But we know we have many friends in the United States, and there are many sober-minded people. I hope that someday the current state of affairs will come to an end and we will move on to a qualitatively different kind of relationship, which we will strengthen and boost in the interests of the people of the United States and the Russian Federation.



Question, CNN:

Yes, we also have a question for the Finnish President. It seems that Finland has to balance between Russia and its US allies, but now a certain split is emerging in the United States. Do you think anti-Russian sanctions should be toughened or do you share the opinion of President Trump and his desire to improve relations with Russia?



Sauli Niinisto:

(In English.) As for balance, I just want to remind you that at this event, an American TV company asked double the questions as others.

(Retranslated.) Yes, Finland is building relations with neighbouring countries. We have good, balanced relations with Russia. Finland is also building relations with other countries, the EU, and the United States. This is not about Finland balancing between these powers; this is about a process, an approach that should be used in other parts of the world as well. The point is that we are trying to understand each other.

As regards maintaining relations with Russia, I would like to cite the discussions that took place at the NATO summit in Warsaw last summer. Its participants spoke of the necessity and urgency of dialogue, and as far as I can tell, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron are making such efforts as well, and I think this is very good.



Pavel Zarubin, Rossiya TV channel:

Good afternoon, my name is Pavel Zarubin, Rossiya TV channel. I have a question for both leaders. I would like to continue with the high-profile issue of the new US bill on toughening anti-Russian sanctions. Naturally, this issue is high-profile also because in the last few days and weeks we have been hearing very tough criticism of this bill from many key European politicians and European agencies.

After all, what is happening is that the United States wants to apply its laws to the territories of other countries, EU countries, and to make its bill transnational. Have you discussed this issue? What is your attitude to it? After all, as far as I understand, the independence and economic security interests of other countries are at stake.

And I have a question for the President of Russia. If this bill is adopted, what will be Russia’s response? What will it be like? Are any Russian-US contacts possible on this matter? For instance, a telephone conversation with the US President. Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

As for the transnational character of US legislation, I have been talking about this for a long time, since 2007 (I think I spoke in Munich about this). It is exactly as I said. This practice is unacceptable – it is destroying international relations and international law. We have never accepted it and will not accept it. As for the reaction of other states of the world, it depends on the extent of their sovereignty and readiness to defend their own national interests.

If the same happens in this case, it will cause particular regret because these actions will have aggravating factors. I would call them particularly cynical because they amount to an obvious attempt to use one’s geopolitical advantages in the competitive struggle in order to protect one’s economic interests at the expense of one’s allies, as in this case.

We have not seen the final version yet and we do not have a final opinion on this matter. But we see that for a long period of time, there have been ongoing attempts to provoke us – many Russian diplomats were expelled with no explanation of the reason and diplomatic property was seized, which is beyond comprehension as it violates fundamental norms of international law regarding diplomatic relations. The sanctions are absolutely illegal from the perspective of international law and they violate the principles of international trade and World Trade Organisation rules. As you know, we are being very restrained and patient, but at some point we will have to respond. We cannot tolerate this loutish behaviour towards our country forever. But how we respond will depend on the final version of the bill that is being debated in the US Senate.

In any case, we believe that whatever happens in the immediate future, in the long term we will certainly reach some strategic level of cooperation and agreement. I hope that ultimately this is what will happen.



Sauli Niinisto (retranslated):

I do not quite agree with you with respect to imposing sanctions and observing laws. Probably, the rationale behind this is that there are certain assertions and concerns regarding the process of the US election.

And, as you have rightly pointed out, a very heated debate on this matter has begun in the EU. For instance, the President of the European Commission, Mr Juncker, mentioned this and posed this question. This issue is difficult and sensitive for the EU, and it is necessary to start the discussions between the EU and the United States as the proposed sanctions will have a direct impact not just on Russia but on other countries as well. This is why the EU is intensifying efforts on this matter. I support Mr Putin in saying that we should try to better understand each other in the world, and I believe this would be in everyone's interests.

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55175






Visit to Savonlinna Opera Festival



Vladimir Putin and President of Finland Sauli Niinisto attended a performance of the opera Iolanta presented by the Bolshoi Theatre as part of the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival.



July 27, 2017 - 23:50 - Savonlinna, Olavinlinna Castle







The presidents of Russia and Finland travelled to the medieval Olavinlinna Castle aboard the steamboat S/S Saimaa.







Before the performance in Olavinlinna Castle’s King’s Hall, Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinisto attended a reception hosted by the Chair of the Savonlinna City Council.







After the official part of the visit was over, Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinisto had a productive one-on-one discussion that lasted some 90 minutes.









The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55176
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Meeting with Head of Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev



Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev, who briefed the President on the fund’s current efforts to attract investment into the Russian economy, including by involving the world’s biggest sovereign funds.



July 24, 2017 - 15:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow



The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) was established in 2011 on the initiative of the President and the Prime Minister. It is a sovereign investment fund making direct investment into leading Russian companies and promising business ventures together with top global investors.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Dmitriev, how is your work getting on?



General Director and Chairman of the Board of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev:

Mr President, thank you for helping to transform the RDIF into Russia’s sovereign fund.

Since we began operation, we have invested over 1 trillion rubles in various Russian companies, including 100 billion from our own funds and 900 billion from our partners. More than 500,000 people work in the RDIF’s portfolio companies. The fund is thus growing fast.

Over these past 12 months alone, we invested 270 billion rubles in various companies. The combined turnover of the RDIF companies now comes to more than 2 trillion rubles and has increased by 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Much of our investment goes into new projects, greenfield projects. We are also investing in Fosagro, Russian Helicopters, the Vladivostok and St Petersburg airports, and oilfield service company Evrazia.

Our investment and our companies are both showing active growth. For example, [health clinic chain] Mat i Ditya (Mother and Child) opened 20 new clinics. They were present in only three regions before, but now they have clinics in 15 regions.

Our work is having a positive impact on Russia’s economy. For example, we are developing hydroelectric power stations in Karelia, building smart grids and reducing losses in the electricity grids by 20 percent.



Vladimir Putin:

Are these small power stations?



Kirill Dmitriev:

Yes, small power stations in Karelia. This is the BRICS bank’s first project and so the Saudis, Emiratis and Chinese are co-investors in this project. We are managing to attract 5–6 of the world’s top sovereign funds from different countries into various projects.

Finally, we have more than 30 projects with the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia is an active investor as well. As for our Chinese partners, we have already completed more than 19 projects with them.



Vladimir Putin:

How many specialists do you have working directly at the RDIF now?



Kirill Dmitriev:

Around 100.



Vladimir Putin:

What administrative benefits have come out of the fund’s transformation into a sovereign fund?



Kirill Dmitriev:

It has become much easier to work with our partners, who are the world’s biggest sovereign funds. We see now that we can undertake projects on a much greater scale and attract considerably more investment.

Now, for example, we already have $30 billion from the leading sovereign funds. We think this figure can be increased.



Vladimir Putin:

What do you think is most interesting among your upcoming plans? Where will you be investing next, in which projects?



Kirill Dmitriev:

In infrastructure, for the most part.



Vladimir Putin:

Good.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55125






Meeting with Head of Kalmykia Alexei Orlov



Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Head of the Republic of Kalmykia Alexei Orlov.



July 31, 2017 - 14:30 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region



Mr Orlov briefed the President on the socioeconomic situation in the region. Also discussed were appeals made by Kalmykia residents during Direct Line with the President.

Mr Putin noted that there has been progress in Kalmykia, but reminded Mr Orlov of the problems local people raised during Direct Line. They include water supply problems, even in the regional capital, difficulties in purchasing needed medicines, even for people eligible to subsidised medicines, and complaints that schools are asking parents to buy school equipment.

The President asked that these complaints be given full examination and not just passed on down the line. Mr Putin noted that he looks into such matters personally and asked to the regional head to do the same. Mr Orlov promised to take the matters under his personal control without delay.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55232






Congratulations to Russia’s Kamaz-Master Team, winner of the 2017 Silk Way Rally in the trucks category



Vladimir Putin congratulated Russia’s Kamaz-Master Team on winning the trucks category at the 2017 Silk Way Rally.



July 22, 2017 - 12:00



The message reads, in part:

“Once again, you demonstrated your champion spirit and rightly conquered the entire pedestal. Your success is proof of the Russian Kamaz vehicles’ unrivalled possibilities.

I would like to particularly acknowledge the excellent work of the rally organisers. I am certain such remarkable projects promote international cultural cooperation, and strengthen friendship and understanding between peoples.”

The 2017 Silk Way Rally is an international rally raid off-road race through Russia, Kazakhstan and China.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55120






Greetings on Russian Boxing Day



Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the participants, organisers and guests of the first Russian Boxing Day held on Moscow’s Red Square.



July 22, 2017 - 15:30



The message reads, in part:

“Boxing has every right to be viewed as one of the world’s most prominent and vibrant combat sports. It has always been very popular in Russia. Russian boxers always compete in the most prestigious international bouts, confirming the prowess of the Russian school of boxing with their victories and title belts. This is a spectacular sport where athletes not only have to demonstrate superb physical fitness, but also must master their will and show perseverance. They must also develop a high level of self-discipline and respect for their opponent. All these qualities are very much relevant for everyday life and can help an individual forge a strong character, which will allow him to overcome life’s challenges.

I strongly believe that large-scale sports festivals like the Russian Boxing Day have great unifying potential, which is very important. They help promote physical fitness and the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55121






Greetings on III International St Vladimir’s Orthodox Singing Festival at Valaam



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the participants, organisers and guests of the III International St Vladimir’s Orthodox Singing Festival at Valaam.



July 28, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“It is a pleasure that your festival has asserted itself and has won global recognition. Today, it will again bring together the best choirs and soloists from Russia and other countries at the ancient Valaam monastery. Your festival has revived the ancient traditions of church music and singing. It provides access to the sources and enduring values of Orthodoxy, helps preserve the rich historical and cultural traditions of our country and serves to educate the public.

I am confident that this festival will proceed in the noble atmosphere of spirituality and will help strengthen international cultural ties and friendship among nations.”

The III International St Vladimir’s Orthodox Singing Festival will be held at Valaam on July 28–30, 2017.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55180






Greetings to organisers, participants and guests of International Army Games 2017



International Army Games will be held from July 29 to August 12.



July 29, 2017 - 12:30





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

It is my pleasure to welcome the organizers, participants and guests of the International Army Games.

This is the third time these competitions of military professionals are being held. Year after year, their programme and geographical scope are expanding. The number of teams from various countries is growing. They demonstrate their military excellence on the land, in the air and at sea. They display the best qualities required in military service: combat skills and discipline, efficient teamwork, and the ability to promptly take decisions that not only the success of operations but the very lives of their fellows will depend on in real combat.

I am confident that these International Army Games will provide an opportunity to exchange experience and compare the capabilities of various weapons and military equipment. However, most importantly, they will strengthen the traditions of partnership and mutual support. They will promote cooperation among military agencies of various countries, as well as among our peoples.

I wish good luck and new victories to all the participants and vivid impressions to the spectators.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55182






Vladimir Putin congratulated Edita Piekha on her birthday



The President congratulated variety singer and National Artist of the USSR Edita Piekha on her birthday.



July 31, 2017 - 09:20



The message reads, in part:

“Your vast and generous talent and your boundless devotion to the art brought you exceptional professional success, made you one of the brightest stars in our country’s entertainment firmament and won you genuine love and recognition of the people.”

Mr Putin signed executive order awarding Ms Piekha the Order for Services to the Fatherland II degree for her great contribution to cultural development in Russia and her many years of fruitful work.

On July 31, Edita Piekha, one of the legends of Russia’s variety scene, celebrates her 80th birthday and 60 years of her artistic career.



[Edita Pieha & ensemble "Druzhba" - "Only us" - https://vnnforum.com/blog.php?b=1105 ]





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55213






Greetings to Russian participants at 23rd Summer Deaflympics



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the Russian delegation participating in the 23rd Summer Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey.



July 31, 2017 - 19:30



The message reads, in part:

”Everyone – athletes, coaches and specialists – did their best, demonstrating team solidarity and a winning attitude. Once again, you convincingly proved that our Deaflympic team is the strongest on the planet.

Today's meeting is a tribute of great respect to your courage, hard work and strength of mind.

Once again, I congratulate you on an excellent ending to the Games. I wish you good luck and all the best.“





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55252
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Visit to an exhibition of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives’ projects



Vladimir Putin began his working trip to Karelia with a visit to the IT Park at Petrozavodsk State University, where he viewed an exhibition of projects carried out with support from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI).



July 26, 2017 - 16:10 - Petrozavodsk







In particular, the President attended a presentation of the space Boiling Point – Petrozavodsk, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives’ infrastructure project and platform for new ideas and projects, presentations and exchange of best practice within ASI. ASI General Director Svetlana Chupsheva showed the President around. Similar Boiling Points projects are already operating in Moscow, St Petersburg and Ivanovo, and there are plans to open more in Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Ulyanovsk, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Tula, Novokuznetsk, and Novosibirsk.

Mr Putin also looked over the information stands of the projects Leaders’ Club, Digital Region, and Cyber Russia.







Among the research and development results presented to the President were a blood test system for early heart attack diagnosis and a device that compensates for lack of sunlight, which takes the form of a wrist watch and makes it possible to get enough vitamin D when sunlight is in short supply.

Acting Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov presented the region’s development strategy to the President during the visit to the exhibition.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55131






Meeting with representatives of socially oriented and charitable organisations and volunteer movements



Vladimir Putin met with representatives of socially oriented non-profit organisations, charity foundations, volunteer movements and social entrepreneurs.



July 26, 2017 - 17:45 - Petrozavodsk







Before the meeting, the President visited the Petrozavodsk State University IT park, where he was taken around a display area with projects that are being implemented with support from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, friends, good afternoon.

I have always liked meeting with people who spend years doing what you are doing, that is, helping people, in particular, people who need assistance more than others. I am referring to senior citizens, people with disabilities and children.

I will not give a long and boring speech. We can start our discussion right now. It will be a free and open discussion without any restraints. Let us proceed.

This meeting is being attended by my colleagues from the Government and the Executive Office, and the acting governor. We are at your service. Let us talk about matters of importance and concern to you, about what is being done and what else all of us can do to work even more efficiently in this area of vital importance for us and for all Russian citizens.

Who would like to start? Go ahead.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

Mr President, colleagues,

My name is Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova and I represent non-commercial organisation Agency for Social Information and am a member of the Russian Federation's Civic Chamber. I want to outline a few issues of concern to many non-commercial organisations and volunteer associations. Our citizens have become more active of late and we see vivid examples of people taking part in the work of organisations, public groups and initiatives, working to develop the places where they live and taking part in all kinds of public activity to improve people’s quality of life.

Of course, there is an interesting new area too – non-commercial organisations’ involvement in providing social services. There is some good practice and interesting examples in this area. I recently attended the Community forum in the Ural district, in Tyumen, where people from Tyumen Region and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area spoke about their excellent experience and about how they get non-commercial organisations involved in social service provision.

But I think it would be very important to establish a competency centre that would collect best practice and spread it to other regions and other areas, because this is something we still have problems with at present. In other words, things are active and going well in some areas, but there are problems in other ones. If it would be possible to support this centre’s establishment, I think this would benefit everyone.



Vladimir Putin:

I think we already have such competency centres in 18 regions, and of course, we will develop this network further. The aim is to make these centres hubs for information, and identification and exchange of best practice. They already operate in 18 regions and I think, incidentally, that this is one of Agency for Strategic Initiatives' projects too.

Are you involved in this project?



General Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Svetlana Chupsheva:

Of course, we have now carried out initial monitoring over the course of the year. Seventy regions are involved in this work. We can already see that this is a good initiative, but there are some difficulties and problems.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, but these centres in the 18 regions, I do not remember which ones exactly…



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

Social sector innovation centres, probably? This is what we are talking about.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, innovation centres. They are already up and working. We will develop this work further.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

I think it would be great if they open in other regions as well.

I also wanted to note that we often need greater interaction with government authorities. Take, for example, the volunteer movement. More people want to come and work as volunteers at various institutions, such as hospitals and children's homes, to name a few. However, the rules of interaction with the authorities, that is, who to contact and where, are not always clear. This tends to turn away people who could otherwise be of help.



Vladimir Putin:

I think we need to find, at the federal level, people directly responsible for this aspect of ​​work. However, equally important, and perhaps even more important, is the regional component, since a large number of competencies and responsibilities lie with the regional and municipal authorities. So, in each region, there must be a person responsible for such activities with these organisations.

We will certainly promote this work in our interaction with the governors. I am confident that we will make it happen. At the federal level, we have Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, who is in charge of social issues, and if we take this to the level of deputy prime minister, she is a natural choice for this aspect of work. In fact, this is how things are. Her responsibilities in this regard should be simply specified. Let us do so.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

I think it would be the right thing to do. There are many members of the Board of Trustees for the Social Sphere among our participants, and this board is led by Ms Golodets. By the way, it is an effective public body, which achieves a lot through joint efforts, so, probably, it would be logical to do so.



Vladimir Putin:

Agreed. We will do so. We will keep tabs on it and see it to completion.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

Thank you.

There is another issue, which I would also like to raise. Not so long ago, we have …



Vladimir Putin:

Is it only you and I who will talk here today? (Laughter.) I do not mind, though.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

As my colleagues will say. I will be very brief.

There is a new status for NGOs now – providers of socially useful services. By the way, on July 12, all authorised representatives were to report to you on how the acquisition of this status is proceeding. So far we have 15 such organisations in the country because there are serious difficulties regarding the status acquisition procedure, in particular the proof that the services provided meet the required quality standards. The Civic Chamber has developed recommendations about how all of this could be simplified, because at present the procedure is overly formalised. However, everybody seems to ignore our recommendations.



Vladimir Putin:

The Russian Government has already drafted two bills. The first should define the concept of social entrepreneurship as such. After all, this concept has not yet been codified in law. This is the main problem.

The second bill addresses implementation mechanisms. When it comes into effect – and I hope that it will be finalised and adopted by the Federal Assembly, that is, the Duma and the Federation Council, during the autumn session – it will be easier. Why? Because then the regions will also have certain guidelines.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

Yes, yes, with regard to the quality of services, authority should probably be transferred to the regional level.



Vladimir Putin:

As a matter of fact, it is already at the regional level but they need well-defined guidelines, standards and so on. Then I hope the situation will improve. Why do I hope so? I believe this is how is should be, this is what the laws are for.



Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova:

Thank you.



Artyom Metelev:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Artyom Metelev and I represent the Association of Volunteer Centres and, just like Ms Topoleva-Soldunova, I am a member of the Civic Chamber. Our organisation was established in 2014 following your meeting with Olympic Games volunteers, when you endorsed the idea of preserving the legacy of the Sochi volunteer programme. Now we bring together 125 regional organisations. Darya Makovetskaya is from Karelia, and the Karelian Centre is a member of our association. We also engage in volunteer activity with children, the Russian Movement of School Students, also university students and senior citizens.

We have a dream: We would like to make the volunteer movement a part of every Russian’s life so that it is a natural norm and habit for a person to help and participate in developing the area where he or she lives. I would like to share with you our innovative project, which could help bring us closer to seeing our dream come true.



Vladimir Putin:

Do you want to make every citizen a volunteer, regardless of age and health?



Artyom Metelev:

Yes, so that every citizen has experience. We have examples.



Vladimir Putin:

This is an ambitious goal but go ahead. I am sorry for interrupting you but let us look at your project.



Artyom Metelev:

During the Russian Popular Front forum in April you supported the idea of ​​creating a single federal online resource for covering the activities of volunteers, and issued corresponding instructions. We feel responsible for this, because the Government suggested using our platform. I wanted to show you the Volunteers of Russia platform as such a resource. Its functions and main purpose are to consolidate the volunteer movement in our country. It connects organisations that need volunteers and people who want to help.

For example, if we look at volunteers in the Republic of Karelia, where we are now, we will see a variety of volunteers registered here. For example, this girl works at the centre for orphans. Accordingly, the system invites her to participate in the rehabilitation programme for teenagers. In other words, the system identifies her as someone who is interested in working with children and lives in the Republic of Karelia, the city of Petrozavodsk, and suggests activities that this particular person might be interested in.



Vladimir Putin:

Where do you get the openings from?



Artyom Metelev:

We suggest that various organisations, nonprofit organisations, including the funds present here, such as Starost v Radost, Lisa Alert, Soyedineniye, and many other registered organisations, currently 647 of them, form an application and start looking for nonprofit partners as volunteers. We also discussed with the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Labour and all relevant departments the issue of whether budget-funded institutions could do this as well.

This is an intelligent system, which makes it possible to watch and process large amounts of data, analyse them, and issue corresponding advice. For example, the average portrait of a volunteer is a 23-year-old girl interested in social volunteering. In fact, more girls than boys do the volunteer work in Russia. Perhaps, this is a good thing, because women tend to be more compassionate than men. That is, if we see that here in Karelia volunteers are interested in culture and tourism, this is a clear signal to cultural institutions and authorities to create proper conditions for people.



Vladimir Putin:

Who created this programme?



Artyom Metelev:

Our organisation, the Association of Volunteer Centres, together with the Russian Centre for Civil and Patriotic Education of Children and Youth (Rospatriottsentr). The Agency for Strategic Initiatives is its partner.



Vladimir Putin:

Did the ASI provide the funding?



Artyom Metelev:

You did, Mr President. (Laughter.) It was created with a presidential grant, which we obtained. Many thanks to you and all your colleagues who appreciated our work.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you for reminding me about this.



Artyom Metelev:

We have forwarded our proposals with regards to this to the Government. We do understand that it was a start-up project, and it did succeed. As many as 150 people register on the website every day. Having a stable financial model is important. As I already mentioned, we have submitted our proposals to the Government, but have not been given the green light yet.



Vladimir Putin:

What do you mean by a “stable financial model?”



Artyom Metelev:

What I mean is that this project should get stable annual funding instead of grants. We are facing a very ambitious task consisting of promoting volunteering and making it easier for people to become volunteers.

According to the Public Opinion Foundation, every second Russian is ready to become a volunteer.



Vladimir Putin:

Artyom, you are quite right. All I want to know is what goals these funds will help to achieve? What do you intend to invest in?



Artyom Metelev:

The funds will primarily pay for the website’s staff, moderators, administrators, software developers as well as designers. We want to create an application for mobile devices too.



Vladimir Putin:

What amount of financing are we talking about here?



Artyom Metelev:

We submitted our proposal to the Education Ministry, which was tasked with financing the website and our organization, its operator. As far as I know, the total envelope is about 27 million rubles.



Vladimir Putin:

Per year?



Artyom Metelev:

Yes, the association that develops the infrastructure…



Vladimir Putin:

The amount of spending fades in comparison with the results that were achieved. What I mean is that this is a socially significant project, while the funding it needs is, to be honest, very modest. So let us think how this should be done and do it. Is that agreed?



Remark:

Does this mean that all regions will be able to use this platform?



Vladimir Putin:

Of course.



Artyom Metelev:

We discussed with Ms Chupsheva that each region would have its own section. You have instructed the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to compile a plan in cooperation with the Civic Chamber. The plan is ready. All the volunteers can see what the government is doing for the volunteer movement, what is happening in the country and how it changes their lives. They can also create their own sections on the website and upload the content.

Thank you very much for your support. If you allow me, on behalf of the entire volunteer community I would like to invite you to the annual National Volunteer Forum. Every year, this forum brings together thousands of people.



Vladimir Putin:

It is true that I am also a volunteer. Therefore, I have every right to attend this forum.



Artyom Metelev:

Thank you very much. This would be the best gift for National Volunteer Day that you have already established. This is the day the forum will be held. It would be a great honour and pleasure for us to have you at the forum.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much for the work you are doing and also for the results you are achieving, and for making good use of the grant that you were given. We will seek to continue supporting you in the future.

Thank you for the invitation. To be honest, I cannot say whether I will make it, but anyway I wish you every success with the event.



Artyom Metelev:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Go ahead, please.



Grigory Sergeyev:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Grigory Sergeyev, I am a member of the Liza Alert search group. We search for missing people in the city and in the countryside.

We are working with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to create a search centre that could consolidate the efforts of our group, the state and the public.

By law, a missing person is the responsibility of the Interior Ministry, which often does not have sufficient resources to solve each and every case. If a person is missing outside a populated area, it will take the efforts of the entire community to find that person. It may take government agencies, the Emergencies Ministry and any organisation that can help, as well as volunteers. In reality, volunteers have been calling all the shots for years. We know what to do and how to do it. And we see that there must be a nationwide response system that we are ready to offer and develop with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. I think we have adequate support. If you give the official instructions, it would be great.

Two more short questions. When a child goes missing in the countryside, anywhere in Russia, we have the experts and the equipment to send there to make the search as efficient as possible. But Russia is huge and transport is necessary. So, for example, there are Emergencies Ministry Il-76 aircraft sitting in Zhukovsky, but we cannot use them. It would be good if you could help us with this. My understanding is that it is expensive to transfer people to remote areas. Say, somebody is missing in Irkutsk Region but the best search experts are in Moscow. Of course, professionals must be trained elsewhere in the country but this is a long process. (…)



Vladimir Putin:

I have a big favour to ask. Can you write down all your suggestions?



Grigory Sergeyev:

Of course.



Vladimir Putin:

We will work on them by all means.



Grigory Sergeyev:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Regarding the Emergencies Ministry air fleet, are there any restrictions if the Emergencies Ministry is willing to take your experts, volunteers and public organisation members on board? Nobody forbids them to do this. I do not see any restrictions.



Grigory Sergeyev:

As far as I know, they employ local forces to search for this child. It is our initiative to fly there.



Vladimir Putin:

I see. It would be your transfer.



Grigory Sergeyev:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

I need to think about this. You see, there will be too many groups to transfer across this huge country. It is more reasonable to establish search groups locally.

In terms of permission, we will talk about this specifically and if there are any restrictions at all, they will be lifted. However, indeed, you are talking about using heavy equipment to move a small group over a huge distance. Nevertheless, a person’s life or health is more important than any financial costs and it must be done. We will discuss this issue with the Emergencies Ministry.



Grigory Sergeyev:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Go ahead, please.



Alyona Meshkova:

My name is Alyona Meshkova. I am the director of the Konstantin Khabensky Charity Foundation. We help children with cancer and serious brain diseases.

After your Direct Line in April last year and the awareness-raising letter of the Healthcare Ministry, we have been witnessing substantial changes as regards access to resuscitation units. This is major progress for us as a non-profit. Thank you very much for this.

To promote the successful practices of ‘accessible’ resuscitation throughout the country, in cooperation with the Association of Children’s Anesthesiologists and Resuscitators we created certain standards, rules and methodological guidelines for both visitors and medical personnel. Successful practices are not limited to major federal medical centres. They are also used in regional outpatient clinics and regular municipal hospitals. They exist and are being developed gradually. That said, very often decisions are still made by a hospital administration.



Vladimir Putin:

What decisions?



Alyona Meshkova:

Decisions on access to a resuscitation unit. Therefore, we have to resolve these issues with the Ministry of Healthcare on a case-by-case basis. We are saying that we are ready to cooperate and change these obsolete long-standing stereotypes among the medical personnel.



Vladimir Putin:

You see, Alyona, current law allows relatives, guardians or other legal representatives of patients to be present during treatment. Their presence is allowed for the duration of the entire treatment.

As for resuscitation, anesthesiology and other sensitive areas, there are indeed some restrictions. You know all this, but I will say it in any case. These restrictions are linked to issues that are determined by the care necessary for the patient. They are related to their rest, hygiene and the like. You spoke about stereotypes. Probably, no, definitely they exist and may be outdated. It is very hard to issue directives in this respect. This is a very sensitive issue that should be regulated primarily by the specialists themselves. We cannot ignore their opinion. By the way, under current regulations, a decision on access to a resuscitation unit is within the jurisdiction of a medical institution. We have discussed this with the Healthcare Minister, but we will move to where you think we should move, considering that the openness of medical institutions is also important just as a limit to the control over what happens in them.

We will work on this. You come up with your own proposals and your best practices, and we will carefully promote them. All right?



Alyona Meshkova:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you!

Please.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Ivan Kolomoyets. I am co-founder and general director of the interactive educational platform Uchi.ru. Since 2011, we have been developing interactive courses based on the school curriculum. At present, we have over 250 employees, most of whom are graduates of leading higher education institutions, including the Moscow Physical Technical Institute, Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics and the Russian Economic School.

We have already developed an interactive course in mathematics for grades one through four, which is used by over 1.5 million school students across the world. In Russia (this is 20 percent of school students), in regions such as Moscow, Tatarstan, Tambov Region and the Republic of Mordovia, every second school student studies mathematics with the help of our platform.

In addition, I would like to say that we have taken the first successful steps in exporting our technology. This summer, in conjunction with the education ministries of Brazil and South Africa, we launched pilot projects at local schools.



Vladimir Putin:

How did you get to them?



Ivan Kolomoyets:

You will not believe it – we simply flew, first, to South Africa and then, quite by chance, we managed to meet with your counterpart Jacob Zuma.



Vladimir Putin:

How do you mean by chance? Was he just walking down the street?



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Just about. We arrived and were told that a Direct Line table was available for $800. And we won a lottery to ask a question.



Vladimir Putin:

Good going. Brilliant, guys. (Laughter.)



Ivan Kolomoyets:

We said we were from Russia and were into mathematics, and Russian mathematics is a seal of quality all over the world. So they asked if we could help them. All of that was live on the air.



Vladimir Putin:

I will definitely thank Jacob for promoting our mathematical school.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

We would be very grateful.



Vladimir Putin:

I regularly meet with him. Soon we will have the next BRICS summit in China, and I will do so without fail.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Thank you very much. I think he remembers.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

And then likewise we flew in to Sao Paulo, just wrote letters, met and showed the quality of our platform.



Vladimir Putin:

Whom did you meet there?



Ivan Kolomoyets:

We had a meeting in the state of Sao Paulo, the Sao Paulo Education Ministry. It is the largest state – 50 million [people]. We also met with the minister and deputy minister.



Vladimir Putin:

I will also thank Mr Temer, the President of Brazil, if he attends the summit.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Good, thank you very much.

Apart from mathematics, our platform also introduces students to the ABCs of entrepreneurship in a game format. We hold online academic contests for school students in which they can acquire some basic entrepreneurial skills.



Vladimir Putin:

In a game format?



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Yes, that is right. For example, the following tasks: you need to set up an ice cream stand and decide where – in a Tyumen forest or on the embankment in Sochi. Or your grandmother knits socks, but she cannot make more than 10 pairs a week and you need to help with distribution. Or design a motor vehicle for Africa, selecting the right components. We use this as a basis for academic contests, which children, teachers and parents enjoy greatly. In our first contest, there were 100,000 participants.



Vladimir Putin:

Grandmothers also like this.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

They do.

In this context, I would like to know whether you support our initiative to introduce school students to the basics of entrepreneurship and whether you believe a more systematic approach towards entrepreneurship courses at school should be considered.

I would like to use this opportunity to ask your advice. What country do you think we should introduce our mathematics course to next? (Laughter.)



Vladimir Putin:

It is best, of course, to introduce it as much as possible in Russia, of course.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

This is our first priority, of course.



Vladimir Putin:

Otherwise, tell us where you think it should be, and we will try to support and help promote your product, which is certainly extremely important.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Regarding an entrepreneurship course at school, as you know, under our law, the school itself decides what its curriculum should be. However, this curriculum should consist of two parts: the first is mandatory and the second is optional. After all is said and done, in my opinion, an entrepreneurship course may be included in both the first and the second. It may also be introduced and used in an extracurricular segment. We need to think about it. The problem of curriculum overload is well known.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Yes, yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, this is obvious. However, of course, I believe this is a very interesting and useful thing. I will certainly talk to the Education Minister. We will try to provide guidance to the heads of regions. And I also wish you luck.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much. It was very interesting and unexpected.

By the way, do you know what I think? We will have a BRICS summit, and I will probably tell everyone about your work.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

We would be very grateful.



Vladimir Putin:

Really, I will tell everyone, citing your positive work experience in South Africa and Brazil.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

I think other countries might also take interest and then there is China and India.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

If you helped us with China and India…



Vladimir Putin:

There is quite a bit of scope there.



Ivan Kolomoyets:

Indeed.



Vladimir Putin:

Please.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

Mr President,

My name is Yelizaveta Oleskina. I am the Director of the Starost v Radost [Happiness in Old Age] foundation. We help senior citizens and people with disabilities. We have been active for 10 years in 20 regions.

My question is related to our most complicated issue that we encounter every day as elderly people and people with disabilities come to us for help, which they cannot get at all or to the extent they need from social services. Ten years ago, when we started, those were mainly Great Patriotic War veterans, but today these are simply elderly people, the post-war generation. Social institutions constantly come to us when they lack the resources to provide care. Families and relatives also seek our help.

So there is a whole range of issues. First of all, there is the lack of a modern concept of a long-term care system. What is this? It is the absence of uniform standards of care. A shortage of personnel. An interagency divide, when elderly people often simply fall through the cracks between the Labour Ministry and the Health Ministry, or a person with the same condition may end up at home without any assistance or in hospital or in a care home. A large number of people fall by the wayside because in our system, they need to apply for help but they cannot or do not know how to apply. And of course, there is the lack of real support for families that look after such people on their own.

We are doing all we can. We have an extensive volunteer network. Private corporations and state corporations, such as VEB, are also gradually joining the volunteer movement, but to help all those in need we believe the political will of the country’s leadership is required, which will help unite society behind taking care of the older generation.

My question is this: Can a separate programme be developed that would integrate at the federal level and would deal with all the issues related to long-term care, that would include elements of medical and social care around an elderly person who needs help, who needs care?



Vladimir Putin:

We have adopted a Strategy.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

Yes, within the framework of the Strategy, of course.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, a Strategy until 2025. Under this Strategy, I believe last year the Government adopted an important plan until 2020, for the short term. The issues that you have just raised should of course be taken into account there.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

There is none of that in the plan.



Vladimir Putin:

Right, we will revisit this and I will speak to the Government to make sure they take a closer look. At any rate, this is a very sensitive matter, I agree with you. And as we know, society’s attitude toward elderly people, toward its own citizens speaks to the maturity of this society. The older generation needs this, but the rising generation needs it just as much, so that children, teenagers see how elderly people are treated. This is an extremely important job. And of course we do not give it the attention it deserves. We will revisit this, of course, look at it again.

Would you like to add anything? Yes, please go ahead.



Anna Federmesser:

Thank you very much.

First, if I may, I would like to thank you for bringing us all together. Even as we were sitting here before you came, we managed to resolve a lot of important issues very quickly. Perhaps, we should get together more often.

What Alyona Meshkova said about intensive care is, I understand, a complicated issue.

Excuse me, I did not introduce myself: Nyuta Federmesser, Vera Foundation for Hospices.

This is an issue our fund raised many times. The fact is that intensive care units provide care not only to people who will be discharged after making a full recovery. Unfortunately, there are people there who will not leave them alive. This is both the result of an underdeveloped long-term care system – many gravely ill people end up there, although this is no place for them – and an ill-formed palliative care system.

(Anna Federmesser went on to discuss in detail long-term care, palliative care, hospices, pain management, and suggested solutions to these issues, in particular, she proposed developing standards and protocols as part of the corresponding national project.)



Vladimir Putin:

Again, we will look into it and get back to it.

Have your formalised your proposals?



Anna Federmesser:

I am sorry. It is in the national project passport. I brought along a presentation, which we did for pain relief.



Vladimir Putin:

Did you send it anywhere?



Anna Federmesser:

We did, but I will be pleased to hand it over to you nonetheless.



Vladimir Putin:

Give it to us. We will look at it and get back to it by all means either in the form of a separate national project, or as part of the decisions that have been adopted, but which you think are still inadequate for implementation. We will definitely take a look at it.



Anna Federmesser:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

As for the funding, it still needs to be increased. Of course, this is not big money. We will look into it.



Anna Federmesser:

I am glad to hear you say that. Yes, the funding must be increased.



Vladimir Putin:

With regard to what Lisa was saying about senior citizens staying at senior care homes, as of early 2016, about 100 such homes were dilapidated or structurally unsafe. Over the past year, their number has decreased by one third. Plans are in place to release fairly large amounts of money, more than 40 billion rubles, to bring them up to code. So, the funds you are talking about are completely incomparable. Perhaps, it makes sense to redirect some of them and use them more effectively, including, for the upkeep of senior care homes.

However, there is a snag, because then we will need to considerably amend the regulatory framework. What is this about? There are many issues, but one of them is when a person stays at home, then, as a rule, it is about co-financing by the state and the family. So, if the state sharply increases its share of funding, the family should match the increase, but is often unable to do so. Therefore, there are many things to be revised. That is, it is not just about lack of incentive to do so, but it rather entails a string of issues bound one to another. However, I cannot disagree that this needs to be resolved.



Anna Federmesser:

We could work on it as a team within the national project.



Vladimir Putin:

We will see.

Go ahead please.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

I am sorry, I will give you a very brief answer. It is very important that funds will be allocated but the worst thing is if they are used simply to repair buildings. As a result, we see repaired premises where care is terrible and people are completely ignored. Why am I talking about the long-term care system? Because in this case, we will be able to gather all the elements of this system and even distribute these funds.



Vladimir Putin:

Liza, I am also worried about this because the easiest thing to do is to spend money on major construction and repairs and nobody knows what norms are being used in the process and how efficient this work is. But in any event, these buildings must be put into normal shape.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

Yes, we saw regions that have built new homes for elderly people – I do not want to name them so as not to offend regions. These are very expensive, excellent buildings but for some reason a hundred mobile people who wanted to live at home were brought there. They were told that now they have an institution. It is very important to adopt a comprehensive approach to this issue. We should leave at home those who want to stay at home and provide them with a nurse for one or two hours. Those who want to receive help in a day centre should spend their time in institutions rather than homes for the elderly because relocating there is a psychological barrier that cannot be overcome. A system of care in such institutions should be directed toward the recovery of patients that can be discharged later on.



Vladimir Putin:

This is a sensitive issue. Let us work together on it.



Yelizaveta Oleskina:

The Labour Ministry and the Ministry of Healthcare agree.



Vladimir Putin:

Well done then. You must have actively worked with them so now they agree with everything. Thank you, Liza.

Please go ahead.



Maria Ostrovskaya:

My name is Maria Ostrovskaya, I represent the St Petersburg charitable organisation Perspektiva, which works with children with multiple severe disorders, both mental and physical, and with adults with severe psychophysical disabilities. Of course, we have been focusing on child and adult specialised care facilities for 21 years now.



Vladimir Putin:

Psychoneurological?



Maria Ostrovskaya:

Yes, these are psychoneurological care facilities and children’s homes for children with disabilities, which are part of the social sphere. We operate through a broad volunteer network and a network of specialists. Every day, about 40 of our employees come to work at the department, and an additional 20 volunteers come to one of the departments, such as a psychoneurological care facility. We have many such sites.

For 21 years now, we have been trying to supplement state aid with non-state aid, in order to ensure decent conditions at psychoneurological institutions. It has become quite clear now that we need to develop alternatives and technologies that replace such care facilities, because, no matter how much money you pour in, it will not improve the quality of people's lives, ensure their human dignity, or even ensure their basic rights.

With children's homes, we have already more or less resolved the issue, at least in the sense that since the education system is now allowing children with severe disabilities to go to schools, the waiting list ceased to exist.



Vladimir Putin:

Why?



Maria Ostrovskaya:

Because schools began to take children in. That is, before a mother would take the child to a boarding school at the age of seven, because she had to either go to work, or take the child to a boarding school; there is no such dilemma now, and people can leave their children at home.

There is no progress with psychoneurological care facilities whatsoever. They remain enormous institutions, where scandal follows scandal due to the fact that they have become more transparent, and volunteers now work there, and they blow the whistle on the things that happen there.

The Ministry of Labour took this issue very seriously. A working group on reforming care facilities has been created, which I am part of. But what are we discussing again? The regional authorities suggest building new smaller and better facilities, and so on. This is absolutely not an economically viable solution to this issue from our point of view.

Many former Soviet republics have opted for a completely different solution and banned large care facilities entirely. Instead, they create assisted living homes for seven to eight residents with serious disabilities.

There is no political will. You are definitely the most decisive person in our country. And we, of course, all hope something very decisive will be adopted.

We would like to ask you to issue a ban on new patients on the waiting list going to these old institutions. There must be an executive order of some sort binding the regional authorities to create alternative solutions, such as home-based support, or small groups of patients residing in urban flats. Many nonprofit organisations in our country have come up with such model projects, so they can be replicated.

Is it possible to close the doors of such facilities, Mr President? Please tell us what you think.



Vladimir Putin:

First, I give you credit for what you are doing, Maria. You have a very difficult job. In general, almost everything that is being done by the people gathered around this table today is complicated, but your job is especially difficult.



Maria Ostrovskaya:

Can we give you our annual report? Everything is in it. Perhaps you will find time, for instance, in the car?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, I will look at it by all means. The facilities you spoke about – and we have over 500 of them, about 520 – were established in Soviet times according to a specific standard. They were designed for a thousand people each – some for more or less, but for many people.

I agree that many things must be changed there. This is perfectly obvious. I appreciate your professional approach and the decisiveness you showed.

Naturally, I would like to look decisive right away and ban everything but this is a very sensitive issue that certainly requires the involvement of professionals. But I cannot help but agree that whenever there is a conflict of interests it is necessary to display this will – not so much political as professional. What does politics have to do with this?

You have prepared all of these proposals, haven’t you?



Maria Ostrovskaya:

Yes, we have.



Vladimir Putin:

Is it possible to study them?



Maria Ostrovskaya:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

Let us have them, as well.



Maria Ostrovskaya:

How should this be done technically?



Vladimir Putin:

Technically?

Get in touch with Andrei Belousov, he is my assistant. I will draft an instruction to our ministries and the Government as a whole based on your proposals. I will make sure they are studied thoroughly by all means. And then we will see what can be really done as soon as possible.

What am I concerned about? Say, we close the doors of these facilities, as you said. They will not admit new patients. But are the regions ready to use other ways of resolving these issues?



Maria Ostrovskaya:

They will not be ready until they face difficulties.



Vladimir Putin:

Maria, you understand that in the 1990s this was called shock therapy. They used to say, we must get rid of all this. Others were indignant and predicted that this therapy would impoverish and destroy the nation and ruin the entire social sphere. The initiators of shock therapy said, that is okay, there is simply no other way. But such methods have dire consequences. We should try to avoid them.

Nonetheless, I fully agree with you that it would be wrong and impossible to leave this system as is and do nothing. We should work towards its transformation. N we should not only split them up, which, by the way, may make sense, but also change the entire system from within. I absolutely agree with you that conflicts of interests among those who head these facilities are unacceptable. This is certainly an internal issue. There are also other issues that require solution. Let us work together on them, all right?

I agree that this is a very sensitive issue and we must certainly work towards a solution.


<…>


Vladimir Putin:

In conclusion, I would like to thank you all. You know, after such meetings you get additional energy and want to work harder, more efficiently. I would like to thank you for what you do in all the areas that you spoke about. They of course require a special temperament, a special attitude to life, and it would be impossible to do the work you are involved in without these valuable, very kind, proper guiding principles. You have all it takes. You have not only this, but the ability to work.

I would like to thank you and wish you success.

We will be in touch, and we will implement everything we agreed on today. Our conversation is being recorded, and we will make note of all of this. That will naturally require some time. We will need to examine all of this, all your proposals. So we will continue our joint work.

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55130
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Meeting of the Agency of Strategic Initiatives Supervisory Board



Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting in Petrozavodsk of the Supervisory Board of the autonomous non-commercial organisation Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects.



July 26, 2017 - 19:15 - Petrozavodsk



The participants discussed the results of ASI’s work over the first half of 2017 and promising projects planned for implementation in 2017–2018. They include a package of measures to develop the volunteer movement in Russia’s regions, and plans for establishing a fund to support social projects.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon colleagues,

As you can see, we decided to hold this latest meeting of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Supervisory Board here in the Republic of Karelia.

In this context, I want to say that over the six years since it was established, ASI has become an effective partner for the regions in developing and implementing development strategy, and demand from the Russian regions for this kind of cooperation is growing all the time.

As the Acting Head of Karelia told me, ASI was not present in the region before now, but right from the first steps, as the regional head sees it, in any case, it is clear that this is very interesting and promising cooperation, very useful, as he and I both hope.

It is important that ASI’s new director has succeeded fully in continuing the commitment to the Agency’s aims and principles and the cooperation with the business and expert communities.

I know that ASI is expanding its fields of activity and addressing ever more complex tasks. Many of its plans are related to regional agendas. I hope that you will continue to support the regions and help them to build modern management models, improve the business climate and propose examples of best practice in the social sector.

The main task is to create the environment, possibilities and conditions for positive change in the regions, bring together those who are ready to design and implement development plans, and exchange experience. This includes young people, businesspeople, volunteers and innovators.

The Boiling Point hubs that are already working in Moscow, St Petersburg and Ivanovo serve as poles of attraction and discussion platforms, and one of these hubs is now opening here in Petrozavodsk, in Karelia. This gives the region and business new opportunities to find young, ambitious and promising personnel for work at various levels and in various areas.

I note that all the necessary organisational work should be carried out swiftly. Acting Head of the Republic Artur Parfenchikov has sensed the subject’s importance and has taken personal interest and got fired with enthusiasm now. I want to thank you for supporting the Agency’s work and I hope that this cooperation will be useful for the region.

Colleagues,

I will spend a moment discussing a few specific areas, which, I believe, are critical.

It is imperative to continue to work on creating a favourable business environment, which is what you have been doing for quite a while now. The National Investment Climate Rating of Russian Regions became a serious incentive for making changes in this area. Regions which have so far received relatively low ratings have become more active in their work with entrepreneurs. Competition between regions has increased.

Since I keep in touch with the leaders of regions, I am aware that one may be tempted to chuckle and say that these innovations are far-fetched, and that real life is more diverse and complex than that. You can have a laugh, but it is clear to me that this activity is following the right path, and we need it. If we do not do this, things will gradually come to a standstill. I believe that the rating should be an integral part of the regional management teams’ performance evaluation system. I ask the Government to draft relevant amendments.

I would also like to mention the effective work of the Leaders Club to remove local administrative barriers. I wish the club to continue to work as productively as it does now.

Next, the ASI plays an important role in enhancing the prestige of the working professions. I consider this aspect of its work to be particularly important. The results of the championships among young professionals have become a benchmark for secondary vocational education institutions.

I think you need to pay special attention to training engineers, especially in regional universities, which train specialists for specific enterprises. In this regard, take note of the opportunity that the law gave to higher education institutions several years ago. I am referring to creating small and medium-sized businesses at higher education institutions with access to equipment, facilities, and so on. Here, at this university, a senior official also showed me and, I think, quite convincingly spoke about the development of this type of activity in many different areas. Under the guidance of their mentors, the students achieve rather significant and interesting results.

The social component is acquiring special importance on the ASI agenda. We have just met representatives of non-profit, charity organisations and volunteers. They are working in education and healthcare, helping children, the elderly and critically ill people. This is what I want to emphasise in this context. Regions should clearly understand their responsibility for creating a favourable, hospitable environment for the work of NGOs. I would like to ask the Agency to draft a standard of support for volunteers and non-profits in the Russian regions. I am referring to specific legal, financial and organisational tools, which, incidentally, we discussed today at the meeting with representatives of the non-profit sector.

And one more point. We have a mechanism of grants for non-profit and public organisations. It is fairly efficient. We spoke about this today and I was pleased to hear that. In effect, it is aimed at supporting already functioning organisations.

Today speakers at the meeting justifiably asked about the formation of a comprehensive system for the development of volunteer and non-profit organisations and social entrepreneurship so as to enable more enthusiasts to provide real help to society and people.

I would like to hear your proposals on this issue at today’s meeting as well. Now I am giving the floor to ASI General Director Svetlana Chupsheva.



Agency for Strategic Initiatives General Director Svetlana Chupsheva:

Mr President, thank you very much for your praise. I would like to thank all members of the Supervisory Board present here and those who were unable to attend, because this is indeed the result of our joint efforts, and everyone present here, including Mr Gref [Sberbank CEO, Chairman of the Board], who was unable to attend – we work together on all projects, all initiatives. Essentially, we have a kind of a partnership platform and we implement special projects in education and the investment climate.



Vladimir Putin:

Why was Mr Gref unable to attend? He is so important.



Svetlana Chupsheva:

He has fallen ill.



Vladimir Putin:

Ill? Hope he gets better soon.



Svetlana Chupsheva:

In fact, he supports a number of projects – education, skills of the future – on which we are working together.

Of course, Mr President, fostering entrepreneurship and leadership in various areas, in the economic field and the social field remains our priority.

We do not ignore individual leadership projects. A total of 268 projects have been submitted so far this year. Each portfolio – Young Professionals and New Business – includes social projects. There are about 100 projects that we support on an individual, local basis.

Regarding the investment climate, as you have noted, this year we presented national rating results to the St Petersburg forum and you also mentioned the achievements of our regions, which made it to the top 20, including Moscow, the Moscow Region and St Petersburg. Both Moscow and St Petersburg are of course very important for us with regard to Russia’s position in the World Bank’s Doing Business ratings. At a meeting with volunteers, the best educational programme – Uchi.ru – was presented: They have entered the BRICS market.

Recently, we met with our colleagues from the Economic Development Ministry and the World Bank to discuss the ongoing work to create a favourable business environment. They are very interested in our project, national ratings. They say: “It is good that Moscow and St Petersburg have made such good progress but it is also very important that all other regions do not stop and that all new technologies are used in all the constituent entities of the Federation.”

We have already received requests from several countries, our partners and friends, who would like to use our methods as a model, to know more about how this activity was organised here and how Russia managed to make such a breakthrough in various business services including construction, energy, taxation and export potential – and within such a short period. So we are also thinking about formalising this as a standard that can be passed on.

Recently we met with the Argentinean Ambassador, and Argentina also made a request for this practice to be laid out. They want to learn from us. We will be happy to share the programmes that were designed through the Ministry of Economic Development and members of the Government, and which are being implemented currently in the regions as well as at the federal level, with our colleagues in India and several other countries. I believe we have something to share.

Certainly, our work with the regions has been taken to new heights and it is clear that we can be of help there. The confidence the regional heads place in us is very important. Indeed, several initiatives are already being implemented locally.

Upon your instructions, we have created a development strategy for the Novgorod Region – along with the local government. Mr President, I would like to stress that this is not just on paper. We visited all the municipalities and met with the local people. Mr Nikitin [Acting Governor] personally asked what businesses and residents need, which growth points are possible, what people want to do and which competences are required, and what is lacking in terms of education quality and healthcare accessibility. Therefore, this document and its main points have the backing of the local people. Businesses are willing to invest in this infrastructure and the governor, of course, is applying his efforts to attracting federal resources and development institution resources. We are basically working with all the regions under this philosophy.

We have just started cooperating with Karelia. We discussed the measures to act on the priorities set out by the local businesses and residents with Mr Parfyonchikov.

A few words about the WorldSkills movement, which also has your support. A competition among adult skilled workers was held recently, as well as in the junior category among school students. Moscow, Tatarstan and Krasnodar Territory left all the other teams behind, collecting all the gold medals.

The decisions and steps taken by the regional heads are essential in terms of training skilled professionals and motivating them. For instance, the Head of Tatarstan, Mr Minnikhanov, issued instructions to bring the vocational training system in line with WorldSkills international standards. The Agency of Strategic Initiatives is currently carrying out a pilot project with Tatarstan to introduce standards to train industrial workers. We are working with secondary schools, universities and vocational training colleges, as well as with employers to this end. This includes a dual education approach, specifically, in terms of training strategies, setting priorities and selecting the competences that Tatarstan seeks to promote. It is important that Mr Minnikhanov has already ordered these competences to fall in line with WorldSkills standards, but he has also looked beyond them into the future by focusing on IT and the digital economy, i.e., the skills that will be increasingly relevant in one or two years.

Moscow allocated grants to the winners of professional competitions, and will do so every year moving forward, which of course is a serious incentive for young professionals and for reshaping the whole system in general. Employers clearly appreciate this and are willing to contribute to these efforts.

Regarding social practices, some charity foundations had questions about the project to provide parents with access to children’s intensive care units. There are pilot regions that are testing this approach. Of course, this should not be about imposing decisions from the top, since the opinion of doctors also matters. We have to start showing how it works in the hospitals. We have showed the Deputy Healthcare Minister how Mr Morozov [Ulyanovsk Region Governor] redesigned a city hospital to allow parents to be near their children when they are in intensive care so both the child and parents feel comfortable, and if need, parents can give a helping hand. Doctors view parents as helpers: the parents do not get in the way. On the contrary, they help look after their child.

Kaliningrad Region. As concerns the filmmaking industry, we are carrying out a project with the Film Producers’ Association to attract investment to this industry, from both international and Russian companies. Our colleagues at the regional level, for example, the Ulyanovsk Region, are testing the subsidy system. Ulyanovsk has started several projects as has Anton Alikhanov [Acting Governor of the Kaliningrad Region] and we hope it will help promote our regions. Russians and foreign countries will learn more about the beautiful places in our country.

As concerns the skills required for the future, this is undoubtedly our priority. We are working on several projects for schools and additional education. Dmitry Peskov [Director of Young Professionals, Agency for Strategic Initiatives] will speak in more detail about his nationwide initiatives for developing competences for the future in technology and the digital economy.

But I would like to point out several projects – for instance, the kvantoriums which we presented to you and some of which you personally opened. They are already operating in 30 regions and 60,000 children have had access to them. The kvantoriums are already being franchised by other additional education systems. As far as I know, this year more children’s technoparks will open in 17 regions. We are organising technology competitions within this nationwide initiative and some 100 children have already become winners.

We were Sberbank’s partners in another project, the School of 21st Century Skills, in cooperation with the Higher School of Economics. We collected applications from leaders of the projects for innovative solutions in developing innovative skills in our children, from across the country. The best projects received support from the agency. We are also replicating those solutions in other regions. We want to enlarge the scale of this competition next year.

We organised a federal-level session at Artek this year. Along with the young people, we addressed social projects. Young people aged 14−16 discussed how to convert any idea that addresses a social issue or task into a project to accomplish the goal. The children suggested some very interesting projects during the two weeks. Together with experts, Sberbank, charity foundations, managers and private startup accelerators we held training sessions and worked with teams. Mr President, there are 17 amazing projects; I told Mr Belousov [Presidential Aide] about several of them today. These projects are now basically ready to be implemented. Indeed, the Economic Development Ministry and the Sberbank foundation have already given the go-ahead to support, finance and implement them.

I would like to mention an example, only a couple of projects, including the Courtyard Olympics. Young people tend to spend so much time with their electronic devices that they don’t mix with their peers outside school, so, some of them suggested holding courtyard Olympics with gyro-scooters, skateboards and bicycles; and I can’t even list all the kinds of equipment being used by our boys and girls in courtyards. This is a very good idea. I believe we need to revive this neighbourhood get-together culture, so that the children can compete, develop physical skills and the art of communicating with their neighbours.

The students also proposed a Children Teach Children app. This app allows children who can assemble a robot, for example, to teach younger or less experienced children how to do it, and maybe the younger children will do an even better job.

Regarding cost-effective management, this concept is, of course, highly popular in the social sphere, and we are also working with the regional leaders here. Per your instructions, we have already appointed officials to oversee the implementation of regional road maps that will help private business access the social sphere. Maybe people are already tired of our project management offices, but they are already operating in the regions. Regarding the investment climate, we want to establish the same cost-effective project management offices in the social sphere. Our colleagues are already inviting representatives from NGOs, volunteer organisations and charity foundations for joint discussions on how to remove various barriers and implement peoples’ initiatives in each region.

You gave us instructions to work out a national volunteer movement development plan. We have prepared this with the Civic Chamber and the Ministry of Economic Development. The Government has approved it, and now it is time to use it, the most important thing. The plan has the backing of the volunteer community because more than 300 regional organisations contributed to the preparation.

Certainly, it is necessary to work locally in the regions because volunteers and charity funds did raise many issues at the meeting today. Mr President, you said that this was the responsibility of the regional authorities. Therefore, today we are proposing a standard for interaction between regional officials and local volunteers, for the approval of the supervisory council. This document is not too complicated and only contains nine steps that every region can comply with in order to respond to the community’s needs. So what are these steps?

The first point is the procedure for cooperation between the regional officials and volunteers. It includes clear and specific guidelines and requirements for volunteers to meet. As you remember, we discussed the relation between volunteers and directors of hospitals or schools who are personally responsible for the safety and security of their institutions. Therefore, volunteers must meet certain criteria and possibly operate through an NGO to disburden the management if these institutions of security risk. These criteria and requirements must be included in the guidelines. Some regions have already adopted the documents, and we are also using them as examples of best practices that can offer recommendations on drafting and implementing these rules.

The second point is who should be responsible at the regional level. It could be a deputy governor for whom volunteering and development of the non-government sector is not a leftover duty but a priority task for which he or she will report to the governor.

The third point is, certainly, infrastructure. This includes resource centres and centres for volunteer development, platforms that can arrange training and offer best volunteer practices for the region, as well as partner programmes implemented side by side with large corporations and charity foundations. Additionally, they can be responsible for profiling a social sector volunteer.

Information support is essential, as a number of speakers have already mentioned. We are prepared to offer the regions to hook up to the Volunteer of the Russian Federation portal, so that anyone can use it to contribute to both regional and federal volunteer and social assistance programmes. This could also be seen as an incentive, although no money is involved, since it is more about recognition and gratitude, and support for volunteers. Many regions already offer awards and other types of recognition, for example, a volunteer pin or certificate. This is important to those people. This is something they are willing to fight for, in a positive sense, something that supports them spiritually, an indication that they are doing the right thing that matters to others. This is why we want other involved regions to offer awards like this.

Mr President, creating some kind of presidential volunteer pin would be an important incentive and a source of inspiration for volunteers. I think our children and all of us would be eager to get this award.

Positive feedback is essential, since the project office cannot operate without feedback from people working in this area. Governors are not always able to check whether the standard is properly working and is consistent with the needs of the volunteers. It is important to have a focal point, a coordinating centre or council within the regional administration, like the investment councils that review projects at the regional government level. The same approach could be used for volunteers and non-governmental organisations by creating a platform for sharing their perspectives on what works and what does not, providing feedback and proposing new projects.

Basically, this is a set of requirements based on real-life examples from a number of participating regions. All we need to do is expand the framework. Sometimes adding a single item from the standard programme is enough, sometimes two need to be added since we want all nine elements of the standard to be implemented. As of today, 37 regions have said that they were ready to implement the standard. Consequently, if the Supervisory Board supports the initiative, we will start implementing the standard. I think the first results will be visible as early as this year, since the standard is intended for facilitating access and expanding the possibilities for participating volunteers.

Of course, it is essential to enable projects like this to grow. I serve as an expert in the foundation in charge of allocating presidential grants. The foundation provides substantial support to regional non-profit organisations, which submit wonderful projects. We recently held an expert board meeting to review applications. Applicants need advice and assistance when it comes to submitting applications on how to describe a project, assess deliverables and resources. This is one reason this is a very popular framework, and all the regions need to create similar infrastructure by establishing resource centres, social innovation centres, just as the Economic Development Ministry did in a number of regions (with our input).

This initiative is currently financed through grants only. However, we would very much like social entrepreneurs to contribute as well. This can be done, since many projects have already been implemented under this model. These are projects that have a real social purpose, such as helping vulnerable social groups. They can also be profitable. But actually, it is not uncommon that project leaders lack the knowledge or experience they need for developing a business model, bringing in the partners, investors and stakeholders they need. Therefore, the acceleration and growth facilitation programmes are very popular.

A few words about financial support mechanisms. We need mechanisms guaranteeing reimbursement without being bank loans. People behind these projects do not work with traditional banks or even the Russian Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises Support; they have nothing to pledge as collateral or even any working capital. They cannot prove their sustainability or provide security, so the banks are not interested. In fact, lending institutions do not know how to evaluate projects like this, so they are not interested. But we see a great future for these projects, judging by international and Russian experience.

Thank you very much for supporting my proposal on the creation of this mechanism. We have met a number of experts, including prominent entrepreneurs, business people, those currently involved in corporate social responsibility and other social responsibility projects, those who have some experience in assessing projects of this kind. Everyone is saying that this is a very relevant initiative, so we decided that it would be advisable to begin with even small contributions. The fund can operate even on non-budgetary funding.

Such social entrepreneurs focus on small projects in the social sphere. The amount of required investment averages 2.5 million, the loan term they are looking for is anywhere from one to three years. They are quite capable of paying such loans back. However, this additional acceleration programme removes the risk of the borrowers defaulting on these loans. Working on this project, we can see that it has been brought to the level of financial stability, and can pay for itself.

As a follow-up, we will not only fund it, but we will also have a mentor who will help the project leader properly structure and implement it.

These projects are in demand. Today, Viktor Vekselberg confirmed his interest in it and is willing to participate in establishing and financing such a fund, and also agreed to join the board of trustees. Sergei Solonin, Qiwi Financial Group, also confirmed his interest and said he would participate in the fund's activities. Sergei Gorkov is also willing to join the board of trustees. We have already worked through even the acceleration programmes and VEB’s competencies as they apply to project evaluation.

The relevant departments, such as the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Healthcare, are ready to join the board as supervisory bodies to evaluate projects and provide their expert analysis for compliance with those socially important tasks that we need to resolve today.

We already have people who are willing to form the core team. This project is particularly important for Sakhalin Region and other Far Eastern regions (the Governor of Sakhalin also agreed to participate), because social entrepreneurship can be a point of growth in local small towns and remote locations. The implementation of such small projects will ensure stability, financial viability, and the well-being of the people residing in these areas.

Therefore, Mr President, if you agree to support us, we are ready to get this fund going. Of course, we want this project to pay its way, to make this model sustainable. According to our financial model, the project will recoup in three years. Importantly, this model will be replicable as a franchise so that other regions can use it. Any company can create a venture fund to provide funding to social startup companies. This will be a serious nationwide mechanism, a tool to support social entrepreneurs like Work for Mom, Surdo-Online, or Uchi.ru to grow and expand.

Mr President, if you agree to support us, we will be able to get started in September.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you. We will look into it in more detail.

As we mentioned at a meeting with nonprofit organisations and volunteers, we will certainly keep moving in this direction. I hope that we will see this project to completion.


<…>





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55132






Meeting with Acting Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov



The President had a working meeting with acting head of the region Artur Parfenchikov.



July 26, 2017 - 20:00 - Petrozavodsk



Calls from the republic’s residents that came in to the head of state during Direct Line were discussed.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Parfenchikov, how long have you been working in the republic?



Acting Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov:

Five months.



Vladimir Putin:

This is a very short time of course, but nevertheless, you are now responsible for the republic. So we will begin with the traditional folder that I hand over to the heads of regions during our meetings, asking them to pay attention to the questions that citizens raised during what is known as my televised Direct Line.

The questions are traditional but analysis of what came in to Direct Line shows that unsafe housing is one of the most sensitive issues. I will not enumerate everything here although I feel like using some of the quotes. But bearing in mind that you have been on the job for only five months, there are of course no questions for you. I am simply drawing your attention to these problem areas.

With regard to housing: subsidies for young families. One of the callers is right. Young families are entitled to subsidies until age 35. They have to wait for subsidies for several years and if the situation continues at this rate, they will soon be 35 and will no longer qualify for subsidies.

Another problem is the availability of medical care, especially in small towns. Yes, some changes are taking place in the healthcare system, but these changes must not lead to a situation where small towns, far away from large centres, are left with no medical care at all. Take the town of Kem: “There are no general practitioners or surgeons here, no pediatric, maternity or infections departments; [we] have to travel 250 kilometres. I phoned the Finance Ministry and was told that everything is all right.” This is not all right. Please pay attention to this.

Now small towns and single-industry towns – Medvezhyegorsk, Nadvoitsy, Belomorsk and Kondopoga – the problem there is saving jobs. These problems are most likely of a systematic nature and cannot be resolved at one fell swoop. They also require attention.

Wage arrears – this is also strange. I believe the Kostomuksha plant is doing okay. Look into what is happening with regard to wages there.



Artur Parfenchikov:

Yes, of course.



Vladimir Putin:

And there is another serious problem – I believe it is highly relevant for Karelia – forest cutting. People are paying attention to this: “The loggers are acting like predators. Logging sites are not cleared for years. The territory’s rich forests and its export potential have absolutely no impact on living standards.” This goes to show that the work in this area is not organised as it should be.

The Russian Popular Front has now put environmental problems and logging in particular on its watch list. You can work with them directly. It will not be easy for you to deal with this even with your official status. However, it is one of the problems that needs to be addressed.

I am handing this over to you and hope that you will duly respond to it.

Here you are.



Artur Parfenchikov:

Thank you.

Naturally, citizens make these problems known to me as head of the region, and I make a point of visiting all districts, all towns, to the greatest extent possible.

We regularly, systematically hold unified public reception days. The last was on July 8 in Loukha and Kem, and in fact, I also went to healthcare facilities.

We have set up communication channels in all possible formats, including on social media. These channels are open and I can be directly accessed everywhere. All of this information comes in, we analyse it, naturally, and we are currently working on all these problem areas.

Indeed, the situation with unsafe housing is complicated. We uncovered a new problem in February. The fact is that almost 23,000 square metres of housing, which was deemed unsafe before 2012, was not included in the programme. We immediately got down to work.



Vladimir Putin:

Why did this happen?



Artur Parfenchikov:

A mistake by government officials – there is no other explanation. They simply overlooked these thousands of metres. Thank you very much for extending the programme for another year. We are doing our best. First, we will not be able to finish the construction project by September 1 with the housing construction funds that we received. At this point we have completed only 52 percent, because we believe that quality is of paramount importance. However, we will try to finish it – have it accepted by supervisory agencies – and resettle people before the year ends. Nevertheless, these 23,000 square metres are still there. We are working with the fund. We still hope that we will resolve the 23,000 problem in 2019. We understand the complexity of the situation but we are doing all we can.



Vladimir Putin:

If you need help including these unlisted square metres [into the programme] let me know – I will talk to the Government.



Artur Parfenchikov:

Good, thank you very much.

Regarding medical care, we understand the task. We have intensified our efforts to build outpatient and obstetric facilities. Naturally, there are quite a few healthcare issues that we are currently discussing with the Government and on which I would like to have your support. There are a lot of questions from people regarding cancer treatment and there are also questions related to cancer treatment options at the local level and our outpatient hospital, which is very old, built in the 1960s. It simply falls short of any standards.

Of course, we will definitely revisit these problems, analyse the complaints, get down to work and resolve these problems.



Vladimir Putin:

Good.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55133






Visit to open-air gym in Petrozavodsk



Vladimir Putin completed his working trip to Karelia with a visit to an open-air sports centre with training equipment installed on the Lake Onega embankment in Petrozavodsk.



July 26, 2017 - 20:50 - Petrozavodsk







On July 21, the first sports centre with unique strength-building training equipment designed for use by people with physical limitations, including wheelchair users, opened on Onezhskaya Embankment. The sports equipment was designed and produced in Russia by Vadim Markelov, private entrepreneur and director of the company MB Barbell. The equipment represents a new direction for MB Barbell in developing outdoor sports equipment that can be regulated to suit different users’ needs. The sports area is free and open for all 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To date, this is the biggest free open-air sports area in Russia and in Europe offering a concept of free family sports and leisure.







Along with the equipment designed for use by those with limited mobility, the sports centre also has outdoor equipment for developing all muscle groups, horizontal bars, more than 30 types of popular outdoor training equipment, and more than 10 pieces of training equipment for children, as well as five cutting-edge training machines using StreetBarbell Light regulated weights. All of the equipment is internationally certified and conforms to the highest reliability and safety standards.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55134
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Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with Government members.



July 28, 2017 - 15:20 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we will discuss measures to increase the export potential of our agricultural produce, agriculture in general, and will cover several other issues related to this industry.

But first, we have some good news to hear. As far as I understand, despite the re-opening of certain tourist destinations that were closed last year, the statistics for our domestic resorts, including those on the Black Sea and in Crimea, are quite optimistic. I would like to ask Mr Safonov [Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism], to tell us more about this.



Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov:

Mr President, colleagues,

The high tourist season in Crimea has been quite successful. The peninsula has maintained its status as one of the most popular domestic destinations. Despite the seriously high competition and unfavourable weather conditions (June was rather cold), the number of holidaymakers in Crimea is currently at the same level as in the previous record-breaking summer, or over 2,300,000 people (the 4.8-percent decrease is insignificant and can be written off as statistical error). Many tourists from neighbouring Ukraine are coming to the peninsula although, unfortunately, sometimes there are problems caused by the Ukrainian side.

The number of resorts and spas in Crimea has gone up by 24 percent, that is, last year there were 482 spa centres and now there are 597. Their occupancy remains at last year’s level.

We continue working to make vacationing in Crimea a more accessible and better experience. The average cost of a spa holiday this summer is 3,064 rubles per day, which includes accommodation and full treatment. The average hotel stay is 3,200 rubles which is also quite affordable.

Since July, tourists can purchase a Crimea and Sevastopol visitor’s card. This is an innovative product that allows tourists to visit more than 200 museums and, most importantly, get good discounts on other museums, meals and accommodation. The visitor’s card can significantly reduce the cost of a holiday in Crimea, sometimes by 30 percent.

This summer, there are more independent travellers in Crimea. Forty-seven percent of the tourists arranged their travel themselves while 30 percent booked through travel agencies. Crimea is also a very popular place for family holidays. Forty-four percent of the tourists are families. And, most importantly, our polls show that 85 percent enjoyed their holiday, had a good stay and are willing to come back. Thirty-five percent of these people were visiting Crimea for the first time.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine. Thank you.

My second question is somewhat related and concerns road safety. In the past five years, the number of road accidents has significantly dropped, by around 25 percent. However, the number of fatal accidents remains high, around 20,000, if I am not mistaken.

Mr Kolokoltsev, can you comment?



Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev:

Mr President,

It is gratifying to see the positive road safety dynamics continue this year. I can add that this year, the number of deaths has gone down by 10 percent while the overall decrease between 2012 and 2016 was 27 percent. This represents 7,000 lives saved.

We continue to implement all the planned road safety measures and the bar we set for lowering the statistics based on your executive orders is very high. We will keep this bar high. All the required resources are there and, of course, we expect that our actions in the area of road safety will be complemented by the measures of the Transport Ministry and other agencies involved. It is true that a great deal of road fatalities are caused by the condition of roads. The number of fatal accidents is much lower on roads that have dividers, where one cannot use the oncoming lane.



Vladimir Putin:

We will say a few words about road quality, as it is one of the main issues. However, we also need to be tougher on reckless drivers. Most severe accidents occur on intercity and inter-regional motorways due to speeding and driving in the oncoming lane. These are the two main reasons. Another reason is alcohol, driving under the influence. These violations must be punished more aggressively but within the scope of current regulations and law.

As far as road quality is concerned, there have been improvements lately. Road illumination has increased three times since the 2000s. However, it is not only the lighting but the surface quality that matters. I know that the Transport Ministry plans to expand road works.

Mr Sokolov, you have the floor.



Minster of Transport Maxim Sokolov:

Thank you.

Mr President,

Indeed repairs are to be made on federal motorways this year, and work is already underway on over 8,500 kilometres of the federal motorways.

Installing barrier guardrails of various types has been an emphasis. The coverage area is now about 40 percent, that is, there are 20,000 kilometres of guardrails on the federal motorways. The accident analysis confirms Mr Kolokoltsev’s statement that the number of collisions there dropped by up to 90 percent compared to last year.

As to lighting, 7,500 kilometres of federal motorways have lighting, and we continue the work. There is particular focus on pedestrian safety. As of today, federal motorways have 161 surface pedestrian crossings and 62 underpasses. Of course, over 260 crossings have traffic lights and appropriate lighting. By 2020, an additional 400 pedestrian crossings, both surface, underpasses and overpasses, are to be commissioned.

We pay special attention to the legislative framework. Per the instructions that you, Mr President, gave at the State Council meeting in Yaroslavl on road safety, the Ministry of Transport has submitted draft laws to the Government to introduce the concept of road safety auditing, extend the statute of limitations for administrative proceedings, and keep records of revenues from traffic violation fines in the regional road funds and allocate equivalent amounts for road safety issues.

The Safe and Quality Roads project has been launched this year. It is being implemented in 39 major cities and urban conglomerations of our country. Thanks to it, over 4,000 kilometres of roads in the largest urban conglomerations will meet safety standards by the end of this year. Within two years, at least half of the city road networks will be up to standards in metropolitan areas.

This year, we plan to eliminate 1,010 sites of frequent road accidents. Next year the plan is to eliminate another 713 road hazards. Within two years, we will have reduced the number of sites of frequent accidents in major cities by 65 percent, which will make a tangible contribution to higher road safety.



Vladimir Putin:

Very good. Statistics are good but it is also important to ensure good quality.



Maxim Sokolov:

Yes sir. We will focus on that in particular.



Vladimir Putin:

Fine.

Mr Novak, we recently discussed the agreements you reached and your meetings with your counterparts from OPEC countries. You told me about it. This is an important matter, so please bring our colleagues here up to date.



Alexander Novak:

Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, colleagues,

Let me remind you that on December 10, 2016, the OPEC and non-OPEC states signed the Declaration of Cooperation in Vienna. Twenty-four countries committed to reducing oil production by 1.8 million barrels per day for six months. In late May, the Declaration was extended by another nine months. The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee consisting of ministers of six OPEC and non-OPEC countries had its fourth meeting this week. For the first time, the meeting took place in St Petersburg, Russia, which truly stresses the importance of our country to the global oil market.

We summarised the results of the first six months since the Declaration came into effect. The countries have achieved 98 percent conformity, which is the highest level in the history of OPEC. This is unparalleled conformity for agreements at this level. The OPEC and non-OPEC countries noted the significant progress made towards achieving the goals set by the Declaration.

Since the beginning of 2017, we have recorded a significant recovery of the oil market. The joint action has resulted in an inventory drawdown of more than 350 million barrels. Otherwise, the excess oil inventory would have almost doubled compared to the level before this deal. However, this negative scenario did not come to pass, and instead the excess stock declined during the first half of 2017. The overhang of commercial oil stock over the 5-year average has decreased by almost 25 percent in the past six months, from 340 million to 250 million barrels. We expect this trend to accelerate in the third quarter of 2017 due to seasonal factors.

We also noted that for the first time in three years the investment appeal of the oil sector is improving. Between 2014 and 2016, investment fell by $1 trillion while in 2017 investment has been increasing. We also see that market volatility has been lower and it should be noted that Brent oil prices were 30 percent higher in the first half of 2017 than in the first half 2016, or $52.8 against $41 last year. This factored significantly in the budget revenue growth and the trade balance.

Speaking of further forecasts of market stabilisation, we also expect a positive trend in the second half of 2017 in the context of the general forecast of global economic growth of 3.1 percent to 3.4 percent, and the growing demand for oil in China and India. Overall, we expect the market rebalancing to speed up.

Secondly, the meeting looked at both the overall conformity of all the 24 states and each country in particular. Russia is fully compliant with its obligations. We adjusted our production downwards by 300,000 barrels by the end of April. We are currently maintaining this level and confirmed our commitment to stabilise oil markets.

Mr President, we will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary measures with our partners in order to rebalance the market in line with our agreements.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

Colleagues,

As you know, yesterday at the invitation of the Finnish President I visited Finland, our neighbour, where the Bolshoi Theatre is currently touring. The tour is very successful, as we saw for ourselves; and the performers have been very well-received by the public.

Mr Medinsky, what about Russian theatres' touring activities on the whole? How do you see the situation?



Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky:

Mr President,

Yesterday, you attended a performance of the Bolshoi Theatre opera company's tour in Finland. At the same time, the Mariinsky Theatre is touring London, while the Bolshoi Theatre's ballet company is in New York City. This summer, our drama theatres are performing all over the world, especially in Japan. I would like to present you with an album of photographs taken at the official start of Russian Seasons, which was opened by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this year.

However, I believe the main thing is that we are witnessing an actual theatrical, touring and philharmonic boom. Suffice it to say, last year theatre attendance in Russia exceeded 38 million people, an absolute record since 1991. By the way, the absolute cinema attendance record since 1991 was set as well.

The Moscow Philharmonic, which specialises in classical music, has broken its own record for the second consecutive year, a classical music season ticket record that made it into the Guinness World Book of Records.

We are most pleased in this regard that the extrabudgetary revenues of our theatres are growing. Here are the figures: in the past five years, extrabudgetary revenues of theatres in the country have grown by 69 percent, and those of federal theatres by 105 percent – that is practically 20-percent growth each year. Even greater growth in revenue has been registered by federal museums – 125 percent over the past five years. This reflects the flexible pricing policy and steady increase in attendance.

We are making efforts to support the most successful cultural institutions in their touring activities and in general. For instance, five years ago the Vakhtangov Theatre had two stages, while this year we will open the fifth and sixth stages, all at one venue on Arbat Street. This is going to be a theatre complex.

This year saw a breakthrough in new forms of government support for theatres. Let me give you some examples. Thanks to your instructions given at the Popular Front forum, grants to theatre and concert organisations have been adjusted, which met with a huge positive response, and everyone involved in culture at the professional level sincerely appreciates your efforts.

Moreover, the list of grantees was expanded by including recipients from remote areas, from the North and Siberia, such as the Perm Opera and Ballet theatre, the Russian Folk Choir from Archangelsk, totalling 15 ensembles.

Last April the Prime Minister made a decision on regular support for children’s and puppet theatres. For the first time ever, children’s puppet theatres will tour the whole country. State support will be provided to 78 regions this year, and children’s theatres will tour 57 of them. A large-scale touring programme, which we launched following instructions from you and the Executive Office in 2014 (it dealt with metropolitan theatres touring remote regions of Russia), will yield the following results this year: 350,000 tickets booked and 700 performances. This is four times as much as two years ago, while the amount of money we spend on government support remains the same.

The growth, Mr President, is due to the fact that the programme is being joined by sponsors, businesses, regional and municipal authorities. Apart from that, starting this year, municipal theatres in cities with populations under 300,000 will get support, probably for the first time since the Soviet era. We will annually allocate 670 million roubles on new shows in 149 municipal theatres in 56 regions.

All these steps testify to the great attention paid by the state to the theatres. I would like to take the opportunity, Mr President, and extend an invitation from theatre professionals to you. A contest of young theatre directors will take place this November. These are young directors, future artistic directors of our theatres; they are a new generation growing up to take the lead. The finals of the contest will be held at the Vakhtangov Theatre on November 10. We would be happy to see you during the conclusion of that festival.

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much. Thank you for the invitation and for the information.


<…>





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55179
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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The Main Naval Parade in St Petersburg



Vladimir Putin arrived in St Petersburg on Navy Day to review the Main Naval Parade held in the Neva and inner harbour of Kronstadt.



July 30, 2017 - 11:20 - St Petersburg



In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order of July 27, 2017, the Main Naval Parade was held for the first time in Russia’s modern history. The parade featured the passing of ships and a marine air force unit overflight. Sailors from the Baltic, Black Sea, Northern and Pacific fleets and the Caspian Flotilla participated in the parade.










President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Comrade sailors, midshipmen, petty officers, officers and admirals,

Dear veterans,

My congratulations on Navy Day!

This holiday is celebrated in each Russian region and with special solemnity, at the bases and in the garrisons of the Northern, Pacific, Baltic, Black Sea fleets and the Caspian Flotilla.

Russia’s history is inseparable from the victories of its courageous and fearless Navy. Our country’s status as a strong marine power has been achieved through the brave acts of sailors and officers, the inventive talent of our shipbuilders and the daring exploits of sea explorers.

Throughout the centuries, the fortitude and tenacity of Russian sailors was tempered in battles. Both on land and at sea, they mastered their military skills, strengthened the traditions of their unique naval brotherhood.

During the Great Patriotic War the Navy fought to the bitter end on the coasts and sea borders of our native lands. The Battles of Odessa and Sevastopol, heroic deeds of the Northern Sea Fleet sailors, legendary raids by Soviet submarines, the defence of Leningrad and the impregnable Kronstadt have been forever enshrined in the chronicles of history.

The Navy and commitment to Fatherland are inseparable. As Admiral Nakhimov used to say, a sailor has neither an easy nor difficult path, but rather a glorious one.

And everyone currently serving, in our ground forces and submarines, in the marine air force, in the coastal defence, and those who work in the shipbuilding industry, all are faithful to these vows. Their high moral and professional qualities have been and will remain the foundation of successful service in the Navy, and the state will offer its full support.

Much is being done today for the development and renovation of the Navy. New ships are being commissioned, the fleet’s combat training and readiness are being perfected.

Seamanship is chosen by the vigorous and strong-willed, by those who dare to defy the elements, who cannot imagine themselves without the sea, without difficult and noble service to their Fatherland.

Friends,

Today the Navy is not only solving its traditional tasks but is also nobly responding to new challenges, making a significant contribution to the fight against terrorism and piracy.

The children and grandchildren of today’s sailors will take pride in their forefathers. Of this I am certain. Because your exemplary training, promptness and discipline are borne out during both training exercises and combat operations.

I want to express gratitude to those who wait for you in your homes and keep you warm with their love.

Thank you for your readiness and your ability to solve the most complicated tasks, for your worthy service and your unwavering allegiance to our Motherland and to our people.

Glory to the Navy!

Happy holiday!

Hurray!





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55192






Visit to Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas in Kronstadt



On Navy Day, Vladimir Putin visited the Stavropegial Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas in Kronstadt accompanied by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Russian Defence Minister Serge Shoigu.



July 30, 2017 - 13:00 - Kronstadt







The President toured the cathedral and spoke with sailors and Kronstadt residents there.

Ahead of Navy Day, on July 27, a shrine with the relics of Saint Blessed Warrior Fyodor Ushakov was brought to the cathedral from the Sanaksar Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God. This year marks the bicentenary of Ushakov’s demise. The President came up to kiss the relics of Admiral Ushakov and Apostle Andrew the First-Called.







The Stavropegial Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas was laid down in the fortress city of Kronstadt after Emperor Nicholas II’s 1903 decree in honour of the bicentenary of the Russian Navy and was blessed in Royal presence in 1913. In 1929 the Cathedral was closed down and pillaged. In 2002, Alexis II, the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, blessed the resurrection of the Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt. Restoration works ran through the spring of 2013. The grand blessing of the cathedral was conducted on May 28, 2013 by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The abbot of the cathedral is Archimandrite Alexei Ganzhin. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is protected by the state.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55203






Visit to the Kirov Military Medical Academy Clinic



During his trip to St Petersburg, the President visited the Multidisciplinary Clinic of the Kirov Military Medical Academy.



July 30, 2017 - 13:45 - St Petersburg







The clinic boasts seven multi-story buildings, with a total area of 150,000 square metres, and is fitted with the latest medical equipment, which can provide simultaneous in-patient treatment to 630 people.







The President was told about the features of the medical facility and treatment methods used. Vladimir Putin toured the diagnostics and intensive care departments and learned about the work of the situation centre for coordinating medical maintenance, which, in particular, can hold telemedicine consultations through video link. The President also visited the dialysis department, the ophthalmology clinic and operating rooms.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55205






Visit to Admiralty building



A reception to mark Russian Navy Day was hosted at the restored Admiralty building, which houses the Russian Navy Headquarters.



July 30, 2017 - 15:00 - St Petersburg



The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Korolev, toured the library premises and viewed its unique Russian naval history documents, including those from the Peter the Great era.

The President was also shown the office of the Russian Empire's last Naval Minister, Ivan Grigorovich. Once restored, the room can again be used as the main office of the Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief. Vladimir Putin left a note in the distinguished visitors’ book saying, ”My congratulations on completing the restoration. I wish you success in your work in the name of the Russian Fleet.“

In the Admiralty building, the President also viewed an exhibition of the Central Naval Museum.

The restoration of the Admiralty building began in 2013, with repairs being made on the facades and the roof, and reinforcements done to the tower and the building’s foundation. At the end of 2013, the Church of Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, was opened in the tower with the steeple at the intersection of Admiralty Embankment and Dvortsovy Proezd.

Following the visit to the Admiralty, the President attended a reception to mark Russian Navy Day.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ladies and gentlemen, veterans,

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to you on this holiday!

Navy Day is among the most popular holidays with the Russian people, who have hold in high regard people in naval uniforms, their nobility and heroism, and their professional traditions.

Today, we honour courageous, strong-spirited people. You have chosen to serve in the navy, protect the interests of our Motherland and provide security of its citizens, while making a great contribution to the strengthening of Russia's defence capacity and global stature.

My most heartfelt congratulations to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War. You fought to bring victory on board military ships, on land, and as part of combined naval units, marine infantry units. You have always been an example of perseverance and bravery.

My special words of gratitude go to workers, engineers and designers. Shipbuilders’ Day, a holiday that was established this year, is the result of the well-deserved appreciation people have for the work of the many generations of people who have given life to ships and continue to do so.

Today, thanks to the potential of the country's industry and science, we are strengthening the national defence and replenishing our Navy with state-of-the-art vessels and equipment. Last year, the fleet received 24 surface ships, two general-purpose submarines, and a service ship. This year, we plan to commission 30 ships and vessels.

We will strictly follow our other plans for the Navy's development to boost our arsenal of modern weapons and raise the quality of combat training. And, of course, we will provide all necessary social support and assistance to servicemen and their families.

Friends,

We are rightfully proud of our legendary naval commanders, brave and bold officers and mariners, fearless pioneers of Arctic travels and the world’s oceans, we are proud of today's generation of Russian Navy mariners, of all those who consider fidelity to duty and the oath to serve, honour and responsibility, and the spirit of military brotherhood as being of the utmost importance.

Here is to Russian Navy and the prosperity of our dear Motherland!

Congratulations!





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55207
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The '1812 Overture' at the end was pretty cool. Also interesting to see the Pyotr Velikiy cruiser flagship, Dmitry Donskoy Typhoon (Akula) submarine (like the fictional movie sub Red October), and the Tu-95 bombers (I understand those are very loud turboprop engines). I didn't know the Chaika floatplanes were still in service. The Kuznetsov aircraft carrier wasn't there, but the Sukhoi and MiG jet fighters may have been from its air detachment. Cool little presidential boat (number 001) that Putin rode in, too.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Allan View Post
The '1812 Overture' at the end was pretty cool. Also interesting to see the Pyotr Velikiy cruiser flagship, Dmitry Donskoy Typhoon (Akula) submarine (like the fictional movie sub Red October), and the Tu-95 bombers (I understand those are very loud turboprop engines). I didn't know the Chaika floatplanes were still in service. The Kuznetsov aircraft carrier wasn't there, but the Sukhoi and MiG jet fighters may have been from its air detachment. Cool little presidential boat (number 001) that Putin rode in, too.
I liked this naval parade too
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Working meeting with Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova



Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova who updated the President on the current status and development plans for the healthcare system in Russia.



August 1, 2017 - 14:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ms Skvortsova, there are many questions, of course, since you work in a very active field. Let's begin with the availability of medical care.



Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova:

Thank you, Mr President.

Actually, this is the most common reason for complaints to the Ministry, to Roszdravnadzor or regional healthcare departments. We began to deal with this problem systematically from 2014–2015. First, we updated the entire Soviet regulatory framework on demand for medical infrastructure in various locations, with differing populations and distances to the nearest medical centre. For the first time, we established wait time deadlines for medical care of various types – emergency, intensive care, primary care, district doctors, planned hospitalisation, and so on.

Based on this information, we created a geo-information layered interactive map, which shows 157,000 localities, all transport infrastructure and 74,000 medical centres. This map helps automatically calculate the time and distance for each locality to provide a specific type of medical assistance.

This slide shows an example: two towns – Apatity and Kirovsk – are 17 kilometres away. This programme automatically calculates the time, taking into account the condition of the roads, even making seasonal adjustments – 23 minutes.

We can see all available medical institutions with their capacities, beds, specialisation and so on, for each location, respectively. This map allowed us to estimate the risks for each region, for residents in each locality by the beginning of 2016. By May 2016, we concluded agreements and signed road maps with all the regional governors to eliminate the risks and shortcomings that we identified.

Over the past five years, we have built 2,000 new medical facilities, most of which are primary care and rural medicine facilities. In 2016, we built more than 550 facilities, 500 of which are paramedic centres, rural medical assistance centres, rural outpatient clinics and offices of general practitioners. Over the past five years, 20,000 medical institutions have been renovated, 2,650 of which were renovated in 2016. They are primarily small facilities but are of great importance for patients in need of primary medical care.

Nevertheless, as of January 1, 2017, out of 157,000 localities, we still have 9,900 whose population has limited access in accordance with the norms of medical care of one kind or another.

I would like to note that there are 80,000 localities with the population of up to 100 people, 8,866 of which do not have access to primary care in close proximity (at least within an hour). There are 43,000 localities with population from 100 to 1,000 people, 865 of which do not have enough paramedic centres; localities with population from 1,000 to 10,000 people lack 169 rural outpatient clinics.

In view of the absolutely clear shortage, we have developed a priority project programme for building paramedic centres and rural outpatient clinics and purchasing of mobile diagnostic modules. This priority project was preliminary discussed in the Government at the level of deputy prime ministers, it was approved, and we hope that in the near future it will be implemented to help the regions.

In addition, we have been implementing for the second year a programme to modernise ambulances. Last year, we upgraded 37 percent of class B ambulances with a run-on operation of over five years and 19 percent of class C ambulances (mobile ICUs). This year, the programme will be continued, and at least a thousand vehicles will be purchased for the regions.

In addition, for the first time this year we are carrying out a programme to develop air ambulances in 34 regions. These are regions with the maximum need for air ambulances; they perform 87 percent of the total volume of services. We are now monitoring this situation. It is developing quite positively, and the regions are very pleased with this opportunity. We hope that this will allow us to accelerate emergency medical care for residents of remote areas.

Mr President, the project we are carrying out with Rosatom experts called Economical Clinic, or a ‘technology factory’, is an important initiative to increase healthcare accessibility. I reported to you about this project last March. At the time the project had been implemented at six outpatient clinics in only three regions, while now it has expanded to 99 clinics in 37 regions. Waiting times have decreased 12 times, appointments have become easier to make, the so-called polite receptions are operating – and this did not require any excessive resources and happened only due to established logistics and better management. It is important to note that there are different lines for patients with ongoing cases and patients requiring a regular check-up.

As concerns preventive medical examinations, the first stage can now be completed in one visit. So the programme is working. I selected several recent examples for you, from Udmurtia, Buryatia, Yaroslavl Region, Kaliningrad and Sevastopol. Thirty-seven regions are already included in the project. The results have been in fact evaluated very highly by the public. Over the first months since this innovation, the patients’ satisfaction level went up by 10 to 15 percent on average. The patients noted friendly environment and comfort at medical facilities.

Staffing in the healthcare sector is an essential aspect of making healthcare more accessible. We receive many complaints regarding the shortage of primary care practitioners, including specialised doctors.



Vladimir Putin:

What is the percentage?



Valentina Skvortsova:

Primary care currently lacks 10,700 general practitioners and paediatricians and around 24,000 specialised doctors of 94 specialisations. However, progress has been made over the past three years. The number of doctors in primary care has increased by 37,000 (14 percent), including a 25-percent increase in the number of doctors working in rural areas under the Rural Doctor programme. There has been a significant increase of 10 to 25 percent in the number of the most sought-after specialists, that is, not only GPs and paediatricians (ophthalmologists, otorhinolaryngologists, cardiologists and neurologists are in the shortest supply).

According to our forecasts, we will need two to three years to address this deficit. I would like to report that serious system-wide measures have been taken in order to offset this deficit, prevent it in the future, and ensure that the system is balanced. First, university students will be graduating this year for the first time under a new programme and new standards, including physicians and paediatricians, who can start working only after completing a three-stage accreditation examination. As we increased specialised training, which now accounts for more than 50 percent of the curriculum, and enhanced its efficiency to 90 percent, we will have about 11,000 young specialists ready to start working as physicians or paediatricians in outpatient clinics. Taking into account that 5.5 percent to 10 percent of this workforce retires every year on average, depending on the region, we will resolve this situation in a matter of two or three years.



Vladimir Putin:

Do you expect to have a steady surplus?



Veronika Skvortsova:

Yes, we have a surplus so far. It is essential that our young specialists find jobs in the regions. We are working hard on it.

This year, the Healthcare Ministry has taken a new step to improve medical residency training. Until this year, people could apply for a state-funded scholarship or enrol on a for-pay basis without passing any exams. This year, however, we issued an order whereby everyone has to go through a basic accreditation examination in order to benefit from graduate medical training. After all, an ophthalmologist cannot treat eyes without knowing how the human body works. In addition, we made enrolment for residency training positions a competitive process, which includes a test, and takes into account the applicant’s achievements, like an honours degree, an individual or presidential scholarship, and work experience at medical institutions. Special credits are given to those who worked as doctors in rural areas. This innovation, which took us a year to develop, will allow us to admit, on an absolutely fair basis, the best students, giving them the opportunity to become specialist doctors.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55278






Greetings to paratroopers and veterans of Russia’s Airborne Forces on Paratroopers Day



The President congratulated the paratroopers and veterans of Russia’s Airborne Forces on Paratroopers Day.



August 2, 2017 - 09:00



The message reads, in part:

“Today, we honour courageous people strong in spirit, who, at the call of their heart, have chosen the challenging, responsible and noble task of serving in the Airborne Forces. They are guided in their actions by the code of an enduring brotherhood in arms, and are ready at any moment to defend their Fatherland with their own lives. Of course, the warmest words of gratitude go to veteran paratroopers, who, by their valour and bravery, have shaped the history of the legendary airborne forces.

It is essential that today’s generation of soldiers and officers upholds the traditions set by those who preceded them, that they are up to the task, invariably demonstrating impeccable skill, unity and fidelity to their military duty, and serving Russia faithfully.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55280






Greetings to VI Session of World Congress of Tatars



Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the delegates and guests of the VI Session of the World Congress of Tatars, held in Kazan.



August 3, 2017 - 10:15



The message reads, in part:

“I believe that your forum is a major event with a great social impact that brings together participants from various regions of Russia and a number of other countries. The diversity of religions, cultures and traditions is rightly regarded as one of the main riches of our multi-ethnic Fatherland. It is a priority for the state to preserve the identity and unique character of every ethnic group, and strengthen peace, and inter-ethnic and inter-religious cohesion in the country. It is essential that major public initiatives, such as the World Congress of Tatars, contribute to the success of these large-scale and highly relevant efforts. This year the Congress celebrates its 25th anniversary. The efforts of the World Congress of Tatars to promote the Tatar language and culture, and implement important educational projects and awareness campaigns, including in the area of international cooperation, deserve our outmost respect.

I strongly believe that the session will be held in a creative and constructive atmosphere, helping promote business ties and people-to-people contacts.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55283
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Visit to Amur Gas Processing Plant construction site



During his trip to Amur Region, the President inspected the Amur Gas Processing Plant construction site and gave the command to start pouring concrete for the foundation.



August 3, 2017 - 10:20 - Amur Region







The head of state was shown scale models of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline and the Amur Gas Processing Plant. Chairman of Gazprom Management Board, Alexei Miller, told Vladimir Putin about the deadlines and construction stages for the new plant and gas pipeline.

The Amur Gas Processing Plant, now under construction 15 kilometres from the town of Svobodny on the banks of the Zeya River, will be the largest Russian gas refinery and a major facility worldwide. It will play an important part in the technological chain of future natural gas deliveries to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline. The project will promote socioeconomic and industrial development in the Amur and other Far Eastern regions.

Construction has been progressing since October 2015; site preparation is currently being completed, and road, railway and river infrastructure are also being built. In addition, preparations are underway to build a residential area for about 3,000 employees.

While visiting the plant, Vladimir Putin took part in a videoconference and heard reports from Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk Director General Igor Krutikov from the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field in Yakutia that will ship gas to the Amur plant, and by Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk Director General Anatoly Titov, from a section of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends.

The preparatory stage of this major effort is over and today we are launching this large project.

In the past 50 years, our country has not seen anything similar. Neither the Soviet Union nor Russia have implemented projects of this scale. The only plant of a comparable size was built during the Soviet times in Orenburg. It had a capacity of 38 billion cubic metres of gas per year. This plant’s capacity will be 42 billion, which is a breakthrough not only for the industry but also in the overall development of the Russian Far East.

During peak periods, the construction will require several thousand people, or almost 25,000 workers, to be more precise. Once the plant is complete, it will employ 2,500 to 3,000 people, which will allow us not only to move forward in gas production but also to create conditions for building another giant plant in the country and one of the largest in the world. It will be a gas chemical plant employing tens of thousands of people during construction and then a large staff to operate the plant.

Thus, we will be equipped to not only perform our export obligations but to expand the gas network in Yakutia and begin supplying gas to Amur Region, where it is almost non-existent.

All this is an ambitious project, of which you are all participants. I want to wish you every success.

Good luck!







Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller:

Mr President,

The Amur Gas Processing Plant is an important element of the Eastern gas programme. Once opened, it will annually process 42 billion cubic metres of gas and produce 38 billion cubic metres of commercial gas.

This plant will become the largest gas processing facility in Russia and the world’s second largest in terms of gas processing volumes. In terms of helium production, this will become the largest helium production plant in the world, the No. 1 plant. It will also produce 2.5 million tonnes of ethane and 1.7 million tonnes of liquefied hydrocarbon gases.

There are plans to complete the plant stage by stage and to open six production lines, with each line producing seven billion cubic metres of gas. The first stage, or two production lines, will be commissioned in May 2021. The Amur Gas Processing Plant is an integral element of the production chain linking our gas production centres at the Kovyktinskoye deposit in Irkutsk Region and the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field in Yakutia via the Power of Siberia trunk gas pipeline.

Yakutia’s Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field is on the line.



Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk Director General Igor Krutikov:

Good afternoon, Mr President and Mr Miller. This is Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk Director General Igor Krutikov reporting.

You can see a modern drilling rig behind me. These rigs are currently used to drill gas wells at the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field. Today, we are exceeding our drilling targets by over 20,000 metres. We have drilled 73 gas and eight oil wells to date. After attaining design capacity, the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field is to produce up to 25 billion cubic metres of gas and at least 1.5 million tonnes of oil annually.

Currently, vigorous efforts to build production facilities are underway, including oil treatment and comprehensive gas treatment units. Today, the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field employs 5,000 experts and uses over 1,000 pieces of equipment, operating 24 hours a day.

I would like to assure you that the current pace of work will help to successfully implement the state Eastern gas programme to ensure the timely delivery of products to consumers.

Thank you for your attention.







Alexei Miller:

We have a linkup now with a construction section of the Power of Siberia trunk gas pipeline.



General Director of Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk Anatoly Titov:

Good afternoon Mr President, Mr Miller. This is General Director of Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk Anatoly Titov reporting.

Our company was appointed customer for this construction, and operator of the Power of Siberia trunk gas pipeline once it comes on line. Today, 1,640 km of pipe have been delivered to the pipeline route. This is 80 percent of the total. All of the pipes are made by Russian companies. We have 8,500 people and around 4,000 pieces of equipment working on the construction. Welding has been completed for 1,150 km today, which is 53 percent of the total length. The welding is done using modern automatic welding equipment. All work meets environmental standards. We are up to the task ahead, to supply gas to the Amur Gas Processing Plant and to China in December 2019.

This concludes my report







Alexei Miller:

Mr President,

The Chayandinskoye and Kovytkinskoye fields, the Amur Gas Processing Plant and Power of Siberia are all integral parts of the Eastern Gas Programme, which will create an integrated gas production, transportation, processing and supply system in Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East.

The Power of Siberia trunk gas pipeline, which will be commissioned on December 20, 2019, is the backbone of this system. What is important is that the Amur Gas Processing Plant is playing an important part in developing our international cooperation. Construction subcontractors for the plant include our partners from the People’s Republic of China. The heads of these companies are present at the ceremony today and I would like to welcome them.

The Amur Gas Processing Plant, once it comes on line, will give a powerful boost to socioeconomic development in the Far East and Eastern Siberia and will ensure the implementation of the programme to connect people to the gas network in these regions. I wish all of the construction workers and company staff success with this project.

A large part of the preliminary work for the main facility’s construction has already been completed. Mr President, I would like to ask you to give the signal to start laying cement for the Amur Gas Processing Plant’s first foundation.



Vladimir Putin:

Go ahead!







Alexei Miller:

The work to lay the Amur Gas Processing Plant’s first foundation has begun.



Vladimir Putin:

Congratulations! I wish you success and all the very best.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55284






Visit to Nizhne-Bureiskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant



Vladimir Putin visited the Nizhne-Bureiskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant and took part in a ceremony to commission three hydropower units.



August 3, 2017 - 12:10 - Amur Region







Before the launch, Mr Putin was briefed on the power plant’s new possibilities. Construction of the Nizhne-Bureiskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant began in 2010. The power plant is located on the Bureya River, is part of the Bureiskiy cascade, and will produce electricity for the southern regions of the Russian Far East, including the Vostochny Space Launch Centre. When all four units come on line, the power plant will have production capacity of 320 megawatts.

Mr Putin also spoke briefly with the power plant’s workers.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

I want to congratulate you all on the launch of the turbines.







In 2010, we decided to build this power plant with the idea that it would play an important part in the comprehensive efforts to protect the region from flooding, and, most importantly, would produce sufficient electricity for the region. Obviously, this is important both for industry and for households.







This is the first hydroelectric power plant of this scale built in modern Russia, the first such powerful, large, and, I would say, beautiful in terms of technical design, and up-to-date. It is a modern facility in that, as you know better than anyone does, it takes into account all the issues the hydropower sector has encountered over recent years, including those at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant. Everything has been analysed, included in the project and implemented so that the power plant will work efficiently, smoothly, and not only will not create problems, but on the contrary, will create opportunities for developing the Far East.







I congratulate you and wish you successful work.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55285
__________________
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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