Vanguard News Network
VNN Media
VNN Digital Library
VNN Reader Mail
VNN Broadcasts

Old October 14th, 2017 #641
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon



Vladimir Putin met with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in his Sochi residence, Bocharov Ruchei. The meeting of the presidents took place behind closed doors.



October 10, 2017 - 16:45 - Sochi




























From the Russian side the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the Russian-Tajikistani Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Igor Shuvalov, and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55810






Meeting with President of Moldova Igor Dodon



Vladimir Putin met with President of Moldova Igor Dodon in Sochi. The discussion focused, in particular, on topical issues of Russia-Moldova relations and possible ways of settling the Transnistria conflict.



October 10, 2017 - 17:30 - Sochi







Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russian-Moldovan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Dmitry Rogozin, and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov attended the meeting on behalf of Russia.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, Mr Dodon, colleagues,

As you know, this year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. Many events took place over these years, quite a few of them tragic, such as the Transnistria conflict.

It is in this context that we greatly value your efforts to normalise Russian-Moldovan relations. We can see that the process is not smooth but both the people of Moldova and the people of the Russian Federation are interested in a positive outcome.

I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss all aspects of our bilateral ties on the sidelines of the CIS summit.







President of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon:

Mr President, colleagues,

To begin with, I am very glad that it is almost exactly 10 months since we resumed the dialogue of our countries at the level of heads of state: the first meeting of presidents took place on January 17.

We made many positive changes over these 10 months but we also had problems that we must also discuss and assess objectively.

During this period Moldova has substantially increased exports – by over 17 percent in the first seven months of the year; exports of some items increased multiple times over – for example, 19 times more exports of grapes and three times more exports of apples.

Owing to our agreements – and I would like to thank you once again for this – the problem of migrants has been resolved. Tens of thousands received an opportunity to settle their problems and obtain legal status or come to the Russian Federation again.

Of course, there were problems as well because not everyone is happy that our strategic partnership has resumed. There were attempts both inside and outside the country to provoke our leaders into confrontation.

I must say that despite all this, we continue normal contacts at the level of MP groups. For instance, Zinaida Greceanii will meet with Mr Volodin tomorrow and is taking part in an important parliamentary event in St Petersburg.

During the next few weeks, we are planning to hold a meeting of the inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, which has not met for the past eight years. We have invited several dozen State Duma deputies to visit Moldova.

Delovaya Rossiya held a big event both in Moscow and Chisinau. Literally yesterday its Co-Chairman Igor Chaika was in Tiraspol and Comrat, and we had good meetings in Chisinau.

For the first time, the Moldovan delegation – over 400 young people – will take part in the youth festival in Sochi at the end of this week. We made sure they come from both the right and left banks.

Needless to say, we will discuss Transnistria in more detail. But I would like to thank you on behalf of the Moldovan people both from the left and right banks because in July of this year we marked the 25th anniversary of the peacekeeping operation.

This has been a successful operation, and I would like to thank you very much on behalf of the Moldovan people because the role of this peacekeeping operation in maintaining peace is very important.

Naturally, we had several meetings also with the leaders of Transnistria. We divide the resolution of all problems into two stages. We have a plan for resolving current issues. We drafted and submitted proposals on car licence plates because there is a risk that the Ukrainians will block the resolution of this issue.

We have set forth proposals on landlines and recognition of university diplomas. These are short-term issues, and they must be settled now. I hope we will do this in the next few weeks.

As for the mid- and long-term perspective and political settlement, we understand that it will be only possible to resume their discussion after the parliamentary elections that will take place in Moldova next year.

I am sure this will be a pro-Moldovan parliament that will be motivated to resolve this very important problem. The resolution of the Transnistria issue is a strategic task for me. This is important for everyone – for the regions and the residents of both the left and right banks.







Vladimir Putin:

Mr Dodon, you have just mentioned certain decisions that were made during or as a result of our talks. I am referring to liberalisation related to labour migrants, opening certain segments of the Russian market for goods that are sensitive for Moldova’s economy, and some other matters.

I should say frankly that this was done not preemptively, so to speak, but to support your efforts to normalise Russian-Moldovan relations. We hope very much that people will see and appreciate this and will do all they can to support the forces in your country that are focused on further improving and developing Russian-Moldovan relations.

In the future, we will definitely be building our economic ties proceeding from the level of our political engagement. As of now, to reiterate, we would like to support your sincere intentions to restore and develop Russian-Moldovan relations.

For our part, we will also do our best to resolve the Transnistria conflict; you and I have repeatedly talked about that and we should certainly act as guarantors of the agreements that can and should eventually emerge in order to resolve this problem once and for all in the interest of the people living on that territory.







Igor Dodon:

Mr President, the majority of citizens understand this very well and despite the provocations staged by the government and the parliamentary majority, they realise that the Russian Federation has taken a very balanced and wise approach toward these provocations.

Those were clear provocations because, believe me, hundreds of thousands of producers and those working in Russia, and not only those, are closely watching our meeting today.

Because there are circumstances, and certain people hope that there will be tougher attacks – well, not exactly attacks, but a response to the acts of lawlessness perpetrated by the Moldovan government against both migrants and exports.

I discussed this previously with Mr Rogozin in detail, when we met in Tehran: it is important that ordinary people are not affected. Over 60 percent of Moldovan citizens regard Russia as a friendly nation. All the efforts that have been made so far this year – people see them and see them in a positive light. On behalf of our citizens, once again thank you very much for this.







Vladimir Putin:

We feel the same for Moldova.



Igor Dodon:

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55812






Meeting with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov



Ahead of the CIS summit that begins in Sochi today, Vladimir Putin met with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to discuss bilateral relations.



October 11, 2017 - 12:00 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Berdimuhamedov, friends and colleagues,

Allow me to welcome you again, this time to Sochi, Russia. Thank you for accepting our invitation to the CIS summit.







We met in Turkmenistan recently, and we recollect with pleasure the warm welcome we received there. Thank you very much. We signed a number of fundamentally important documents there, including the [Strategic Cooperation] Treaty. I hope that all of them will be implemented, which will improve our interstate relations, primarily in the economy and the social sphere.







As I have said, we are grateful for your assistance in promoting the Russian language, which is important for our people who have lived in a unified state for a long time, or more precisely, for centuries. And now they maintain direct ties with each other.

I would like to again express our sincere gratitude, personally and on behalf of all my colleagues, for the work we accomplished during my official visit to Turkmenistan.




President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov:

Mr Putin, thank you for your kind words about Turkmenistan.

I would like to begin with a pleasant mission. You recently had a good day, your name day, on which I would like to congratulate you. I wish you strong health, which is the most important thing, as well as success and all the best.







I know that you are doing a great deal to improve the environment, both in your country and in the world. We have a close friend. You probably know what I mean: it is a dog, an Alabai. I have brought an Alabai puppy for you today. The dog’s name is Wepaly (Faithful). I believe this is a popular dog name in Russia as well. The Alabai was the mascot of the Asian [Indoor and Martial Arts] Games, which we hosted recently. I believe we can show the dog to the journalists.



Vladimir Putin:

Of course, we can.







Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov:

I think you will like him. Our dogs are healthy.







Vladimir Putin:

Yes, I do know that. (Laughs.)







Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov:

But the most important thing is that they are very faithful dogs.

I would like to again thank you for inviting us to attend the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State. This is very important to us, because this international organisation is a major asset. So, we would like to once again thank you for inviting us here.







Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55814






Meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev



Vladimir Putin met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The meeting was held in Sochi ahead of the CIS summit.



October 11, 2017 - 12:30 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Mirziyoyev, friends,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Sochi.

In the beginning of our discussion, I would like to point out that our colleagues from both Russia and Uzbekistan are actively working on implementing the agreements that we reached during your recent visit to Russia.

I would also like to point out that we can see certain results, tangible results. Last year we had a slight decrease in trade, but this year we can see an increase: over 20 percent growth in the first eight months. This means that we will have an even bigger increase by the end of the year. There has been a significant increase in agriculture as well; growth is very serious and visible. If we add exports through third countries, our neighbours, there will be an even bigger increase of 40 percent, I think, overall.







Both our Industry Minister and Agriculture Minister paid visits to Uzbekistan, and both of them actively worked in their respective areas. We have good opportunities for cooperation in industrial production and for further broadening interaction in other areas, including agriculture.

I am very happy to see you and to have this opportunity to discuss all these issues on the sidelines of the CIS summit.



President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev:

Mr Putin,

It is a pleasure to meet you again.

As you have said, in a short period of time, within a year, particularly after my visit to Russia, a great deal has changed, in every respect. Trade, as you have said, increased by 20 percent and even more, according to our statistics. This is heartening. All the agreements we have reached are being implemented.







I would like to express sincere gratitude that very many of your Ministers, not only Manturov, not only Tkachev, have visited Uzbekistan during this period. The Interior Minister and others have also visited Uzbekistan. A serious build-up is taking place, as the ministers are implementing our agreements. While formerly we said that we have a strategic partnership and an allied relationship, this year they have at last been invested with content and real results.

There is a lot of cooperation, as you have rightly said, in agriculture, in the textile industry, and serious shifts are taking place in the military-technical field. I believe this meeting today will contribute to the implementation of everything we have agreed upon.







I would like to say once again that today there is not a single area we have not touched upon. A year ago, we said that we were cooperating, but we had trade only in the gas sector. Today many sectors are finding each other, businesses are finding each other and the cultural and humanitarian areas look totally different.

A month ago, 20 days ago, Patriarch Kirill visited our country. We speak about tolerance and the tolerance we see in Uzbekistan today shows that people are living in peace and harmony.







I thank you once again for this meeting today. I think there is still much to talk about on the sidelines of the CIS summit and we will talk.

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55815






Meeting with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev



Vladimir Putin met with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.



October 12, 2017 - 14:15 - Sochi







The Presidents discussed the status of bilateral relations and topical international issues, particularly, the prospects of the Astana talks on conflict settlement in Syria.

Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin also attended the meeting on Russia’s behalf.

Yesterday in Sochi, Nursultan Nazarbayev participated in the CIS summit and a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Nazarbayev, thank you for your decision to stay for one more day after the CIS and EAEU summit meetings.

There are several bilateral issues we need to discuss, including our broad cooperation in politics, security and, of course, the economy. I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss all these issues with you.

We meet regularly and very frequently, simply because we need to do so in the current situation and also considering our joint work. Our meetings are a major factor of developing interstate relations. I am glad to have this opportunity, and I am confident that this will benefit both sides.







President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev:

Mr Putin, thank you very much. I am glad to have stayed in Sochi in this wonderful weather.

Yesterday we held a very important event that concerned the CIS and the EAEU. Today we meet to discuss bilateral issues.

This year we will mark 25 years of our diplomatic relations, which have been reinforced with the treaty of friendship and mutual assistance, which looks into the 21st century and which will be reinforced with other elements yet.

Russia is an important, or more precisely, the most important and reliable partner and ally for Kazakhstan. This tells it all. Russia holds a major place in our trade, and our relations have grown stronger in the past few years of cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. In the first nine months of this year, our trade increased by 33 percent, that is, by one third.







We create new joint ventures and launch joint investment projects in all spheres of the economy. Those who criticised the Eurasian Union and predicted its downfall because of the market situation have seen that open borders, open relations between people and open movement of capital and investments have led to positive results in our two countries.

Despite certain problems in the Russian economy because of the sanctions, we are moving forward and we are resolved to continue with this policy. Kazakhstan will always be the most reliable partner for Russia and vice versa. There are many practical issues we need to discuss.

Our cooperation at Baikonur is developing very well. I have visited it recently, and I will tell you about this trip. We will meet in Chelyabinsk, at the 15th interregional meeting on human resources. We will also meet at the CSTO summit this year. In other words, we meet and exchange opinions so often that there are no unsettled issues left in our relations.







I have visited all Central Asian states, including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. You have visited them as well. There are regional and also international political issues we need to discuss, as well as what Kazakhstan can do to help Russia. There are no unsettled issues between our countries, and we continue to strengthen our friendship and cooperation.

Thank you for your attention, for this meeting and for everything we do together.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55823
__________________
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 October 15th, 2017 #642
Ray Allan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 15,170
Default

What a cute puppy. Dawn Cannon uses a picture of Putin holding another Alabai puppy as her avatar. How can anyone resist that?
__________________
"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy."

--Henry A. Kissinger, jewish politician and advisor

Last edited by Ray Allan; October 15th, 2017 at 01:39 AM.
 
Old October 15th, 2017 #643
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Allan View Post
What a cute puppy. Dawn Cannon uses a picture of Putin holding another Alabai puppy as her avatar. How can anyone resist that?
But now there are new photos suitable for the avatar
__________________
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 October 16th, 2017 #644
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting on using digital technology in finance



Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the use of digital technology in finance and the implementation of innovative financial tools.



October 10, 2017 - 18:20 - Sochi



The meeting was attended by Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Central Bank Deputy Governor Olga Skorobogatova and QIWI CEO Sergei Solonin.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today, I propose addressing a topic that is relevant not only for our country, not only for Russia, but is probably becoming relevant also for the rest of the world.

I am referring to introducing digital technology in the financial, banking sphere, and using innovative financial instruments.

Modern technology in the banking sphere certainly opens up new opportunities for organisations and citizens, making business activity and everyday life more convenient.

As is known, virtual currencies, also known as cryptocurrencies, are becoming or have already become very popular; in certain countries they are becoming or have already become legal tender, as well as an investment asset.

That said, the use of cryptocurrencies also carries serious risks. I know the Central Bank’s position; I have discussed this topic with the Governor on several occasions.

First and foremost, this is an opportunity for laundering illegal gains, tax evasion and even financing of terrorism, not to mention the proliferation scams to which ordinary people can fall victim.

Cryptocurrencies are issued by an unrestricted circle of anonymous entities. Therefore, buyers of cryptocurrencies may be involved in illegal activity.

In addition, there is no security for cryptocurrencies. If the system breaks down or, as it is trendy to say today, if there is a bubble, there will be no entity legally responsible for that. This is a serious matter that we should bear in mind when discussing this topic.

As is known, many countries are looking for ways of regulating the circulation of cryptocurrencies and are beginning to create the necessary legislative framework, a legislative regulatory system.

We need – based on international experience – to build a regulatory environment that will make it possible to codify relations in this sphere, reliably protect the interests of citizens, businesses and the state and provide legal guarantees for using innovative financial instruments.

I would like once again to draw your attention to the need to use the advantages that are offered by new technological solutions in the banking sphere.

At the same time it is important not to create unnecessary barriers, of course, but rather to provide essential conditions for advancing and upgrading the national financial system.

Bearing all these various aspects of the problem in mind, let us discuss this topic today.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55813






Meeting with German business leaders



Vladimir Putin met with German business leaders.



October 12, 2017 - 14:50 - Sochi



Attending the meeting with the President of Russia were owners, board chairpersons and chief executive officers of Germany’s largest concerns.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev also took part in the meeting.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome all of you here.

As you can see, I did not come alone. As you are probably aware, we held a CIS event in Sochi, and then our Eurasian Economic Union gathered for a meeting yesterday. Bearing in mind our meeting with you today, I asked the President of Kazakhstan to join us.

I am confident that he will not only not hinder this meeting, but on the contrary, you will have an additional opportunity to talk with the President of another country, with which the Eastern Committee of German economy works. I think that this will be beneficial for everyone.

I would like to begin by saying that despite all the current political difficulties, our relations with the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of the economy are not withering. Even though Germany is now second to China in terms of trade with Russia, it still occupies a significant place in our trade turnover.







[Some part of text was skipped here - Alex Him.

I want to note that the representatives of the German economy actively worked at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum quite recently, in the summer.

Turnover in 2016 amounted to 40.7 billion dollars, and the amount of direct accumulated investment in the Russian economy from Germany reached 18 billion dollars.

In the current year, the growth of bilateral trade was noted at once by 25 percent, investments in the first quarter of this year alone were 312 million, and for the whole of last year there were 225 million.

In Russia there are over five thousand enterprises with the participation of German capital, where 270,000 Russian citizens are employed. The turnover of these enterprises exceeds $ 50 billion.

We expect that German companies will continue to work successfully in our country. Against the backdrop of the restoration of economic growth in Russia, new opportunities for business are also opening up.

For business in general and for our friends from abroad, including from Germany, in particular. We are ready to create all conditions for foreign businessmen to feel comfortable in the Russian market.

In close contact with the business community, we will continue to improve the legislative base, law enforcement practice. We will remove excessive administrative barriers, invest resources in the development of infrastructure and, of course, training.

I think you will agree that the cooperation of our countries should not be limited to only major projects. An important driver for the development of modern economy is small, medium business.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, small business accounts for more than half of the country's GDP. We have much less, unfortunately.]







However, we set ourselves the goal of bringing the share of small and medium-sized business in Russia to 40 percent by 2030. In this context, of course, it would be interesting to hear what you think about ways to involve small and medium-sized businesses in Russian-German trade.

Of course, we are interested in the opinion of our foreign partners about things that may get in their way when doing business in Russia and whether they need additional support from the government.

I am aware that the Eastern Committee of the German Economy has prepared a number of specific issues on bilateral cooperation for today's meeting. These areas include trade, energy, digital economy, the localisation of industrial production, and agriculture.

You can see many government ministers here, as well as members of our Government’s economic wing. We are ready to discuss any questions with you in detail. Our friends from Kazakhstan also represent the corresponding industries, so we are at your disposal.

Now, I would like to give the floor to my colleague, the President of Kazakhstan, and Mr Buchele will speak after him. Then, we will continue our discussion in a closed – but, I hope, still open and informal – format.

Please.







President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev:

Mr President,

Firstly, I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to be here in Sochi. It is a great gift for me to be able to meet with such major business leaders from the Federal Republic of Germany, many of whom I personally know from their work in Kazakhstan.

Secondly, thank you for not speaking German with your colleagues; otherwise, I would not understand anything of what you said. Clearly, you took note of my presence.

I am pleased to welcome your guests, German businessmen. Germany is also an important trade and economic partner of Kazakhstan, and we are bound by strong ties of friendship and mutual understanding.

As you may be aware, there are over 100 ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan. We used to be home to 1.1 million Germans who resided in Kazakhstan following the mass deportation of the Volga German Republic.

After gaining independence, we allowed 600,000 Germans to leave for their historical homeland, but the German community in our country is still large. They are a link, and we have a unique intergovernmental commission with Germany, which deals exclusively with ethnic Germans. I think this is another indicator of our special focus on cooperation between our countries.

Our German citizens, formerly from Kazakhstan, who are now residing in your country, are doing business with us, and they are a good connection, they have friends. I know they had no hard feelings toward us when they left Kazakhstan.

In the years since Kazakhstan’s independence, Germany has invested about $5 billion. Importantly, 90 percent of that amount was invested outside of the primary sector.

During the first eight months of this year, trade between our countries increased by $1.5 billion. In the past five years alone, 19 major investment projects worth $2.8 billion were implemented in Kazakhstan.

Among our partners are such concerns as Siemens, Knauf, Metro, Heidelberg, and Linde. I was in Berlin a couple of years ago and agreed with Chancellor Merkel that we will bring them in to work on rare earth metal deposits in exchange for technology and investment in Kazakhstan.

In all, over 900 companies with the participation of German capital are successfully operating in different areas in our country: construction, transport, communications, agriculture, the processing industry, and infrastructure in particular.

We have launched a multi-model Eurasian transport corridor: today five railways and six international auto routes pass through Kazakhstan from the Pacific via China, Kazakhstan and Russia to Europe; via Kazakhstan, Iran and the Persian Gulf; and via Kazakhstan and the Caucasus to Europe again. The main routes pass through Russia.

These routes link China and other Asian and European countries via Russia, the Caspian and the Black Seas, Iran, India and Turkey. Thus, we have formed strategic transport corridors that directly link Asia and Europe, the north and the south. You are welcome to use these transport opportunities. It takes 14–15 days to cover the route from the Pacific to Europe via China, whereas traditional shipping by sea takes almost three times as long.

As you may know, not so long ago I met with Mr Steinmeier at EXPO-2017 in Kazakhstan and we opened the National Day of Germany together. We discussed issues related to the development of our relations once again.

Today, Kazakhstan is opening up new opportunities. It has huge potential for profitable business. To begin with, it is continuously working to improve the investment climate and protect the rights of investors and liberalising business legislation.

Last year Kazakhstan moved up 16 spots to 35th place in the World Bank’s Doing Business rating. In the beginning of this year, Kazakhstan became an associated member of the OECD Investment Committee and joined the Declaration on International Investment.

We have a Foreign Investors Council overseen by the President of Kazakhstan, which annually addresses issues arising between our countries. A visa-free regime has been introduced for 61 countries, including Germany. There are corporate, land and property tax exemptions for investment projects in priority sectors that we have identified. Workforce for such projects is hired without quotas or approvals and there is a simplified procedure for acquiring licenses and executing contracts for the use of mineral resources.

Secondly, we are implementing the second comprehensive round of large-scale privatisation in Kazakhstan. The assets of mining, metallurgical, oil, gas, energy, transport and other enterprises are being put on the block. We are inviting German businesses to participate, including in public-private partnerships.

Thirdly, next year, the Astana International Financial Centre will begin operating on the basis of EXPO-2017. It will use British law, the English language, a preferential tax regime and an independent court of arbitration.

An international centre for green technology and investment will also open in Astana. We invite German companies to actively cooperate in these projects.

Business people need to use all available opportunities for business development and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation. I hope that today’s meeting will bring us – both Russia and Kazakhstan – even closer together.

Russia is our main partner and ally in all matters, especially in the context of the Eurasian Economic Union, where we have open borders. We have no customs barriers and we have free movement of people, capital and finance.

Our trade is growing – at 30 percent a year. Consider what a tremendous pace this is and what opportunities there are. Hundreds of new enterprises are being created. I believe there is a good opportunity for us to work together.

Naturally, we need German technology, expertise, science and personnel. Therefore, we are ready to provide everything that is of interest to you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr President.



Vladimir Putin:

Wolfgang, please.







Chairman of German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Wolfgang Buchele (retranslated):

Mr President, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for us to be here in Sochi and to be meeting with you. On behalf of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and the representatives of companies who are present here, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to meet and talk with you.

The traditional meeting with you, Mr President, is the most prominent event of the year for the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations. I believe that in the past we have always had very constructive discussions. I would like to assure you that this year’s meeting will not be an exception.

This time we are meeting at a very interesting time: There will be a presidential election in Russia next spring and in Germany, the Bundestag has just been elected and a new government is being formed. And of course, we are all asking ourselves what this means for our future relations.

If we look back over the years, we will see that when all is said and done, politics have played a major role in fostering economic ties between our countries. Apart from the Federal Chancellor, Social Democratic ministers of foreign affairs have contributed to political dialogue with Russia. In that regard, changes are emerging that could bring about political changes.

However, polls invariably show that the overwhelming majority of Germans have no doubt that we need friendly relations with the Russian Federation and that we should do all we can to overcome, or rather avoid stagnation in our relations.

This desire will of course be a guideline for the new Federal Government. We – the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations – are confident about that.

The second subject that has occupied our attention for several weeks is potential new US economic sanctions against Russia. The reasons for these sanctions are obvious. They are rooted in domestic policy and US economic interests.

We support the negative attitude to these sanctions on behalf of the EU and the Federal Government. In our position paper, we describe in detail the threat of potential extraterritorial application of US sanctions for German businesses.

Incidentally, we are in close contact with the Federal Government on this issue. Regrettably, these sanctions breed uncertainty among European companies. They might eventually influence investment decisions but we are doing all we can on the German side to help companies, to enable them to continue their investment activities amid this uncertainty.

At present, Germany is very positive as regards investment in Russia and I strongly hope this will remain the case in the future as well.

Let us now move to the good news.

Mr President, you spoke about statistics. The development of German-Russian trade inspires a certain amount of optimism in us. You have already said that German-Russian trade has gone up by 25 percent.

This applies to both our exports and our imports. So more goods can be shipped both ways after our trade's decline over the past few years.

In addition, it gives me great pleasure to see that German investment in Russia is growing. New companies open practically every week. Some representatives of these companies that are involved in this work are sitting at this table and will certainly tell us about their experience of working in Russia.

The activities of German companies in Russia and Russian businesses in Germany are on the upsurge. We consider this a brilliant example of very good and successful economic development. This is why I think it would be appropriate to talk about new joint projects today.

We believe Russia’s main trial, challenge and number one political task is to continue optimising its infrastructure, increasing labour productivity, for example, by introducing new technologies, and developing competitive export goods with a high share of localisation in Russia.

Thus, German manufacturing companies that have a presence in Russia and invest in Russia intend to sell their goods not only in Russia but also export them to other countries.

Therefore, it is important for us to have value chains in the country that would receive components and raw materials in Russia and would not have to import them, and this is the path we should follow together. However, I believe that there are good prospects for development here.

In addition, we would like to talk about digitisation and Industry 4.0. These topics are very much on our minds today. Another important topic is electromobility, artificial intelligence and energy efficiency.

And of course, support for small and medium-sized businesses is a major issue. I briefly addressed it. You, Mr President, have already set the goal of increasing the share of small and medium-sized businesses to 40 percent by 2030. If you want to achieve this target, we are ready to contribute to that.

German business is pleased to be working to put in place the necessary framework and discuss this matter with you, and we will continue to develop the partnership that we have established with [Russian] enterprises and institutes.

Recently, we have had quite a few good examples of good cooperation, for instance, between the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and the Russian Agency for Support of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, as well as with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

Mr President, I do not want to end my remarks without belated birthday greetings on my own behalf, as well as on behalf of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations. Both you and the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations were born in 1952 and this binds us together.

A little later, in 1954, Germany first became a world soccer champion. And of course, we all hope that next year we will be just as successful, and this brings me to our little birthday gift for you.

The World Cup will bring the Germans and Russians even closer together and we hope that we will support and root for each other. Therefore, as a little souvenir and talisman for this event, we have brought you a German national team jersey, No9 – centre forward.

As a mascot for the Russian national team, we have found a little sculpture of Lev Yashin who, without a doubt, is the greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century and who, by the way, is very popular in Germany.

Let these two souvenirs bring you and us good luck, and then we will surely meet in a great Russia-Germany final and we will be pleased to attend that final.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55824
__________________
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 October 16th, 2017 #645
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

CIS summit



President of Russia chaired a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Sochi.



October 11, 2017 - 15:20 - Sochi







The summit was attended by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee and CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev.










In his opening remarks, the President of Russia said that the CIS countries had every opportunity to launch new ambitious and mutually advantageous projects. The summit will particularly highlight the economic agenda and ways of improving trade and investment ties, eliminating barriers to the flow of goods and services, Vladimir Putin said.










During the summit, the participants exchanged views on key issues of CIS cooperation and signed a package of documents aimed at deepening ties in various areas. In addition, they approved the decision on the transfer of the CIS rotating chairmanship from Russia to Tajikistan in 2018.










The documents signed include resolutions on improving the operation of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States and adjusting it to modern realities; on the delineation of powers between the CIS Council of Heads of State and the CIS Council of Heads of Government; on Regulations of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers; on Regulations of the CIS Economic Council; as well as on declaring 2019 the Year of the Book in the CIS, and 2020 – the Year of the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.










Other documents include decisions on the Statement of the CIS Heads of State in support of the family and traditional family values and on the implementation of the Interstate Programme CIS Cultural Capitals in the Republic of Armenia in 2018, in the Republic of Belarus in 2019 and in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2020.










A number of documents concern the CIS member states’ cooperation in preventing the legalisation of criminal income (money laundering), the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as anti-corruption cooperation. Meeting participants also signed documents on adjusting the Joint CIS Air Defence System to the tasks of aerospace defence and on the peaceful use of outer space.







The Government of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States have signed an agreement on the terms of headquartering in Russia of the Bureau to Combat Organised Crime and Other Dangerous Crimes on the Territory of CIS Member States.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55816






Speech at restricted meeting of CIS Council of Heads of State



October 11, 2017 - 13:40 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

Allow me to welcome you to Sochi for the Summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

I would like to note that President of Moldova Igor Dodon and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev are taking part in the event for the first time. My special greetings to you on this occasion.

The summit agenda is very busy. We will chart the path for further strengthening interaction within the CIS and exchange opinions on what should be done to make the Commonwealth and its structures more efficient.







Traditionally, we will pay special attention to economic topics. We will discuss steps aimed at deepening trade and investment ties and at eliminating existing barriers to the movement of goods and services. We have everything it takes to launch major new mutually beneficial business projects.







During the course of this summit, some important decisions in the humanitarian field are to be approved. We are convinced that their implementation will help strengthen neighbourly relations between our countries and peoples and contribute to expanding exchanges in the field of culture, education, science and tourism. We are going to discuss this today.







I suggest that, as usual, we give the floor to the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev. Then each of us will speak on the substance of the issues we have gathered today to discuss.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55817






Expanded meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State



October 11, 2017 - 15:00 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues, good afternoon again.

Welcome to this expanded meeting.

The CIS heads of state have had an in-depth discussion of all areas of our cooperation and have agreed on the procedure for this meeting. Welcome to Sochi, all of you.

I am pleased to give the floor to President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, the country that will assume the rotating chairmanship of our organisation on January 1, 2018. The next speaker will be the President of Turkmenistan, which will take over the CIS chairmanship in 2019.

Mr Rahmon, if you please.







President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon:

Mr Chairman, colleagues,

I would first of all like to express our gratitude to the Russian side and to President Vladimir Putin for the warm welcome and excellent organisation of the summit.

Our agenda covers pressing issues, and we welcome the corresponding decisions that have been adopted.

We are grateful for your support for the decision to pass the Commonwealth chairmanship to the Republic of Tajikistan. We have worked out a concept for Tajikistan’s chairmanship and a plan for its implementation. The priorities of our chairmanship will be directed toward ensuring continuity in the Commonwealth and bolstering the results achieved to date.

As for economic cooperation, our efforts will be aimed at carrying out the measures planned to implement the third stage of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2020.

In the energy sector, our priority will be to intensify cooperation in energy saving technologies and to restore the parallel operation of the CIS countries’ energy systems. We also intend to promote cooperation in renewable energy.

In transport, we will pay particular attention to the achievement of 2020 CIS cooperation priorities in this area. We believe it is important to raise our countries’ cooperation in cargo transit, automobile and railway transportation to a qualitatively new level.







As for agriculture, our main concern will be promoting food security. Strengthening cooperation in the agro-industrial sector requires better logistics and the implementation of projects to apply innovative approaches in various spheres.

One important task is fostering cooperation in social and labour relations and migration.

In the humanitarian sphere, our work will be focused on coordinating efforts in science, education, culture, health care and information. We consider it important to give qualitatively new content to our youth programmes, develop cooperation in physical fitness and sport and expand tourism ties.

Appropriate attention will be given to implementing the interstate innovation cooperation programme through 2020.

In ecology and environmental protection, efforts will continue to develop appropriate documents and programmes to improve the environment and prevent emergency situations.

We believe it makes sense to deepen cooperation in effectively responding to natural and man-made emergency situations.







Security and stability will remain priorities during Tajikistan’s presidency. We will do our utmost to facilitate the practical implementation of the decisions and policy documents adopted within the framework of the Commonwealth on dealing with global threats and challenges: terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other kinds of transnational organised crime.

Efforts to streamline the work of CIS bodies will continue based on the general provision regarding CIS sectoral cooperation agencies and the implementation of the decision by the Heads of State Council on adapting the CIS to modern realities.

We intend to work along these lines in close contact with CIS member states and the CIS Executive Committee. I hope that our joint efforts will help consolidate multidimensional ties between our countries in the Commonwealth format.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

Mr Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan, please.







President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov:

Colleagues,

Allow me to thank President of Russia Vladimir Putin for the invitation to attend the session of the CIS Heads of State and for his hospitality.

As you know, we have considered very important issues during this meeting. Therefore, first of all, I would like to say a few words about our political cooperation.

We respect cooperation with CIS states and regard it as the most important component of the external relations of all Commonwealth countries. At the same time, I consider it appropriate to draw special attention to the need to enhance the level of mutual trust between our countries. In this context, it is necessary to strengthen political and diplomatic cooperation, using the great potential of the CIS countries’ foreign policy agencies. Systemic, regular consultations between foreign ministries could become an essential instrument in dealing with an array of issues that have accumulated in the Commonwealth space.

In addition, it is certainly necessary to upgrade the level of cooperation within the framework of international organisations, such as the UN and the OSCE, and try to combine the CIS countries’ efforts at influential international organisations in the interest of achieving the goals on the international agenda. At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that the Commonwealth has extensive experience of participation in the activity of global and regional organisations. For instance, it must not be forgotten that the CIS is the UN’s official partner and is also actively involved in the activities of the OSCE, the SCO and other international associations and formats.







Taking all of this into account, I believe it would be appropriate to instruct the foreign ministries of our states to work out a medium-term programme of action designed to invigorate our political and diplomatic partnership.

Another important point is of course making our trade and economic cooperation more focused. In this context, I would like to note that the CIS, with its great potential, should be more energetically and comprehensively integrating into the global economy as a space where transport and energy projects are being implemented and modern infrastructure and interregional logistics centers are being put in place.

I believe it is time to take effective steps in this direction. I am sure that this meets both our common interests and the interests of each country in particular.

Needless to say, this task will require developing new approaches toward joint efforts. In this regard, based on the years-long experience of the CIS in economic cooperation, we could consider the possibility of creating effective partnership mechanisms, allowing us not only to foster economic ties within the framework of the Commonwealth but also to take them to a continental level – that is, to an intercontinental level. I am sure that this approach will supplement the forms of economic cooperation that have already evolved and are working effectively in the Commonwealth states.







Overall, I would like to stress that, taking into account its neutral and associated member status in the CIS, Turkmenistan is committed to closer participation in mutually beneficial political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties to strengthen cooperation, which is in the interest of our peoples and nations.

I would like to express deep appreciation to the Russian Federation for its effective work as this year’s CIS chair. And it is with great respect that we endorse Tajikistan’s candidacy for this post in 2018. We respectfully thank the Executive Committee for supporting Turkmenistan’s 2018 co-chairmanship.

Allow me once again to thank you, Mr Putin, for your hospitality.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

We have also agreed to give the floor to Ms Matvienko on how to improve the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly activities and adapt them to modern realities. Please.



Chairperson of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko:

Mr President,

Heads of state and delegation leaders,

First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak today about the activity of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and how it is adapting to modern realities.

The Interparliamentary Assembly is always looking for ways to efficiently use the parliamentary, legal and political instruments at its disposal to provide a legal base for meeting the challenges facing the Commonwealth and to protect our common interests in the international arena.

Improving and, most importantly, harmonising national legislations by drafting and adopting model laws is of key importance for further economic and humanitarian cooperation within the CIS. Since it was founded 25 years ago, the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly has passed over 380 regulatory acts and codes. This year alone, we passed 14 of them. This work involves members of all parliaments, experts and scientists from CIS nations and is very important for these countries. The majority of the model laws have been either fully or partially implemented into national law. We regularly monitor the situation and work to reflect present-day realities in the model legislation as fully and accurately as possible, with due respect for the universally recognised norms of international law.

Another important mission of the Interparliamentary Assembly is to make sure that parliaments implement all the decisions of CIS supreme bodies – the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Primarily this concerns the implementation of inter-state programmes. Between 2011 and 2016, the Interparliamentary Assembly was involved in implementing 16 such programmes. Documents that the Interparliamentary Assembly prepared formed the basis for 27 treaties and agreements currently in effect in the CIS. We can see how this area of our activity can be further improved, and are working to achieve this aim.

Efforts by the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) to monitor presidential and parliamentary elections in the CIS countries have generated a huge response around the world. For many decades the main institution that was empowered to judge whether elections in sovereign countries were democratic or not was the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). We all know only too well the ODIHR’s politicised assessments and adherence to double standards. The IPA’s consistent and vigorous efforts have eroded the monopoly of the ODIHR, which has lost its status as supreme arbiter in this very important area.







The international community takes into account our objective legal assessments and conclusions about the results of elections. We have established cooperation in this area with our partners and colleagues from other international parliamentary institutions. We are committed to continuing active participation in election monitoring.

Adapting to new realities requires integration with international institutions. I believe we have put a lot of effort into achieving this. Today, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly is a recognised authoritative international organisation. We are cooperating with the United Nations Organisation and its agencies, as well as with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other international organisations. We are an associated member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In all, over 70 agreements on cooperation have been signed. This is not a declaration of intention – far from it. The Assembly is carrying out a lot of concrete work, taking part in international parliamentary forums to set out the CIS’s approaches to and view of different issues, introduce specific proposals and resolutions on how to resolve critical issues, challenges and threats, as well as defend, whenever necessary, the CIS countries from unfair criticism and politically motivated assessments and we are consolidating our efforts in this area.

We hold important international events at the IPA headquarters jointly with our foreign partners. This year, one major event was the Parliamentary Conference on Fighting International Terrorism: participants included delegations from the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the CIS.

The 14th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies has received a great response. To hold it, our Assembly had partnered with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and Russia’s Central Electoral Commission.

The development of humanitarian cooperation is making good progress. The IPA-sponsored International Ecological Forum and the Eurasian Women’s Forum are recognised around the world. Over this period, we have created the CIS Youth Assembly that has also immediately started buzzing with activity.

All this points to the growing interest in the IPA in the world and consolidation of its prestige. This also shows that work in cooperation with international institutions and their agencies is becoming in current conditions particularly important for promoting common interests and joint CIS positions in the international community. We will enhance our efforts in this area.







In three days, on October 14, the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – the oldest and largest international parliamentary organisation – will start its work in the IPA Headquarters in Tavrichesky Palace in St Petersburg. It unites parliaments of 173 states and 11 international parliamentary organisations. MPs of 154 states have already confirmed their participation in the forum. By now, almost 2,500 participants have been registered. About 100 national delegations are headed by their Speakers. Thus, the 137th IPU Assembly is expected to become the most representative and record-breaking in IPU history both in the number of participating parliaments and the level of representation.

The IPA will take a most active part in the work of the Assembly. Our delegation will do all it can for the forum to facilitate the restoration of the atmosphere of friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation in international relations.

I must make the following point. The IPA and its Headquarters in Tavrichesky Palace have become a venue for CIS MPs, where they exchange experience and learn more about each other. We, Speakers of CIS parliaments, meet in this place twice a year. We have an opportunity to discuss common problems, and agree on things. And we are simply friends, which helps our work just as that of the presidents of CIS states. If we did not have this venue for communication between CIS MPs, it would be a huge loss.

In conclusion, I would like to say that in the quarter of a century of its history the IPA has demonstrated its ability to adapt well to the changing realities and keep up with the times. At the same time, we see what we must improve in our work and our activities on the basis of the accumulated experience of equitable and constructive cooperation.

We will be grateful to the Council of Heads of State for recommendations, advice and proposals on enhancing the effectiveness of the IPA work. We will take them into account by all means.

I would like to thank personally the President of Turkmenistan for the invitation to hold one IPA meeting in his country. We are grateful to you and will be pleased to do this.

We are ready to actively facilitate the implementation of the tasks set forth by CIS states and their heads of state.

Thank you for your attention.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much, Ms Matviyenko.

Colleagues,

Before we proceed to sign the documents, I would like to note that they are all the result of our active and very constructive political dialogue, our ongoing efforts to advance regional integration and expand security, economic and cultural cooperation.

Meetings of the Council of the Heads of State primarily focus on the economy. As such, I would like to say that this year we have seen the recovery of economic activity between our countries. In particular, trade has increased by 25 percent to reach $75 billion.

Ensuring further stable growth of trade requires further improving free trade regulations within the Commonwealth, consistently removing obstacles to the movement of goods and services, and simplifying customs procedures, including through cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Considering that this year was declared the Year of Family in the CIS, today we will adopt a joint statement in support of traditional family values. Other countries sharing the principles enshrined in the document are welcome to join it as well.

We will continue the practice of themed years as part of CIS cultural cooperation. Resolutions have been drafted to declare 2019 the Year of Books and, as we discussed during the restricted format meeting, 2020 will be the Year of the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This special date for our peoples deserves special commemoration.

It is important that the CIS states adhere to similar positions on key global and regional matters, and advocate the building of a just international order based on generally accepted principles of international law, with the central role played by the United Nations.

Of course, I would like to wish good luck to the leadership of Tajikistan with the responsibility of CIS chairmanship. Mr Rahmon, we are always at your disposal. As co-chairing states, Russia and Turkmenistan are ready to provide all the necessary support and assistance.

Thank you for your attention. Now let us proceed to the signing.

(Signing of the documents.)

Colleagues, the documents are signed. I would like to thank everybody and express my hope that we will continue our cooperation in the same positive spirit. Now we will delegate Mr Lebedev to speak to the press, while I invite you to our official social events.

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55818






Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting



A meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council took place in Sochi.



October 11, 2017 - 18:45 - Sochi







The meeting was attended by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan and President of Moldova Igor Dodon.

Topical issues of cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union were addressed. A package of documents was signed following the meeting.

The resolution On the Main Areas of Implementing the Digital Agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union until 2025 and the instruction On Cooperation of Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union in Providing Space and Geoinformation Services on the Basis of National Sources of Earth Remote Sensing Data have been signed.

In addition, documents were signed on the entry into force of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, rules of competition in trans-border markets, measures to prevent violations of common rules of competition, regulation of the activities of natural monopolies and a number of other organisational issues.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

I am pleased to welcome you once again to our meeting, including our guest, President of Moldova Igor Dodon.

We have just discussed in a restricted format the current aspects of the Eurasian Economic Union’s activity, reviewed the progress of our integration efforts and made a number of important decisions. We can confidently say that the Union is successfully functioning and developing.

Integration is having a positive impact on the pace of economic growth in our states. This year, the Eurasian Economic Union’s aggregate GDP has grown by 1.8 percent. Positive trends are also being reported in strategic production sectors: Industry saw 2.4 percent growth and agriculture was up by almost 1 percent; cargo and passenger traffic increased by 6.9 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively.







The Union’s foreign trade has increased by 26 percent while the trade surplus of export-import transactions exceeded $77 billion. The share of machinery, equipment and vehicles has reached 17.5 percent whereas the share of energy products has gone down to 28 percent.

Trade between the members of the Eurasian Economic Union has grown by 30 percent this year. This is a direct consequence of our successful efforts to establish a common market and common economic space within the Union.

We are convinced of the need to continue consistently removing restrictions on the free flow of goods, labour, services and capital between our states.

We should speed up our efforts to draft a roadmap on eliminating the existing barriers in industry, the agro-industrial sector, the energy industry and technical regulations.

The member-states of the Union should complete all domestic procedures for its new Customs Code to enter in force on January 1 as planned. In turn, the Eurasian Economic Commission should stay ahead of schedule in adopting technical decisions that are required for the practical application of the Code in trade between the Union members.







At the restricted meeting, we also endorsed an important document called Main Areas of the Union’s Digital Agenda Until 2025. Let me recall that the initiative to develop this document was put forth at the meeting of our Union last December. Russia is ready to take an active part in carrying out the digital agenda. This amounts to conducting a coordinated policy among Union members to develop the internet economy and adopt uniform standards for the exchange of information and its protection.

The decisions we are adopting today on developing cooperation in space and geoinformation services and merging the national systems of Earth remote sensing that are functioning in the Union states are also very important.

One of our key tasks is to upgrade the lending and financial infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Union. We suggest making more effective use of the potential of the Eurasian Development Bank and the Eurasian Stabilisation Fund to boost the growth of our economies, as well as using their special mechanisms to consolidate the financial sustainability of the Union member-states.

We must pay special attention to promoting the Eurasian Economic Union in the world arena and developing its links with other states. In this context, we consider it important to develop closer cooperation with our CIS partners that are not members of our Union. Today we discussed this in detail, along with the need to establish an observer status.







We should also speed up the negotiations that have started on establishing free trade areas with those countries with which we agreed to do so and with which the Commission is already working. We attach much importance to the elaboration of draft cooperation agreements between the Eurasian Economic Union and these countries.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our friends from Kyrgyzstan for their extensive work during the country’s chairmanship of the Union this year. As the next chair, Russia is ready for intensive cooperation with all partners of the Union to further consolidate our integration association.

I will now give the floor to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.







President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan:

First of all, I would like once again to thank Mr Putin for organising today’s summit and for the warm welcome. I would also like to thank our colleagues from Kyrgyzstan for Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of the Eurasian Union.

Colleagues, during the almost three years that the Eurasian Economic Union has been around, a considerable amount of work has been accomplished in applying in practice the principles of freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and workforce in the common market.

The legal foundation is being constantly expanded, the Union’s priorities have been defined, policy coordination in major economic sectors is ongoing, and the scope of the EAEU’s multilateral cooperation is steadily expanding.







In the first seven months of this year, the volume of mutual trade has increased by almost 28 percent, year on year. Between January and July 2017, Armenian exports to the EAEU countries’ market were up 29 percent, year on year. The total volume of the member states’ foreign trade with third countries grew by more than 26 percent. Mr Putin has cited a lot of figures that reaffirm the relevance of our decision.

It is necessary to consolidate this trend, ensuring its stability. We believe that to this end, it is necessary, first, to continue our joint efforts not only to identify but also to eliminate existing barriers and foster a business-friendly environment with unified rules of fair competition.

Working to expand the legal foundation, it is important to focus on adopting regulations that would enable economic entities to feel the positive effects of their adoption in practice.

Secondly, we expect the digital agenda to make our cooperation more transparent, improve efficiency and enhance the quality of services. We agree that this is a relevant matter and believe that it should be addressed by taking the following into account: the economic feasibility of projects, their integration component and its importance for our countries’ economies, taking into consideration the positive experience in the implementation of similar projects in Union member states, and an array of coordinated criteria that can be used to assess the extent to which these projects correspond to the member states’ interests, as well as the interests of the Union as a whole.







I believe that developing digital solutions could start with the mutual recognition of e-invoices. Since the recognition of invoices is a key issue for a large number of digital initiatives, including e-trade monitoring, I propose that the countries’ governments look into this matter together with the commission as soon as possible. It is also important that all subsequent actions on the digital agenda protect businesses from a possible increase in disproportionate administrative and financial burdens.

Another step towards strengthening the EAEU – and this is the third point – is cooperation on the international track. We act on the premise that cooperation between various integration associations both at the Union level and on an individual basis – naturally, with due compliance with the obligations we have assumed – can make an important contribution to fostering a complementary and mutually beneficial space without dividing lines for the good of all states.

We note with satisfaction that talks on a trade and economic agreement between the EAEU and China have essentially been completed. This became possible due to the experience in bilateral cooperation with China that our countries have accumulated. We believe that this cooperation format should help foster cooperation with the EAEU. Likewise, the EAEU’s cooperation in a particular area should enrich our countries’ bilateral relations.

We believe that the creation of a single Eurasian trade and economic space and transport corridor is possible by implementing major infrastructure projects, getting the EAEU, all of its member countries involved in the One Belt, One Road initiative. This will make it possible to minimise all existing infrastructural restrictions to integration and, as a result, put in place a system of interconnected transport routes.

I would also like to reiterate our commitment – I am sure that this is our shared position – to sign agreements with Iran in the immediate future. This matter was raised yesterday by the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Prime Minister of Armenia. I understand that they are ready to continue negotiations and complete them shortly.







In conclusion, I would like to inform you that yesterday, the Constitutional Court of Armenia considered the Treaty on the EAEU Customs Code. The document will be submitted to Parliament for ratification at the earliest date. We hope that in the future our countries will continue to deal with all issues in a constructive way for the benefit of our nations and for the prosperity of our countries.

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

Colleagues, we agreed in the restricted format that we have coordinated the main issues but even so, I gave the floor to Mr Sargsyan. If other heads of state would like to say something, to add something, please do so.

Mr Lukashenko.







President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko:

Mr Putin, your opening remarks, your exhaustive presentation, as well as Mr Sargsyan’s speech, do not make it possible to say anything new, so I cancel my presentation.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

Mr Nazarbayev.







President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev:

Everything has been said. We have discussed everything in detail and agreed that we will not have a discussion now but will sign the documents. We will give the floor to Mr Sargsyan and sign the documents, as we have already discussed everything.







Vladimir Putin:

Does Kyrgyzstan have anything to add? No?

Mr Dodon.







President of Moldova Igor Dodon:

Thank you very much, Mr Putin.

Colleagues, first of all, thank you for the invitation to attend a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council as a guest for the second time. I would like to point out that this meets the expectations of the majority of Moldova’s citizens.

I would like to reaffirm the position of the Republic of Moldova. We are committed to cooperation with new integration projects that are developing within the framework of the CIS and this certainly includes the Eurasian Economic Union.

There are several stages of cooperation: memorandum, observer status, free trade and membership. We have taken the first step. We have signed a memorandum. We are ready to consider the possibility of signing a free trade agreement, of course. We have applied for observer status at the Eurasian Economic Commission and we reaffirm our position. I hope that when appropriate procedural regulations are adopted, this decision will be formalised because it was already approved in principle in Bishkek.

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

Mr Sargsyan, please.







Eurasian Economic Commission Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan:

Your Excellencies, colleagues,

We discussed our agenda at a restricted format meeting. It has been proposed that the topics we proposed for discussion in the expanded format be approved without a vote.

At the same time, we agreed that the next meeting of the Supreme Economic Council would be held next spring.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

Let us sign the approved documents.



(Documents are signed.)







Tigran Sargsyan:

Mr Putin, we have completed the signing procedure.



Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

I would like to thank all of you for the productive and substantive work. We have discussed nearly all subjects and considered all topics in the restricted format. I hope we will continue to work in the same spirit in the future as well.

I would like to wish the Commission and all our colleagues who are working within this format, that is, within the Eurasian Economic Union, to keep up this intensive work.

Russia will take over the chairmanship of the EAEU next year. I assure you that we will do everything in our power to boost the successful development of the EAEU.

Today Mr Nazarbayev proposed holding an unscheduled summit to discuss the development of digital technologies and the digital economy. We have supported this idea. We will coordinate the timeframe and the venue for this summit with Kazakhstan, and we will attend it gladly.



Nursultan Nazarbayev:

Mr Putin, we do not need to hold a summit to do this. It can be a digital technology forum. We can discuss these issues at the level of our economic experts.



Vladimir Putin:

All right, let us do it this way. Doing this at a working level will allow us to move forward in this vital area. Let us discuss this framework then and have this meeting.

Thank you once again.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55819






Press statement following CIS and SEEC summits



Following the meetings of the CIS Heads of State Council and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Vladimir Putin made a statement for the press.



October 11, 2017 - 19:00 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Allow me to briefly inform you about the results of our work today.

The Itinerary of today’s events in Sochi has been busy and substantive. The meetings of the CIS Heads of State Council and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council took place in a very constructive atmosphere. There was a detailed exchange of views on the entire range of cooperation within the framework of both integration associations, and concrete plans for the future were outlined.

During the CIS Heads of State Council meeting, we informed our partners about the results of Russia’s Commonwealth chairmanship this year. Following discussions in a restricted and expanded format, decisions were made on adapting the Commonwealth’s multilateral cooperation mechanisms to modern realities.

In particular, there will be a redistribution of authority between the Heads of State Council and the Heads of Government Council. Now the governments will deal with a broader range of issues while the leaders will not be weighed down with routine matters and will be able to concentrate on formulating strategies and key areas of the association’s development.

In addition, the CIS Executive Committee’s proposals on further streamlining the activity of the CIS Economic Council and the Foreign Ministers Council were approved. We agreed to extend Executive Committee Chairman and CIS Executive Secretary Mr Lebedev’s mandate by two more years. We hope that under his leadership, the Executive Committee will continue working efficiently to achieve the Commonwealth’s goals.

We discussed in detail with our partners how to use the potential of the CIS to increase trade and investment and expand industrial and technological cooperation.

We agreed to take further efforts to encourage trade, which has increased by 25 percent to reach $75 billion since the start of the year. To do this we should work more actively to harmonise norms and standards of the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Union and remove barriers to the free movement of goods and services.

Cultural cooperation has special significance for our countries. We have decided to continue the practice of holding thematic years in the CIS. The Year of the Family is coming to a close. Next year, 2018, will be the Year of Culture, and 2019 – the Year of Books. The year 2020 will be devoted to the 75th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In addition, we have chosen the next cultural capitals of the CIS – the Azerbaijani city of Gyandzha will be succeeded by the Armenian city of Goris. Then Brest will be the CIS cultural capital, followed by Kazakhstan’s Shymkent.

We have agreed to continue close coordination on foreign policy and security. The CIS states are together confronting the threat posed by the spread of terrorism and extremism, and intend to increase the exchange of information and experience between competent bodies, including in the effort to counter the laundering criminal proceeds.

With this aim in view, we have endorsed today the concept for cooperation in countering the financing of terrorism and the concept for combatting corruption, as well as a number of other important documents.

The CIS chairmanship will pass from Russia to Tajikistan on January 1, 2018. I am sure that our colleagues in Tajikistan will continue working effectively to develop diverse cooperation in the CIS. We sincerely wish them success and are naturally ready to help them in this work as much as we can.

At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, we exchanged views on the status and prospects of the Union’s development and noted the growing positive influence of integration processes on the economies of our countries. I am pleased to say that the leaders of all Union countries reaffirmed their interest in the continued comprehensive deepening of integration and supported the accelerated completion of domestic procedures to ratify the common Customs Code to make sure it comes into force on January 1, 2018.

We agreed to expand cooperation in the digital economy. To that end, the Council approved the main components of implementing the Union’s digital agenda until 2025. The Group of Five made the decision to develop an interstate programme for cooperation in outer space services and in integrating existing national systems of Earth remote sensing.

We invited our partners to make more active use of the resources of the Eurasian Development Bank and the Eurasian Fund for Stabilisation to finance joint industrial, agricultural and infrastructural projects. This will provide an additional boost to the diversification of national economies.

Of course, we did not fail to address issues related to the Union’s cooperation with other countries and integration associations. Priority in this area will be given to deepening our cooperation with CIS member states that are so far not members of the Eurasian Economic Union.

I would like to note that, as you could see, the Eurasian Economic Union’s expanded meeting was attended by a guest, President of Moldova Igor Dodon. It is noteworthy that all Union member countries support his aspiration to establish closer cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and Moldova. It may be recalled that the Eurasian Economic Commission has been entrusted with drafting a statute on Eurasian Economic Union observer countries.

According to the President of Moldova, the overwhelming majority of his country’s citizens take a positive view of his intention to expand relations with Eurasian Economic Union countries. But that is only natural, as the main market for Moldovan goods are, of course, Eurasian Economic Union countries, primarily Russia. For our part, we – I am talking about Russia now – will build our relations with Moldova based on the extent to which Moldova itself and the people of Moldova are ready to expand this cooperation.

It was noted at the meeting that the Eurasian Economic Union should continue to foster cooperation with potential partners among foreign countries. We will do all we can to facilitate this process.

In 2018, the chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union will pass to Russia. We intend to maintain the high pace of integration efforts that has been achieved and hope for closer cooperation with our Union partners.

As part of the CIS and SEEC summits, there were bilateral meetings, in particular with the Presidents of Tajikistan, Moldova, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. My colleagues and I had substantive discussions of key issues of the bilateral and regional agenda.

Overall, we are satisfied with the work that has been done. We believe that the results of today’s summits will help further deepen cooperation in the CIS and the EAEU.

Thank you for your attention.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55820
__________________
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 October 16th, 2017 #646
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting on agriculture development



In Voronezh, Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the development of agriculture.



October 13, 2017 - 14:40 - Voronezh









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today we have gathered in the Voronezh Region to discuss further development of Russia’s agriculture. First, I would like to note that the Voronezh Region is one of the absolute leaders in terms of agricultural growth. Its growth rate is impressive and stands at 9 percent for the past nine months. I do not think we will see such growth anywhere else.

Overall, the Voronezh Region is one of the top five regions and it is seeing impressive growth. Apart from crop production, livestock breeding and dairy production are on the rise. The region is number one for milk. Well done, congratulations.



Remark: (no microphone.)



Vladimir Putin:

Do you object? Are your figures higher?



Remark: (no microphone.)



Vladimir Putin:

It will, definitely, if you keep working as hard as before. Absolutely.

Therefore, I would like to thank all industry professionals and everybody who works in agriculture for their achievements this year.

Despite unfavourable weather conditions in some regions, we are expecting a good grain crop this year. Moreover, it promises to set a record in Russia’s history and reach almost 130 million tonnes. We have spoken about this repeatedly but I cannot help but mention this once again. Let me remind you that in 2016 we harvested 120.7 million tonnes but it was still lower than the 1978 harvest when the Russian SFSR produced 127.4 million tonnes.







We expect a good harvest of sugar beet and other vegetables, as well as oil-plants and other crops. In 2017, we hope to gather in 52 million tonnes of sugar beet, up from 51.4 million tonnes last year, and 16.4 million tonnes of other vegetables, up from 16.3 million tonnes. The increase in the harvest of other crops is comparable.

Livestock production continues to grow. It amounted to 4.4 percent in the first eight months of 2017.

Overall, we can report sustainable positive dynamics in agriculture. It has become a modern industry, an attractive investment destination and a growth driver of the national economy. I recall the debates we held in the early 2000s, when everyone said that agriculture is like a black hole and that any investment in it disappears without a trace or any result. The situation has changed radically since then. The average growth rate in agriculture in 2014–2016 was 3.6 percent.

Our producers have strengthened their positions on the domestic market and have also increased their export potential. According to the Federal Customs Service, the agricultural industry increased exports by 18.8 percent, to $10 billion, in the first seven months of the year.

Grains have been our staple export commodity so far. Importantly, the exports structure has become more diversified. Russia is actively increasing its exports of meat, sugar, and sunflower oil. Prospects are good for promoting deep processed products with high added value. This area is certainly one that we need to focus on.

It is likewise gratifying to note that, in our international dealings, we now have to devote considerable space to issues pertaining to promotion of our meat products on foreign markets. In particular, promoting pork, poultry, or grain, for that matter, is now a separate discussion item in our negotiations.

For example, 18 million tonnes of grain were exported in the first seven months of 2017 alone, which is 15.4 percent up from last year. However, there are other figures that are truly impressive. During the same period, sugar exports grew by 52 times, pork exports went up 83 percent, poultry 32 percent, and sunflower oil 34 percent.

Overall, we should continue to support exports, and to remove infrastructural and logistics barriers, in particular on the grain market. Exporting grain from many Russian regions is still economically unviable because of prohibitive transportation costs. We have discussed this with the Agriculture Minister, and I will talk about our proposals at the end of my remarks. Of course, these costs come from high transportation rates. I am aware that the Agriculture Ministry and the Government in general are working on this issue. Today, we will agree upon what should be done in this area, and how we should proceed.







I would like to focus particularly on veterinary safety, which is critical for human health, and the effective promotion of our products on the domestic and foreign markets.

Keeping tabs on the African swine fever should be one of our areas of focus. This is an important prerequisite for our producers’ credibility with Russian and foreign consumers alike.

We have achieved significant growth in many sectors of our agro-industrial complex due to import replacement. However, problems remain. Our dependence on foreign seeds and breeding stock is still high. Clearly, such a problem cannot be resolved overnight. It will take time, many years of study and research.

We need a clear action plan to focus our attention and apply our resources to the development of selection and genetic diversity in Russia. They constitute the basis of the national food security. The work to create a selection and genetic fund will proceed within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Programme of Agricultural Development for 2017–2025.

Increasing the output of products with of a high degree of processing is a major aspect of agricultural development, combined with the creation of new jobs, as well as additional income and taxes collected for the national budget.

Today we will discuss the development of agricultural cooperatives. On January 1, 2017, we had 5,839 agricultural cooperatives in the country. The best results in this area were reported in the Lipetsk and Tyumen regions and in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Cooperative farming allows small companies to increase production and receive assistance when it comes to farming equipment, tilling land and marketing produce.

Ultimately, this helps increase people’s incomes and improve living standards and is a major factor in enhancing employment, developing farmland and settling urgent social issues.







However, the level of involvement of small farms in agricultural cooperatives remains low. We would like to learn today about practical plans to improve the situation in this area.

Now I will get to the point, as we say in such situations. While congratulating ourselves on a rich or a record large harvest, we must be aware of the economic consequences of this. I hope we will talk about this in detail today. What I mean is that oversupply usually leads to a decline in prices. We should analyse this possibility.

Practical proposals have been formulated, and I discussed them with the Finance Minister and his deputy. I would like to remind you that I had instructed the Government to increase allocations to agriculture in addition to the approved budgetary spending of 20 billion rubles. The Government has augmented the 2018 budget, and these funds can be used to fulfil two tasks. First, we must continue to subsidise the interest rates on agricultural loans, and second, we need to subsidise the railway transportation of grain, so that grain holds competitive positions both on the domestic and foreign markets regardless of the region in which it was produced. As the Agriculture Minister said, and I hope he will repeat this in his report, this money will suffice for the fulfilment of these tasks.

I would like the Minister to speak about this in greater detail. Let us begin with his report.

Mr Tkachev, please.







Minister of Agriculture Alexander Tkachev:

Mr President, colleagues,

I would like to thank you on behalf of the farming and agriculture community for the support that you personally and the Government provide to us. Of course, the 20 billion that you had released to us, and which the Government supported, are a great help which we need. We can use this money to do a lot of good and right things all over our country.

The successes of the Voronezh Region are indeed impressive. People there are seriously involved in agriculture, you are right. However, I must say that Belgorod and Lipetsk are truly the flagships of our agricultural production. Many look up to them and learn from them. That region accounts for almost 40 percent of the pork produced in our country. Thanks to this support, primarily coming from the governors and businesses, and national investment projects, we have coped with the task of meeting our country’s need for pork. This is unprecedented. Moreover, we can now seriously think about exporting it to other countries.

We expect the agro-industrial complex to grow 2.5–3 percent by year end, primarily due to a record high grain harvest and livestock production growth rates remaining at about 4 percent.

The anticipated 130 million tonnes of grain are an absolute record not only for modern Russia but, as you said, Soviet Russia as well. You cited the example of 1978. Yes, indeed, it stood at 127 million tonnes. However, as you may be aware, the area of ​​winter crops and sown areas were twice as large. Today, we have 47 million hectares, and back then this figure was 78 million, and the yield today is twice as high. It is due to the yield and intensive technology that we practically reached the 1978 level, but I want to remind you that the area now is half that of what it was back then. That is, if we restore the acreage, then in 10, 20, maximum 30 years from now, Russia will harvest anywhere from 150 to 170 million tonnes of grain, and the issues related to export and removal of surplus grain from the market, which we are discussing now, will come to the forefront. So, we need to actively access the Asian, Eastern, and Western markets, which, in fact, we are already doing.

We are exporting to 140 countries today. To put this in perspective, we exported to 40 countries 10 years ago. The volume of food exports 10 years ago stood at 5 billion, last year 17 billion, this year 20 billion, and we do not plan to stop there. We export sugar, grains, vegetable oil, confectionery, and fish. You were correct when you said that our production of meat is up. We are still only taking the first steps. There are the Chinese, Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets, that is, a vast number of opportunities for doubling and tripling our exports and earning hard currency in the process.







We also had to deal with an emergency. Regrettably, 15 regions sustained damage for a total amount of about two billion rubles. We hope the Ministry of Finance will support us during the budget’s adjustment in the second reading in the State Duma in November and will introduce an amendment for reimbursing all damaged territories rather than only those that were insured. This was your instruction and we hope to carry it out together with the Ministry of Finance.

(The Minister went on to discuss grain prices in different regions of the country and ways of stimulating the industry.)

As for grain exports, I certainly want to quote these figures. We plan to sell abroad about 45 million tonnes. Let me recall that last year the figure was 35 million. So we are selling more grain.

We have a record harvest of sugar beet. We have produced 6.5 million tonnes of sugar and preserved our world leadership. We have surpassed Germany, the United States and France that always reigned on this market.

Today we fully supply our factories with raw materials and we have increased exports dozens of times over. This season the export potential of the industry was twice as high – up to 700,000 tonnes. Recently I visited Uzbekistan, Morocco and some other countries where we discussed potential sugar supplies.

At the same time, some of our partners in the EAEU, notably Kazakhstan and Belarus, bring in imported raw sugar duty-free for processing and engage in unfair competition in our market of end products. They are producing confectionery and sweet soft drinks, which certainly undermines the marginality of our sugar industry. Belarus and Kazakhstan bring raw sugar to their markets and this greatly affects our prices.

I would like to cite an example. If in July the price was about 40 rubles per kilo, today it is 23–25 rubles. It was almost cut in half. Of course, our EAEU partners, I believe, are engaging in unfair competition. They are bringing in raw sugar without paying duties and receive cheap sugar. They are selling it to us at lower prices while keeping higher prices on their domestic markets and as a result, our prices collapse. And our whole industry loses huge proceeds. Our losses run into tens of billions of rubles.

I am hoping we will address this issue at the October 25 meeting. I recently met with a number of ministers and hope they have heard me.

Vegetables are being harvested at a fairly fast pace, with over 2.5 million tonnes harvested so far. Greenhouse vegetable harvesting dynamics are likewise good. This year, we gathered 21 percent more vegetables, which is unprecedented growth. Of course, tomatoes and other produce show good numbers as well. Thanks to the investment programme and subsidies, we started building 50 greenhouse complexes, which translates into half a million tonnes of tomatoes. Four to five years from now, we will meet the demand in full and will start thinking about exports, which is also a very good niche. We anticipate that due to the construction of new greenhouses and more orchard starts, we will reach last year’s numbers. To meet the domestic demand for greenhouse vegetables in full, as I mentioned earlier, we need to build over 1,000 hectares of greenhouses. As a matter of fact, going at the current pace, we will achieve this goal.







We started the autumn work to get orchards and vineyards ready for the next season. In the spring, agricultural producers increased the acreage under new orchards by 24 percent, and vineyards by 50 percent. Next year, it is important to maintain the achieved pace of orchard starts, so that we can replace all imports, especially imports of apples, pears, and grapes, in five years. If the pace of subsidies and other forms of support remains the same, in five years we will also be selling apples, as the Poles did in their time, by building an enormous complex near Belarus. They created a production facility with refrigerators and processing, and, in fact, saturated the Russian market. They lived at our expense, and were getting rich in the process. Now we are engaged in this business. We will take over this initiative, and grab up other markets as well.

With regard to the good grain harvest and feed, livestock production is expanding dynamically, with pork production up almost 5 percent. That is, we keep increasing the production of poultry which is up almost 7 percent. We have also increased egg production by almost 4 percent and milk by 0.6 percent.

The situation with milk production is more complicated, because private subsidiary farms with their cows, which were traditionally run by rural folks, are leaving the market, and, for understandable demographic reasons, young people are unwilling to engage in it. So, if you take the milk economy structure in any European country, 40 percent of the milk is produced by farmers, and 60 percent comes from large agricultural producers. I think that we should strive to establish a similar model. We need to produce an additional 15 million tonnes of milk within the next 7 to 10 years in order to replace outgoing private farms and ensure growth. Today, the shortage runs at about 7 million tonnes.

Mr President, thank you very much for the support on ASF. The main thing is not to stop and we are resolved to continue. I would like to cite Germany as an example. This is a close, intelligible country. They export half of their pork. Say, Germany produces 5.5 million tonnes of pork a year and exports almost 3 million tonnes, primarily to China and Indonesia and some to Japan, Korea and so on. So we should by no means stop our pork production. We must increase it. A large complex is under construction in the Far East.



Vladimir Putin:

Indonesia is a Muslim country. They do not eat pork there.



Alexander Tkachev:

South Korea. The growth of production is a result of the increase in… It does not matter. They will eat it. (Laughter.)



Vladimir Putin:

They won’t.



Alexander Tkachev:

As for farmers, small businesses, they receive serious grant support. We are actively working on dairy cattle breeding and increasing cattle productivity. But we do not just provide grants. Owing to this year’s loans on easy terms, over 90 dairy farms for almost 100,000 cows will be built. This will be a significant increase in production. So, we will spend on the dairy industry alone about 66 billion rubles this year. We will also actively work on milk production at livestock farms.

You mentioned the issues of genetics and breeding and, naturally, we are also actively working on them. During the past two years the state has been reimbursing expenses to build breeding centres. The first ten centres and four breeding-and-genetics and breeding-and-seed-growing centres have already received support. This will allow us to cut imports of seeds almost in half by 2020. We will have up to 50 percent of domestic sugar beet seeds; up to 25 percent of corn and sunflower seeds; and up to 40 percent of seed potatoes.

In livestock production, our priority task is to reduce poultry imports where dependence is up to 80 percent. I am hoping that by 2025 we will be self-sufficient in poultry production.

The endorsed federal research-and-technical programme for the development of the agro-industrial complex is a consistent driver of growth here. To create a foundation for it we must establish a centre on the basis of the best agricultural universities.

In principle, universities have actively joined these efforts.







Active introduction of online vet certification will become a major impetus for the production of quality goods. It will reduce the share of fake products, rule out re-export and will help counter grey and banned goods. The Ministry of Agriculture has established an operational headquarters that is already working actively. This is not an easy process with a large number of participants. The task of the headquarters is to help participants in the market to smoothly and gradually transfer to online vet supporting documents. The monitoring of indicators is demonstrating positive dynamics: about 8 million online vet certificates were registered in August and 9 million in September. The Volga Region, Siberia and Trans-Urals are particularly active in this respect. Chelyabinsk, Kuban, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and Novosibirsk are also among the leaders. Regrettably, in some regions the authorities are doing nothing or even impeding the introduction of online certificates. But we are actively working and I would like to thank Mr Belousov and Mr Dvorkovich in your presence. I hope we will fulfil our tasks on time and these efforts will greatly improve the quality of food products.

The problems of grey imports concern not only the dairy market but also greenhouse vegetables and other agricultural products. According to expert estimates, supplies of banned products amount to 700,000 tonnes per year and are worth $700 million. According to Rosselkhoznadzor (Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) and the Federal Customs Service, about 25,000 tonnes of banned products have been destroyed since the introduction of counter measures in response to sanctions. I would like to thank you. We have largely built a barrier against poor quality banned goods. But, regrettably, attempts are still being made to bypass our posts via forest roads. We are ready to open our tomato market to Turkish partners. They are officially stating their intentions and would like to enter the Russian market on a small scale. We must work hard to prevent Turkish tomatoes from being smuggled into Russia through Belarus and Azerbaijan and from destroying all our efforts and investment in this branch.

I want to reiterate that after we banned imports of European and Turkish vegetables, exports from Belarus tripled, unfortunately. Just think of it, imports of potatoes from Belarus in 2016 stood at 40,000 tonnes. Today, they are three times higher at 120,000 tonnes. Today, imports of fresh vegetables amount to 231,000 tonnes compared to 109,000 tonnes earlier. Tomato imports grew by 50 percent, imports of cucumbers doubled, cabbage imports more than tripled and imports of carrots and beets are up by 40 percent. Is there anything that we need to discuss further? By the way, the Belarusian statistics authorities purposefully conceal these data to keep us in the dark. I am not sure why they are doing so, though. That is, we impose restrictions, and these products clearly make it to Russia through Belarus and other sanction-free countries. Clearly, Belarus is making money off it, probably earning windfall profits. I believe it is time to end this, because it destroys our domestic market. The message we are sending to businesses, such as go ahead build and invest, is, of course, highly inefficient.

This grey imports' channel must be shut down. We met with the FCS yesterday on behalf of Mr Dvorkovich. We must check every truck. If no phytosanitary or veterinary papers are available, such loads should be destroyed on the spot rather than sending the goods back (unfortunately, this is what we are doing now, because there are no corresponding regulations in place). If there are no proper papers, the truck should not be sent back. What they do is cross the bridge back to where they came from, and then go back to Russia using forest roads. That way, we will destroy another 70 percent of illegal imports meaning that those hapless smugglers will suffer losses, and, of course, forget the way to us.

Our current legislation including both the Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code do not provide grounds for bringing violators importing restricted items to justice. In fact, entrepreneurs are not afraid to do so. It is imperative to toughen administrative liability for importing restricted products, as well as to make provisions for seizing not only the produce, but trucks as well.

In addition, in accordance with your instruction on safe handling of pesticides and agrochemicals, it is necessary to authorise Rosselkhoznadzor to control the presence of pesticides and agrochemicals in domestic and imported produce. The draft law is pending approval by the Ministry of Economic Development and Rospotrebnadzor. We want Rosselkhoznadzor to be able to go directly to the areas where tomatoes, vegetables, potatoes, or meat are produced. Of course, things should be brought up to code in crop production as well.

Of course, it is necessary to expand the powers of Rosselkhoznadzor to control the activities of regional veterinary services. This will not only help effectively combat grey imports, but will also contribute to eliminating African swine fever which not only threatens domestic pig production, but also limits the export potential of this industry, at a time when the agro-industrial complex enjoys significant export potential. It is important to diversify production in terms of geography and commodity structure, as well as to bring aboard farmers and agricultural cooperatives. As part of the priority project for exporting agricultural products, we plan to begin to offset a portion of costs involved in transportation of agricultural products during export operations, and to expand this type of support to agricultural cooperatives.

Mr President, with regard to promoting agricultural cooperation, agricultural cooperatives have been receiving, since 2005, grants for developing their material and technical base so that farmers could chip in and buy equipment for supporting, processing and marketing products. This year, the number of regions participating in the cooperative support programme has increased by 50 percent. The amount of support has doubled to almost 2 billion rubles. By the end of the year, the average grant for a cooperative will have increased by 60 percent to 12 million rubles. Over 740 new cooperatives were created in the first 8 months of this year.

Indeed, as you have noted, agricultural cooperation has been particularly successful in the Lipetsk Region, which is in first place nationwide. I have already said that we bring delegations here to learn from their experience. We have full support of the small and medium-sized business corporation. As a result, as early as this year ten regions are launching their own programmes of agricultural cooperation support based on what they saw in Lipetsk.

Easy-term loans are also a support for farmers. As you have already told us, we are launching a new mechanism of easy-tern loans in the agricultural complex with an interest rate under 5 percent. Conditions for borrowers were made easier – competition among 100 authorised banks makes the interest rate go down. Small businesses have taken out 50 billion rubles worth of loans. We have established a rule at the federal level that at least 10 percent of the total amount of subsidies must go to easy-term loans for small businesses.







Moreover, next year 72 billion rubles will be approved for loans taken out to finance agricultural produce processing. Commercial loans worth 115 billion will be taken out to purchase agricultural equipment and machines. Let me stress that these are subsidised loans.

This comes down to 700 billion worth of easy-term loans approved this year with 500 billion of investment loans and 200 short-term loans. This is unprecedented: for the first time in the agency’s history we have managed to meet all the requests received from agricultural producers, especially for investment loans. Yes, this will require around 100 billion rubles for servicing. That is, the federal budget carries huge losses; nevertheless, we are aware that this paves the way for new plants, factories and manufacturing facilities that are high-tech, competitive and so on.

In order to preserve the pace of positive processes that have emerged in the industry, its government support in 2018 will remain in the same amount of 242 billion rubles.

I would like to express our gratitude once again, Mr President. Those additional 20 billion for agriculture – they deserve special words of appreciation from agricultural workers.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you, Mr Tkachev.

I would like to single out a couple of issues. First, we are talking about continuing the subsidies of both Russian Railways shipments and interest rates on bank loans out of those additional 20 billion. There is another component I want to draw your attention to. You saw that yesterday some of the colleagues present here and I met with German business leaders. Some of them consider themselves, and quite legitimately so, to be Russian producers because in agricultural equipment production, say, they reached the level of domestic manufacturing required from them by the Russian Government. They have posed a question on behalf of all Russian agricultural producers regarding the extension of subsidies on agricultural equipment. Mr Dvorkovich proposed 2 billion out of those 20, and I think this is the right thing to do, just for your information. We know that these subsidies are not at your Ministry, they are handled by the Ministry of Industry, but to avoid inconsistency, this is also an agricultural sector, also needed for agricultural production, so let us keep it in mind. This is the first point. Thank you very much.

Now the second point, regarding selection and genetics. The programme I mentioned earlier covers both seeds and genetics, but why is it scheduled until 2025? Why so long?



Alexander Tkachev:

We are going to sort out this problem before 2020 in plant growing whereas poultry farming involves hatching eggs, so it is a longer-term and more complicated process and we are doing it step by step. Unfortunately, we have a tough job on our hands, and there is no other way.



Vladimir Putin:

Did you make any estimates?



Alexander Tkachev:

We did. We cannot make it quicker technology-wise.



Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich:

We will be able to do it with potatoes and sugar beet, which is critically important, whereas poultry and pig farming require much more time.



Vladimir Putin:

All right.

Concerning those “grey” or “black” imports from the countries that fall under sanctions: the most efficient way is expanding the application of electronic certificates. Unfortunately, very few of them are registered today, just 9 million electronic certificates per month whereas we need 300 million. Two tasks or two questions arise. First, we must have the capacity taking into account that this is a federal system. This should be taken care of beforehand. And preventive steps must be taken now so as not to face the situation when volumes are growing while the system cannot cope with them. The second component is a regional one. I would like to address heads of Russian regions – a great deal depends on you here and a large part of work is imposed on you. Meanwhile, in some regions this work is being done whereas in others it is almost absent. I would like you to pay attention to this problem and expedite its resolution.

And now Mr Korolev of the Lipetsk Region, please, go ahead.



Lipetsk Region Governor Oleg Korolev:

Mr President, colleagues,

To be honest with you, it is difficult for me to speak here today for one reason – I used to be a head of a collective farm. As a former collective farm head who grew up in the toughest conditions and lived, together with our colleagues, through the troubled times before 2000, I could never have imagined how much all of Russia and our Lipetsk Region have achieved. I could not have even imagined it. And I keep on thinking how it happened that starting in 2000 people gained hope, which later turned into conviction. And we made it. I have an answer, and I will be so bold as to word it.

The point is that you, Mr President, helped farming not so much as an economic sector – with funding, economically – as you helped it as a way of life, as an area of life which, together with forestry, occupies 85 percent of the Russian territory, and it is improving it. We can build several cities but Russia would be squalid without agriculture. And starting in 2000 it became possible to put so much soul into it and to prop up this way of life and all the branches of the economy.

Friends, Mr Tkachev, you were right in everything you said, but apart from what you rightly noted, we have to say how much has been done for the people – hospitals, rural medical assistance centres, access to natural gas all across the country, roads, improvements, the rural way of life as a whole. It is this comprehensive solution that allowed for the achievements you spoke about.

I will just cite a few figures illustrating what has been done since 2000, using the Lipetsk Region as an example. I am not going to speak about the 300-billion ruble investments, I will just say that since 2000 grain and pulse harvests have tripled, the output of sugar beet rose five-fold instead of just doubling, oil-plant crops grew 13-fold, potatoes tripled, cattle and poultry production grew four-fold, sugar production – six-fold, and vegetable oil – 30-fold.







Today we can confidently report that by backing the import replacement target you set, we will complete by 2020 the greenhouse vegetable growing complex that will let us increase production volumes of high-quality fifth-generation vegetables by 30 times. Friends, the fifth generation is when the greenhouse master is the hornet and an entomologist as an insect specialist, not someone who sprays everything endlessly. And even if someone from Turkey or Poland will want to come back to our market, it won’t be easy for them, because people will get to know the real taste of our Russian, high-quality, non-carcinogenic, non-allergenic products. Let me emphasise that whole complexes have undergone special development.

Mr President, a coin has obverse heads side but it also has a tails side. The point is that high technologies triggered a sharp increase in labour productivity. This is very good. Yet it also means that many jobs become redundant.

When I managed a collective farm, I had 1,500 tractor drivers, mechanics and animal farm workers, whereas now my former collective farm has only 28 workers. Cows are milked by a robot while 28 people operate wide-coverage equipment. How can the others survive? And experience prompted us to take up something that will be a reliable guarantee for people’s support and development. We felt that such a guarantee, along with our comprehensive measures, should be agricultural cooperation based on simple principles that will be clear for ordinary farmers. Voluntary participation, joint efforts, equal opportunities for managing and distributing revenue. As they say, cooperation means profit for everyone. It allows us to preserve human potential, enhance it, improve the quality of life, and make sure that people can have a stable supplementary income, and not a small one, an income sufficient for living.

Confidence in the viability of agricultural cooperation stems from the following simple arguments. Agricultural cooperation engages the currently idle human and land resources.

Friends, even in our region, which has high-intensity agriculture, private land – and it makes up almost 50,000 hectares of black soil – is used inefficiently. Our grannies have grown old whereas young people, as they say, do not want to bust their hump for the middleman: “If there were a system, we would do it.” And such a system has been set up now. Thus, agricultural cooperation helps to involve additional resources: human resources, land and others.

Next. This is assisted by the capacity of the agricultural market, which has not yet been filled and where demand for organic produce is skyrocketing. And organic produce is basically produced by small farms and cooperatives.

Friends, the state has only one priority – ensuring social peace. And cooperation is a powerful method and a way to ensure employment, which allows us to achieve this goal. It is a solution of the employment problems, an additional gross product and an enormous resource for the gross domestic product growth. We estimate that if cooperation takes its worthy place in the whole of Russia, it will mean a 30 percent GDP growth. In a word, it means a wealth of opportunities.

The trust of the rural population towards cooperation is growing and the process is gaining momentum. In our region alone there are over 900 agricultural cooperatives. They already incorporate over 50 percent of private farm holdings. Everyone will join before the spring of 2018 as everyone has realised its benefits.

Thanks to cooperation we have managed to raise the efficiency of our land resources. Cooperatives today purchase six billion rubles worth of farm products. Friends, let me translate it for myself into Russian: those are six billion rubles that go to those grandmothers and grandfathers, the people who kept their commitment to the countryside and did not abandon it. Also, cooperatives produce over 5 billion rubles worth of organic farm products. I can give many such examples.

Cooperatives are not alone in selling their products: there are retail chains springing up, and online trade is growing in popularity, such as the Koop48.rf site, where 48 is the region’s designation. I browsed through it, and large city residents, Muscovites are always online. These products are going today to Moscow, to the nearest large cities, and to the local residents directly, bypassing retail margins and therefore at a lower cost for the cooperatives and at lower prices for consumers.

I would like to underscore one example, Mr President. As you are aware, three quarters of consumer cooperatives funding comes from the cooperatives themselves via credit cooperatives. All our elderly men and women who had put their money in jars and buried them under their apple trees, have taken that money back when they learnt about credit cooperatives and have given out 6 billion rubles worth of loans thanks to affordable credit cooperatives which are developing now. It looks like a perpetuum mobile: they credit themselves, and they do not have problems with loans when there is a credit cooperative system.







Cooperatives are certainly given every support and help. We have a three-level system, good assistance comes from the federal authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Small and Medium-Sized Business Corporation, a number of other agencies, and I would like to thank you for that. However, Mr President, the current legislation offers a basis for developing cooperation but some of the legislative acts must be reviewed. I am confident that we will achieve sound and comprehensive federal legislation on cooperation within two years. We will realise the need to improve the targeted federal programme for cooperation support.

Mr President, you received me two years ago and I had the opportunity to report to you on the possibility of a pilot project on cooperation development. You supported the initiative and told Mr Belousov to look into it. Mr Belousov got the Ministry of Agriculture, Small and Medium-Sized Business Corporation, and other government agencies engaged in the project. And in the past two years we have done what I partly said about already – we have trained 19 Russian regions using the Lipetsk Region’s experience.

In short, agricultural cooperation as a method of social provision of employment offering benefits for all has achieved success. It deserves to be one of Russia’s national priorities.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

Mr Korolev, you were right to highlight the positive shifts, of course. They are tangible and evident in agriculture. This is what the achievements of the agricultural complex in the past years show. That is obvious. But in terms of many indicators, unfortunately, the situation is far from what we could consider good.

As for the road network (I have cited the data recently), 80 percent of federal roads are at the level required by the standards, I believe. The figure for regional roads is lower, and municipal roads, which also include rural roads, are still in very poor condition. I am not saying that their state was better in the Soviet time, maybe it was even worse, I do not remember, but today’s situation in this sphere, in rural areas, definitely requires our close attention and must be rectified.

The same applies to the number of beds in rural medical assistance centres and hospitals, even district ones. There are about 100 beds per 10,000 people in a city, and in a rural area there are only 40 beds per 10,000 people. This is the difference. As a result, life expectancy nationwide is 72.5 years, and in rural areas it is 70.5. That may not seem to be a big difference but it is there nevertheless.

The same goes for income levels. I am not even talking about the number of cultural facilities per person or per 1,000 people, or 10,000 people. Their number in rural areas is much lower, without any doubt. We see the same with the level of incomes. That is why here, in social sphere, we have a lot of work to do together.

But as for the developments in rural areas’ economy, they are certainly very encouraging, because if the rural economy produces such good results, then these are clearly the pre-requisites for developing the social sphere as well. We just must not forget that this has to be done on a mandatory basis. We must devote attention to this area both on the regional and the federal levels.

<…>





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55830
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #647
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Section of federal road opened in Leningrad Region



During his working trip to St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin took part in the launch of a reconstructed road section in Gatchina, Leningrad Region.



October 14, 2017 - 19:30 - St Petersburg







The President received information on the progress made in implementing the project, had a brief conversation with the workers and congratulated them on the upcoming Road Workers’ Day.













In addition, Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov and Head of the Federal Road Agency Roman Starovoit reported to the President on the situation with road construction in the northwest of the country, Krasnodar Territory and Crimea.













The modernised section of the federal highway R-23 (former M-20), St Petersburg – Pskov – Pustoshka – Nevel, will ensure a better transport connection of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region with the Republic of Belarus and the Baltic countries.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55837






Message of greeting to present and retired road workers of Russia



The President congratulated present and retired road workers of Russia on their professional holiday.



October 15, 2017 - 09:00



The President’s message reads, in part:

“Roads are an important and inalienable part of the country’s united transport system, and trouble-free transportation between cities and regions, quality of life, sustainable development and competitiveness of the national economy all largely depend on them.

Road network improvement and modernisation are among our strategic priorities. It is encouraging that road construction and maintenance organisations have enlarged their fleet with advanced specialised equipment and mechanics, which allow for considerably faster repairs of existing and the construction of new motorways.

Designers are busy creating reliable logistical schemes, interchanges and structures, convenient for both pedestrians and the flow of traffic. New high-speed motorways are being commissioned, which meet increased safety standards and have an extended lifespan, while projects tasked with building international transport corridors are currently underway.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55848






Greetings to Diamond Fund present and former staff



Vladimir Putin congratulated present and former staff of the Diamond Fund on the 50th anniversary of the exhibition.



October 15, 2017 - 10:00



The President’s message reads, in part:

“The exhibition, unveiled in the Moscow Kremlin in 1967, has become one of the world’s largest collections of unique precious metals and gems as well as jewelry masterpieces.

During all these years guests from Russia and foreign countries have admired and been delighted by our national treasures, each being of tremendous historical, artistic and scientific value.

This success can undoubtedly be credited to the many generations of the staff of the exhibition’s and the State Depository for Precious Metals, who have preserved the Fatherland’s richest cultural heritage, paying unfailing attention to considerable research and educational work, sincerely caring for the continuation of Russia’s legendary jewelry traditions for which our country is rightly famous.

I am confident that your high professional qualities and unwavering commitment to your job will allow you to continue your fruitful work for the good of Russia.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55847






Greetings to Dmitri Hvorostovsky



Vladimir Putin wished opera singer and People’s Artist of Russia Dmitri Hvorostovsky a happy birthday.



October 16, 2017 - 10:30







The message reads, in part:

“Allow me to warmly greet you on your birthday and express my sincere admiration for your talent, will and stamina.

Your brilliant and generous gift, incredible commitment and limitless respect for your audience allowed you to achieve the heights of virtuosity, to earn fame as one of the outstanding baritones of our time and to win the recognition and love of music connoisseurs all over the world. And, of course, here in Russia, your homeland, we have very special warm feelings for you.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55862






Meeting with Kursk Region Governor Alexander Mikhailov



Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Kursk Region Governor Alexander Mikhailov to discuss the regional socioeconomic situation, including that in the industrial and agro-industrial sectors, as well as in healthcare and education. Special consideration was given to efforts to reduce the regional budget’s numerous debts.



October 16, 2017 - 14:15 - Sochi







According to the Governor, the gross regional product has soared 2.2-fold since 2001–2002, with fixed-capital investment volumes increasing 3.5-fold since the early 2000s. The industry has been posting a 3–5 percent annual growth over the last 12 years. The region implements innovation and import substitution projects. In all, 41 industrial innovation projects are currently being implemented. The region is building the Kursk-2 reserve nuclear power station.







The agro-industrial sector grew by 12.1 percent last year on 2015 and has posted a 6.5 percent growth between January and August of 2017 on the same period of 2016. The region ranks among the six best Russian regions in terms of volumes of grain production and is the second-largest meat producer nationwide. This year, the region will harvest over five million tonnes of beets and between 500,000 and 520,000 tonnes of sugar beet. The region is ready to export agricultural produce including the plant-growing sector.







Regarding the social sector, the region implemented a programme for the sustained development of rural areas accounting for 35 percent of its population. The number of villages with 1,000 residents and more has increased. This means that such villages now have schools, good roads, power stations, plus cultural and healthcare facilities. The region has a proactive farming sector, with 1,340 farms posting an impressive and sustained performance.







Speaking on the subject of the social sector, the Governor underscored that the region would achieve parameters stipulated by the President’s May 2012 Executive Orders before the year is out.

They also discussed in great detail the consequences for Kursk Region of a proposed programme to support regional finances, linked with the need to reduce the massive debts of regional budgets. Mr. Mikhailov noted cooperation with the Ministry of Finance on this issue and the efforts to replace commercial loans with budget loans that carry lower interest rates.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55849






Greetings on the opening of the Third Russian Eco Week



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants and guests of the Third Russian Eco Week.



October 18, 2017 - 11:00



The message reads, in part:

“This enlightening and multifaceted project is designed to promote environmental awareness and the values of a responsible and caring attitude towards nature and Russia’s unique natural resources. These issues acquired special significance this year, which has been declared the Year of the Environment in Russia.

I hope that the week’s business and cultural programme, educational events and exhibitions will draw public attention to environmental issues, promote the idea of applying green technology, as well as boost the system-wide implementation of environmental and nature conservation initiatives and attract young people to them.

Of course, it is very important that these initiatives make full use of the creative potential of public organisations, government agencies, business and the media.”

The Third Russian Eco Week is being held in Moscow on October 18–22.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55867






Greetings on 75th anniversary of St Petersburg's Komissarzhevskaya Theatre



Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the company of St Petersburg's Komissarzhevskaya Academic Drama Theatre on its 75th anniversary.



October 18, 2017 - 17:30



The message reads, in part:

”Founded in the harsh year of 1942, the theatre has become a legendary symbol of perseverance and invincible will of the besieged Leningrad and an example of the art community’s selfless service to enduring humanistic values and ideals.

Today, thanks to a talented team of like-minded people and their caring attitude to the artistic traditions started by their predecessors and lasting attention to the classic and modern repertoire stage productions, the theatre is evolving and delighting its fans with exciting and fascinating premieres.“





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55876






Greetings on the opening of the 10th Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants and guests of the 10th Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona.



October 19, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“Over a period of 10 years since its establishment, the Eurasian Economic Forum has proved its worth and has earned international respect. It gathers prominent politicians, diplomats, business and public leaders, journalists, as well as members of the expert community from dozens of countries.

This year, the Forum’s agenda is especially rich and diverse. You will discuss cooperation prospects of the continent’s leading integration associations, namely the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as current issues of multilateral cooperation in energy, finance, transport, infrastructure, science, technology and the environment.

I hope that the proposals and initiatives you develop at the forum will be implemented in practice to promote broader use of the unique potential of Eurasian integration and the implementation of the idea of a common economic and humanitarian space from Lisbon to Vladivostok.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55875






Meeting with Head of Kabardino-Balkaria Yury Kokov



Vladimir Putin met with Head of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Yury Kokov to discuss the socioeconomic situation and other regional matters, including an emergency relief programme for Kabardino-Balkaria.



October 20, 2017 - 14:20 - Sochi







Yury Kokov reported on the steady economic growth in the republic over the past three years and the implementation of the May 2012 Presidential Executive Orders, including the provision of kindergarten capacity for children between 3 and 7.







The crime rate is decreasing in Kabardino-Balkaria. The republic is working with federal security and law enforcement services within the National Anti-Terrorism Committee to fight terrorism and extremism.










The Head of Kabardino-Balkaria also updated the President on the implementation of his orders to develop measures to protect the people against emergencies, such as the mudslides that hit the republic in August and September 2017. The republic’s authorities are working with ministries and agencies on this. They have received substantial assistance from the High-Mountain Geophysical Institute of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet). Relevant proposals have been drafted and coordinated with the Government and all the concerned agencies. Yury Kokov also asked the President to support the proposal to add a subprogramme on emergency relief for Kabardino-Balkaria to the state emergency relief Programme.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55884
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #648
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Opening of Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly



Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Before the Assembly the President met with members of the IPU Executive Committee.



October 14, 2017 - 19:50 - St Petersburg







The President of Russia awarded the Order of Friendship to IPU President Saber Chowdhury. The Order was presented for a major contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary ties, consolidation of cooperation and mutual understanding between the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Speakers of the upper and the lower houses of the Russian Parliament Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin also took part in the ceremony for presenting the decoration.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest international parliamentary organisation: it was founded in 1889 and unites parliamentarians from 173 countries and 11 inter-parliamentary organisations.

The IPU promotes the development of parliamentarism, respect for human rights, inter-ethnic peace building and ensuring international security.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, friends,

I am sincerely glad to welcome you to Russia. We are greatly honoured to host the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union – the oldest international parliamentary organisation – here in Russia, at our home.

I would like to stress that this forum gathered the biggest number of people in the Union’s 128-year history: more than 160 delegations, with 96 speakers among them, and 2,400 participants.

The agenda is very rich as well. You will discuss such relevant topics as protection of human rights and freedoms, the fight against terrorism, sustainable global development, and the role of women and young people in politics and economy. I am aware that the work has already started, in fact.

It is symbolic that your meeting takes place in St Petersburg. It was here, in this city, that the first Russian parliament – the State Duma – started its work at the beginning of last century; where parliamentary traditions, law-making practice and parliamentary culture were formed.

This legacy, historical lessons are important for us today too as well as the experience of our foreign colleagues in law-making, party building, your experience, ladies and gentlemen, friends.

In contemporary Russia, the parliament’s high status and key powers are stipulated in the fundamental law – the Constitution, which will mark its 25th anniversary next year. At the same time, we will gradually move towards developing democratic, representative institutions of power and enhancing the legislative branch’s authority and importance.

Friends, all over the world, parliaments express the will of the people and in doing so play a landmark, substantial, sometimes a leading role in devising national development models and, of course, in searching for efficient answers to modern challenges and threats that are common to all of us.

I believe one of such threats is the erosion of the system of international law and the culture of inter-state dialogue. Unfortunately, this is true, this is today’s practice. Like nobody else, you know the value of the law, dialogue and free discussion, as these are the fundamentals of parliamentary work.

This is why, against the current backdrop, parliamentary diplomacy is in such high demand, as it can consolidate trust between states and nations and help find compromise solutions to pressing international and regional problems.

Unfortunately, we are seeing increasingly active attempts to limit direct contacts and communication among law-makers. I am referring to the practice of imposing discriminatory limitations and sanctions, often extending to parliamentarians as well.

We consider such practice unacceptable, harmful and misguided. It is even more counter-productive when rights of entire delegations are infringed upon as part of inter-parliamentary institutions – this happens, unfortunately, too.

In our opinion, this contradicts the principle of free inter-parliamentary cooperation, the sovereign right of each state to express and stand for its point of view in a civilised and open manner.

There are no and can be no unified, template development models in the modern world. Each state has a natural and undisputable right to shape its destiny as stipulated in the UN Charter. Attempts to interfere in the lives of sovereign countries, without understanding or taking into account their national specifics, brings nothing but chaos.

Such ill-considered external interference resulted in the destabilisation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, escalation of tensions in this region, and growth of the terrorist threat.

We are convinced that terrorism should be fought without double standards, without hidden agendas, without using radicals in anyone else’s political interests, and of course this should be done only by joining efforts, only in cooperation. Russia has repeatedly urged others to create a wide international coalition to this end and still believes that building a real partnership to fight terror is critically important.







You are aware of the efforts our country undertakes to stabilise the military and political situation in Syria. In two years, the area under the control of terrorists has halved, a number of large cities have been liberated, and substantial damage has been dealt to terrorists’ infrastructure.

I would like to stress: in Syria, we act in coordination with the country’s government and strictly in compliance with international law.

Recently, agreements were concluded in the Astana format in Kazakhstan creating four de-escalation zones in Syria. These agreements were reached with the participation of guarantor countries – Russia, Iran and Turkey and with the support of very many other states.

These agreements lay the groundwork for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254 based on a direct dialogue between the government and the opposition, uniting their efforts in the interest of the quickest possible eradication of this hotbed of terrorism, and establishment of peace and preservation of Syria’s unity.

I believe it is time for the international community to think about post-war restoration of the state. In what forms and volumes must aid be rendered to this and other countries in the region, how can we contribute to their socioeconomic development more efficiently, to the consolidation of state institutions, including the legislative branch.

I am sure you will agree that such tasks are worth being discussed at the parliamentary and inter-parliamentary levels.

Colleagues, it is in our shared interest to promote a peaceful, creative and balanced agenda, to aspire to reduce strife, prevent the emergence of new separating lines, including ethnic and religious ones, jointly move towards shaping a more just and solid architecture of international relations.

I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of parliamentarians share this approach.

I wish success and all the best to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its participants.

Thank you for your attention, ladies and gentlemen. I declare the Assembly’s 137th session open.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55838






Meeting with Rosseti CEO Pavel Livinsky



Vladimir Putin met with Pavel Livinsky, CEO of the national grid company Rosseti.



October 17, 2017 - 14:50 - Sochi







The discussion focused on the company’s operation and readiness for the autumn and winter season.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Livinsky, you have worked in this capacity for a month. I hope you had enough time to get up to speed. Rosseti is a large, if not a huge, company. Its subsidiaries distribute 80 percent of electricity generated in Russia. Overall, I believe the company’s financial standing is satisfactory. What is your net profit, 98 billion rubles?



Rosseti CEO Pavel Livinsky:

Yes, Mr President, our target for 2017 is 98 billion rubles.



Vladimir Putin:

How much do you plan to spend on maintenance and business development?



Pavel Livinsky:

Mr President, considering that our planned revenue is nearly 900 billion rubles, we plan to invest some 251 billion. These are huge figures even on the national scale. We have allocated nearly 60 billion rubles for maintenance. Taken together, these plans are necessary for maintaining the sustainable operation of power grids.



Vladimir Putin:

What do you think of these financial possibilities? How do you plan to develop your company’s economy?

We will talk about the company’s specifics, and you will also tell me about preparations for the winter season and other issues.







Pavel Livinsky:

Mr President, the top priority for me is to develop a reasonable pricing policy. Rosseti is a socially oriented company, which lives on the money paid by electricity users. Therefore, the rates must be fair and predictable. We are planning all our finances based on an inflation index of minus 0.1 percent, to stimulate innovation-based company development. Therefore, our top priority is to reduce costs, which is an area with potential.

In general, if we compare, the Russian economy’s energy intensity is 50 percent higher than in European countries, for example. This certainly means we have good potential.

As for costs, capital intensity, and availability of personnel, after studying the issue thoroughly, I believe that there are resources for optimisation.

Therefore, the main emphasis should be on innovative development for cutting costs. This includes smart grids and digital substations with maintenance costs half of those for conventional substations.

This should be combined with other efforts that directly affect the economy – reducing losses and fighting non-payments. The fewer arrears we have, the less we borrow. The loan burden, which needs to be serviced, is also a major encumbrance we plan to reduce.

All these measures taken together, I believe, will improve the financial and economic situation.







Vladimir Putin:

And now let us move on to the issue of winter.



Pavel Livinsky:

Regarding preparations for the winter. Mr President, I think our main task for today is smooth operation during the autumn and winter. In general, the grid system is ready for this; half of our units already have their readiness certificates.

Some regions are already operating in the autumn-winter mode; others still have time to prepare. To date, headquarters have been set up in all the regions where our company has a presence; the facilities and personnel have been appraised and certified, emergency stocks and reserve energy sources prepared. As many as 50,000 people are on operational duty for potential emergency relief, or more than 10,000 teams. Approximately 5,000 backup energy sources with a total capacity of 400 megawatts have been tested and ready for operation. This is quite a lot. The grid system is ready to work through the autumn and winter.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55863
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #649
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

19th World Festival of Youth and Students opening ceremony



Vladimir Putin took part in the opening ceremony of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students at the Bolshoi Ice Dome in Sochi.



October 15, 2017 - 18:30 - Sochi







Russia is hosting the festival for the third time. This year, the main events will take part in Sochi’s Olympic Park and will bring together around 20,000 young people from more than 180 countries – the best representatives of the student community who achieved success in science, art, sports and politics. The festival offers comprehensive programmes in science, education, culture and sports.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Friends,

Let me welcome you all at the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students, a forum of the planet's youth, the most comprehensive one in its history.

Some 30,000 participants, guests and volunteers from more than 180 countries across all continents have gathered here in Sochi. Here we also have young people from all across the vastness of Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.







The first festival took place seven decades ago. Back then, young men and women just like you were united by the power of dreams and the belief that young people and their sincerity and kindness can break the ice of distrust and help rid the planet of injustice, wars and conflicts.










Back then, young adults of your age achieved a lot. They proved that barriers have no power against true friendship and that the warmth of human contact does not yield to political, ethnic, religious, cultural or any other differences.










Our country is proud to have hosted this world youth festival twice. In 1957, the 6th festival was warmly greeted by all the people of Moscow. In 1985, Muscovites gathered on the city’s streets and building rooftops to cordially welcome the guests of the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students. Now you can experience the hospitality and openness of the sports capital of Russia, the city of Sochi.










Sochi is a city of Olympic brotherhood and hope. Five rings, just like the five Festival chamomile petals, have become a symbol signifying the solidarity of all the earth’s continents.










I am certain that young people of all countries, nationalities and faiths are united by common feelings and values, by their yearning for freedom, and their hope to achieve happiness, peace and accord on our planet. By a desire to create and achieve greater things. And we will make every effort to ensure you achieve success.










The energy and talent of young adults possess astonishing power. Younger generations always bring innovative ideas to the world. You strive to try new things, engage in debate and display your ability to disagree with the status quo and how things are done.










Be bold. Create your own future. Strive to change the world and make it a better place. It is all in your hands. Just be sure to never look back. Meanwhile, the festival brotherhood will certainly help you bring your boldest and best dreams and plans to life.

I declare the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students open.

I wish you a happy journey!





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55841






Meeting with participants of 19th World Festival of Youth and Students



Following the opening ceremony of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students, Vladimir Putin met with festival participants – students and young specialists from Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Jamaica, the United States, India and Zimbabwe.



October 15, 2017 - 20:15 - Sochi









Moderator Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Mr Putin, good evening. Starting today, we can consider our World Festival of Youth and Students open. As we speak, Sochi is welcoming over 30,000 young people from 188 countries, all with their own unique history, projects, ideas and expectations. I think everyone present here will share this with us today. Mr Putin, the floor is yours.



President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Let me begin by welcoming all of you.

I have already seen some of you on stage today. Each of you has had an interesting life. Even though you are young, you have already achieved something in life as you have shown your worth, conducted yourself with dignity, benefiting both yourselves and the people around you. This is how it always goes: when you live and work for the benefit of others it always pays off in spades, as they say; this approach will always benefit you, stimulate, help you develop and make you more successful and evolve as an individual, and will open many doors for you.

First, I would to welcome you and express my hope that you will like it here in Sochi, in Russia; I hope you meet interesting people just like you and learn how they live and what they strive for and what they can offer, so that you can compare their experiences with your own abilities and plans. I would very much like it if you were to receive fresh ideas in this connection, which would inspire you to move forward.

I want to thank you for coming here and to express my hope that this event will leave you enriched with additional knowledge and experiences, including an opportunity for you to experience Russia firsthand.

Our country is very wealthy, I mean primarily in terms of its culture, religion and traditions. We do not even know the exact number of ethnic groups living in our country – some say there are 160, others say 190. This is a true melting pot of cultures, history and religions, as all these people live together in a single country. There are many countries that have people of different ethnicities and languages, and we have representatives of such countries here today. Russia may not seem unique in this regard – but it is unique because our country has always been highly tolerant of other cultures, languages and faiths. It began its path as a multi-ethnic country and its underlying foundation has always been respect for its neighbours, for other nations, ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions. This has always been a fundamental part of the development of the Russian state.

It would be a great pleasure for me were you to feel this special atmosphere in Russia during your visit and then take these emotions back with you, and not just to keep, but also to maintain these new contacts and ties, which, I am sure, will be beneficial to you as you advance and progress further – not in your personal development, as I think you are accomplished individuals already, but in achieving new milestones and reaching new heights.







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you very much.

As this meeting’s moderator, I would like to give the floor to Afroz Shah, a young lawyer and environmentalist from India. Afroz, please.



Afroz Shah:

Very good evening to you, President Putin.

It is a pleasure and an honour to meet you. I work in a sector, which is long forgotten in my country, picking up garbage from the ocean.

Mr President, we are all aware that marine litter is like a big problem. I needed to react to it. And I did not know how to react because I work as a lawyer in a court in India. We have seen laws in motion, policies in motion, regulations in motion. And I as a lawyer felt there are too many of them. What was required was ground action. And there seemed to be too few activists in my country. So I said I am going to use my two hands as my best tools. What a policy would tell you to do or what a law would tell you to do or what a court order would tell you to do I started doing before the court.

And I came to understand that if young people or people on the ground start to take care of the ocean as they should we will have a better and healthier ocean. What we do when we want to participate in a democracy is we do two things: we vote and we pay our taxes. And after that we wait for our governments to react. We want the government to react, saying that protection of the environment is the job of the government or a court. But I think otherwise. We have litter and I am responsible for it. The state of this planet is my doing.

And I am a firm believer in what the great leader Mahatma Gandhi said. He was very clear: you do not need an NGO; you do not need a bank account. You can be the change yourself. This is how it should be, from bottom to top. It is an illusion to wait for policies to come, for regulations and laws to take effect. The laws, policies and regulations are supplement. They help to push the masses. But those who throw plastic into the ocean must be fully responsible for the protection of the environment. And that is what I do in Mumbai in the end, cleaning up lakes, rivers and the ocean.

It is becoming a mass movement now and I like it because there is a sense of belonging that we have lost to our planet. Our homes are our homes, our cars are our cars and our assets are our own assets, but when it comes to the environment, we just type on Facebook and Twitter. This is the problem now. But we do not know how to react to it. The solution is that everybody must put their hands to it. I always tell people: you have 168 hours in a week. Two hours you must commit to the environment, to connect in the sense that you get back this sense of belonging that which we have lost.

The fact that we are throwing plastic or litter into the landfill of the ocean is the result of the mindset that we have. This is not mine. My house will be clean. If you had to sleep on a bed full of plastic you would be horrified. You would make sure that everything is cleaned up. That approach must be applied to everything around you, your neighbourhood, your ocean, your forest or your mountains. By cleaning the ocean we are doing precisely that. The cleaning of ocean, beach, forest is not the only consequence we are looking for. What we want is the changing of the mindset.

Law will work on a platform and illusions will work on a platform and eventually we will have a world someday that people will say ‘yes’ to respect the law and we will see it being enforced. But before that, I should take up enforcing it. So this is my take on the environment which I am working very hard for in Mumbai. I hope someday I see a better ocean. If you come to Mumbai I cannot even put my hand into my ocean. I have lived near a port since my childhood, I have been in that water, but I cannot even put my hands into the ocean because there is a danger I get a disease.

I feel people on the ground must get involved. People who are throwing plastic, litter, solid garbage, liquid garbage – they will have to come onboard and understand that this is not only the job of the government. Presidents’ and prime ministers’ job is not only that. They have other things to look at. We have to get connected there and say: we are community, I have a sense of belonging, I work hard for it. So this is what goes through my mind when I work there in Mumbai. And hopefully, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is backing me. It is a great moment, I am loving it. I want my whole country to be clean, I want the oceans of the world to be clean and I am working for that.

Thank you, President Putin, for giving me an opportunity to be here. I must thank the organisers as well. They have been brilliant, I have been here for three days and I have never seen such zeal and energy that I see here. And hopefully, I will take a lot of it back to India. I always tell people we must take from these youngsters, they are leaders. They must lead on. Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

To begin with, I am sure that you are aware of the special, trust-based friendly relations that have developed between Russia and India over the decades. I have very good relations with the Prime Minister of India. I know that he is concerned about the environment, and therefore you will certainly rally his assistance in this matter.

This is a growing problem, and it turns out that it does not have a simple solution, because environmental issues, including transitioning to the best modern technologies, are far from simple because the introduction of modern technology calls for additional funding. Many countries, and particularly the developing economies, may not have these funds. This is the first element.

Secondly, unfortunately, to transition to modern technologies corporations must be forced to adopt these new technologies. This means that, first of all, the introduction of these technologies can cause many people to lose their jobs, and they should be offered new jobs. In other words, we need to consider how to assist these people in finding new employment. Secondly, we will have to divert resources to implementing these modern technologies. The companies say that this is an additional burden, which they may be unable to shoulder amid economic difficulties. Therefore, governments have to choose between contradictory decisions.

Ultimately, the future belongs to progress, and modern or cutting-edge technologies will eventually increase productivity and improve the environment in which we live.

I have a question for you. How did you organise this? Have you created a recycling company?



Afroz Shah:

Not at all. I did not create a company. What I have done was what my leaders, people like Mahatma Gandhi did, only voluntary action. I have no NGO, no company, no bank account. We have people coming in every week. It is based on our love for the environment and our love for human beings. I strongly believe we have lost touch in that sector where too much reliance is placed on formal responsibilities of parliament at times. I think if we connect with the human beings, we connect with their minds, it works. So it was purely voluntary action. I go to schools and colleges I initiate cleanups. I not only do it as a citizen. I get the plastic manufacturers also involved, those that manufacture plastic packaging. Because the problem must also come to their heads that plastic in the ocean is a big problem. We had more plastic than fish in 2015.



Vladimir Putin:

As we both know, plastic waste in the oceans is a problem. You are aware of this because you work in this area, and many people are becoming aware of this both here and in other countries. Plastic bottles already form entire islands in the Pacific Ocean. According to experts, this can change the ocean’s temperature and create environmental problems on a global scale. This is a serious issue and, by the way, we should probably search for a legal solution to it on both the global and national levels. We can consider creating certain favourable conditions for cleaning the oceans of these problems. This is a very serious matter. Emotional appeals and your professional skills as a lawyer can help resolve it. As I see it, we can and must think about this.

By the way, I had the pleasure of greeting the Speaker of the Indian Parliament who attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) in St. Petersburg yesterday.

Shall we continue?







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Gamal, you have the floor.

Gamal, a young doctor from Indonesia.



Vladimir Putin:

I just saw you on stage.



Gamal Albinsaid:

Thank you very much, Mr President. It is a great honour for me to come here. This morning I called my father and mother to say that I will meet you. They were very happy. I am a medical doctor.

I finished my bachelor degree last year. But during my studies I started a foundation that focuses on access to doctors for poor people. First, when we started the company we developed micro-insurance. So we use garbage to help people get access to health services. People pay our company with garbage to get health insurance. They can get an operation, get hospitalised, get medication and pay with garbage.

With this concept, we can solve two problems at the same time. Without this concept, poor people usually think garbage is useless and health is expensive. Now they can come to our clinic free and pay with garbage every month.

So this concept enables financing and helps poor people to get health access. And another innovation is our online platform to help people get medical services. If poor people need money for an operation they can upload their request on the website and people will do it. It is very simple to bring together volunteering and social media.

And the next innovation we have is called Homedika. So I have a dream. I am from Malang city. Maybe people from Bali or Jakarta, Indonesia are sick, I can send a medical doctor to their home directly. So with a phone platform, mobile apps or website, if your neighbour is sick, you just open or download the application, enter the province, the medical doctor and then you order and the medical doctor will come to your home. Poor people get it free but rich people pay for it.

So with all this innovation we believe that one nation can help exercise the fundamental human right. So we want to give health access to everyone in the world.

Thank you for your time.



Vladimir Putin:

You are addressing one of the most important and noblest issues, with obvious results. This is a special mission, rather than just a profession. This is why I always respect doctors very much.

Apart from the humanitarian aspect, healthcare has acquired an economic aspect in the modern world. People with health problems find it much harder to master the knowledge needed to develop a modern economy, and they find it much harder to work efficiently.

Again, healthcare has therefore become a humanitarian component and a purely economic factor. The state must invest its resources in these two important areas, healthcare and, of course, education. What is more important: healthcare or education? It is not easy to answer this question. Human lives are priceless, and healthcare is therefore somewhat more important than other activities, in some respects.

Regarding free medical assistance, the one and only mission of healthcare is to help people. But we need to be careful when it comes to organising the medical industry’s operation. People need to be aware that they are responsible for their own health.

We need to consider exactly where the government needs to provide free medical assistance, in which segments, amounts or areas, and where it can act as a co-sponsor. I will not try to define that now, but is is something that concerns the foundations of peoples’ health.

This is important. As you may know, debates on the healthcare system are underway in some countries, for example, the United States, on whether the government is obligated to provide full medical insurance or not, and who is eligible for insurance.

I believe the system should be organised so that everyone has access to healthcare and healthcare services.

In my opinion, this is an area where you can certainly pool your efforts with those of your Indian colleague, that is, legal experts can work with those who are directly concerned with people’s health. Overall, your idea and what you are doing deserve respect and support. Thank you for this.







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you.

I would like to give the floor to Artem Oganov, a Russian scientist. I would like to note that he is on the Forbes’ list of 50 Russians who changed the world. We are very proud of Artem.

Artem, you have the floor.



Artem Oganov:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Have we met recently?



Artem Oganov:

Yes, you have a good memory. You meet with so many people.

I left Russia in late 1998 because, at the time, there was no future for a scientific career, generally, nor prospects in my situation. I completed a postgraduate training course in the United Kingdom, and I worked there for some time. Then I moved to Switzerland and then to the United States. While in America, I worked my way up and became a professor. To be honest, I believed that I would spend my whole life there. The West was very kind to me, I have to say.

Later, it became possible to work in Russia; the mega-grants began to be issued. I started spending four months each year in Russia. And I liked it so much that I decided to move back to Russia and to reunite my life with the country that was truly mine.

Now I live in Moscow, I have three children, and a fourth baby is on its way. My dream is to have six children.



Vladimir Putin:

Good job.



Artem Oganov:

Mr. President, my wife’s opinion of all this is another matter. (Laughter.)

I like working in Russia, living in Russia, and I like bringing up my children here. This country has a wonderful education system, life is interesting, and Russian cities are beautiful. To me everything is changing in the right direction here. I like the students, the young people who are interested in science. They are very talented and enthusiastic. There are some unique young people. As in my case, good opportunities for research projects are being created here, such wonderful young people are also involved, and we are focusing on entirely new subjects that I would not have been able to think about in the past. Today, I… in a word, I have no regrets about my decision to come back to Russia. We design new materials on computers, and we predict the structure and properties of various substances.



Vladimir Putin:

I see.



Artem Oganov:

You know about this.



Vladimir Putin:

I remember mentioning Gorynin from St. Petersburg and the research institute during my conversation with you, right?



Artem Oganov:

Yes, yes.

We see an interesting and unexpected effect. My colleagues who live in the West sometimes ask me, “How are things in Russia? Aren’t you fed up yet? Or is it really so interesting and comfortable to live in Russia and there are good guys there?” I reply that everything is fine. Some then ask if they should return to Russia as well. I tell everyone that they should return because, ultimately, all countries are equally wonderful. I believe that no country is better or worse than others are. However, there is only one special country for a person among the more than 200 countries, it is the country where you were born.

I am very happy that I have made this decision. I hope that the scientists who left Russia, and there are hundreds, or at least dozens of thousands of them, will be able to return to Russia and resume their work here.



Vladimir Putin:

I am glad that you have found your place in life. This is not easy to do when you leave, neither is it easy when you return. As I see it, you have returned because in the first place you have found your place in life. The project we have launched, the mega-grants, one of which helped you return, is ongoing thanks to you and your colleagues from various spheres of research. When you and your colleagues said that you needed not one-time funding but a promise of funding for several years, at the least, we decided to continue with this mega-grant programme, and we have found sources for funding them. We will do this just as you recommended and asked us to do. I guarantee that we will continue this for several years to come.

What I liked most during my meetings with your colleagues in Moscow is that they spoke not only about where it is better to work, or how, but about organising this work so that young researchers would remain connected to their universities, which could become their work places in the future. This means that we must create laboratories, plus administrative, organisational, living and other conditions for them, so that they would come in full force and feel comfortable here. We have agreed that the mega-grant programme will be divided into several stages for attracting young researchers from among post-graduate students and young researchers with post-graduate degrees.

Frankly speaking, it was especially gratifying that our researchers, our young researchers, many of whom worked or are still working abroad, are concerned about this aspect – the future of Russian science, and they are thinking about how to organise this work in the best possible manner. We are especially grateful to you and to all your other colleagues for this.



Artem Oganov:

You know, the question of young people is of the utmost importance, and it is good that you have touched upon this.

I have been a dreamer all my life, I always dream about something, and my head generates ideas all the time. For a long time now, I had a dream that some concept would be developed that would allow Russia to attract the best scientists once again. Mega-grants are now stipulated. So I thought, it is good that leading scientists have been attracted, but it would be good if our young scientists did not leave at all because they will also become leading scientists in about five to ten years. It would be good to create the same conditions for them, so that they would be able to unlock their potential without going anywhere, and hence a promising young scientist would be able to set up a mini-laboratory here, to spread his or her wings as well as to make his or her dreams come true. A concept allowing young scientists to establish mini-labs has emerged. I wonder what this is. Has some machine, making it possible to fulfill my wishes, been created?

Maybe, it is good that I am telling you this today, but I am now dreaming that our emigre scientists would return on the same scale as they had left, rather than by the dozens and hundreds, and that at least the most promising ones would come back. This would be wonderful not only for our culture but for our economy as well.



Vladimir Putin:

We will consider this. And not just consider – we have certain ideas. This may sound rough, but I will say it, nevertheless. Russia is interested in having those who have asserted themselves and who can work effectively here to return. It is not interested in just anyone coming back. Although we are interested, from the civic standpoint, that all our citizens should come home. However, Russian science needs those who can help it move forward, in the context of its development.



Artem Oganov:

Absolutely.



Vladimir Putin:

Thank you and good luck. By the way, where are you lecturing?



Artem Oganov:

Today, I am at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology.



Vladimir Putin:

I wish you every success.







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you very much.

I would like to transition to the female part of our team and give the floor to Reeshemah Krystal Ball, a young artist from Jamaica who represents the creative part of our festival.



Reeshemah Krystal Ball:

Hello Mr President.

It is a pleasure to be here. My mother is going to go crazy when she realises what I am doing right now. I did not expect this. I am just a young Jamaican girl trying to change certain things. I am an artist, I believe in charity so I donate my time to recovering cancer patients and terminally ill cancer patients. But when I am not doing that, I focus on a bigger issue right now in my country, which is climate change.

We are being severely affected especially in the Caribbean region. Jamaica is an island. Our beaches are eroding. And the only source of income is tourism.

So when we lose our beaches we will lose the product we are trying to sell to other people who come our country.

We also have an issue with a very active hurricane season that has basically demolished Dominica. My people are constantly living in fear that one of these hurricanes will just come and we will lose everything. We see the progression where a hurricane is now three times the size what it used to be ten years ago.

And we are expected to experience severe effects of climate change within the next ten years when we are going to lose our lands and our structures. I see it already. Growing up, I went to this beach very often, it was my favourite beach and now it is completely gone.

I was looking forward to having that memory so I can show my children and my children can show their children. So now it becomes a very urgent issue.

I came to Sochi to meet young people and young minds to find ideas. Because I see this problem. The public is not very educated about climate change and I would like to get my message out there to everybody. I sit on the executive council of the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council. We are trying our best but I feel that because of the urgency I need more ideas.

So I came to Sochi to find those ideas, to meet other young people and to network. Because it is a global issue, it is not just Jamaica, it is the entire Caribbean. We are all going to be affected by this eventually. It is just that it is more urgent on smaller islands. Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

We in Russia are aware of what you are talking about, and we look on with sympathy and send our condolences over the tragedies that have hit many Latin American countries.

By the way, we are always ready to provide assistance and support. We have a very efficient Emergencies Ministry. We usually act under requests for assistance that we receive from national governments.

As for the global issue, it certainly concerns all countries. This is why decisions aimed at preventing climate change were taken in Paris, as you are probably aware.

Russia has supported these decisions and has assumed rather strict commitments to reduce emissions, and we intend to comply with these commitments, hoping that this will produce positive results.

On the other hand, opinions on this issue differ, as you probably know. Some people say that humankind cannot do much to maintain the current conditions due to deeply rooted causes connected to more than just our planet, of a universal nature. They say that changes are taking place throughout our Galaxy and our Solar system, and so forth. These changes are influencing the Earth. This is one opinion and one approach to the problem.

Personally, I believe that theories are good, but when we see the situation changing, and not for the better, we must do our best to at least stop the process and possibly reverse it.

In this sense, you are in the right place. Russia supports any initiative to preserve nature. I hope you will be able to exchange opinions and possibly hear interesting ideas here.

This takes me back to your Indian colleague, who is actually involved in the same thing. Therefore, I hope your stay here will be fruitful.







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you very much.

Nicolas Charras, our friend from France and a graduate of MGIMO University, has been living in Russia for several years now.



Nicolas Charras:

Good afternoon, Mr President.

I would like to start off by saying that it is a great honour for me to attend this festival and especially to be here with you at this meeting today.

As my colleague has noted, I am not a citizen of Russia. They say I look like a Russian, but those reports are not credible. Nevertheless, I decided to make Russia part of my life when I received an opportunity to study at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s MGIMO University.

I was not especially taken with Russia back in school. At the time, I did not know that I would come to this country. If you had told me three years ago that I would learn Russian, my jaw would have dropped.

Why Russia? This is a very good question. We could talk about it for hours. From the very beginning, I was interested in geopolitics and Russia’s role on the international scene.

There is so much of interest in Russia, it is so vast. And studying geopolitics is basically the same as studying Russia. I have met with truly amazing people whom I never expected to meet.

After I spent several years in Russia, television channels started inviting me on, and I now work as an international commentator for media outlets. I appear on various radio and television channels and, in turn, I would like to join my colleague, I have decided to devote my life to improving relations between our traditionally friendly states.

Of course, you know perfectly well that there is some propaganda in Europe, as well as significant hypocrisy. Many Europeans are affected by these prejudices. And many theoreticians are saying that Russia and Europe must be pitted against one another, no matter what. You see, if Russia becomes too strong, this would pose tremendous danger to the United States.

Today, I would like to drink to Russia and its great future. This is quite Russian.



Vladimir Putin:

Come on, fill your glass. (Laughter.) Thank you.

This is a very noble mission and a noble goal. In my opinion, it is quite interesting. Why? Just look what is happening in the world.

India, our neighbour to the left, has a population of 1.2 billion, and China has a population of 1.5 billion. The United States continues to receive more and more immigrants; and, as far as I understand, its White Christian population is already outnumbered.



Nicolas Charras:

Of course.



Vladimir Putin:

You say ‘of course,' but this has changed only recently. White Christians have become a minority, less than 50 percent now.

What I am talking about is that the world is going through dramatic, global change. I am not saying this is good or bad, just that global changes are going on.

You have said Russia is a vast territory and it is indeed so – from its western to eastern borders, it is a Eurasian space. But as regards culture, even language, language group and history, this all is undoubtedly a European space as it is inhabited by people of this culture.

I am saying this because we have to preserve all this to remain a significant centre in the world – and I do not mean it in the military sense or anything else.

We should not divide everything based on ethnicity and should not look back thinking, say, of the war between France and Russia in 1812–14, but rather look to the future for ways to build a common future and follow this common path.

This is how we can preserve this vast space and these people as a global centre that is significant for relations with Asian countries and the American continent.

If it does not happen this would mean division into minor quasi-national associations of states that would eventually lose their significance in the global sense as independent centres.



Nicolas Charras:

Preserving culture does not mean destroying…



Vladimir Putin:

That is very true. If we preserve it, this will be a great advantage for human development as well, because it is a major part of the global culture and it certainly has to be preserved.

That is why what you do is very interesting and needed. I would like to wish you every success. I hope your conversations here will be of benefit, too.







Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you.

Simbarashe Mhuriro, our friend from Zimbabwe, deals with energy conservation. He will tell us about this is more detail. You have the floor.



Simbarashe Mhuriro:

Your Excellency Mr President, thank you very much for the invite to Russia. I will first touch on my project and company. Then I will come back to the more interesting reason as to why I am here.

I founded a company called Oxygen Africa. We are a solar company and we specialise in the building, owning and operation of solar power plants. When you touched upon companies finding it hard to move towards newer technologies, we believe we have answered that question. So our model basically is, we go to a company and we install the solar solution but they do not buy it. We basically sell them the power for the next 20 years. Why do we do this? It is to remove the technology risk from the company. It puts the financial burden on our balance sheet so that there is no capital expenditure from the company itself. They are able to predict the energy costs so basically they can hedge what a third of their energy cost is going to be in 20 years, which allows them to plan for their business.

Now, it evolved this way because people think we are a solar company, but what we are is actually an asset management financing company. And we identified certain companies and said: look, blue chip companies, you obviously want to go green. What I would do is I would secure your pension fund for you. So your pension fund will invest in my business and I will then install solar onto your rooftop. In other words, the money that was supposed to go into the state utilities for electricity comes back onto the balance sheet as returns.

I then went to the banks that bank these blue chip companies. I said, look, will you give me non-recourse finance? If I do, for example, a solar solution for Old Mutual that you are working with now? They said, yes. So now the bank has got a reason to bank their client, to give new ways of giving finance, but not on the company’s balance sheet but on my balance sheet. We created a new system that involves the financiers, the insurance and the clients whereby everybody establishes value for the business financially but through renewable energy. That way we are able to ease the burden of moving to a newer technology. So that is pretty much what we do.

Our project is 20 MW. It has been recently funded by the African Development Bank. It is considered the largest commitment by a single company to renewable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. So we hope that by the end of the project we will have 226 buildings in total that will be powered to one-third by renewable energy.

Back to why I am here, it is actually a funny story. I have a book here that I got when I was five years old. I had a Korean neighbor, when I was five years old, who gave this book to my mom. And I used to love to read it a lot. It is just a pictorial. Thirteenth (WFYS) Festival of Pyongyang in Korea. So when I got the invite to come to the festival I looked at the logo and I thought: where did I see this particular logo? And then when I went home I found it and thought, what are the odds that this was my favourite book as a child, but 27 years later, I am here, making an address and presenting what I do to you. So hopefully I get you to sign it as well.

The other aspect I want to touch on is I noticed that in my country, Russia is coming more on the minerals and mining perspective. But I believe the big opportunity is in agriculture. And the reason I say this is our sister company actually imports a lot of raw materials from Russia – your potash, etc.. And they are the second largest manufacturer in the country. So I thought to myself that the future of Africa is actually in agriculture. And possibly Russia has a bigger role to play. In forms of finance, exports as well as, probably, in terms of getting the produce out of the country itself. So in a nutshell, this is me.



Vladimir Putin:

I think you have come to the right place. It will be useful for you not only to update your impressions of our country from the books you read as a child, but also in a professional capacity.

But first, I would like to say that we are paying significant attention to renewable energy sources. Just recently, Russia was lagging behind in this area whereas now, for example, our solar panels are universally recognised as the world’s best in quality, service life and efficiency.

This is why I am drawing your attention to this, and it is worth thinking about using them. They are produced by one of our private companies. Initially they operated in Switzerland but then transferred their production to Russia and upgraded the panels. Now they have advanced significantly and their panels are among the best in the world. This is my first point.

Secondly, I have to say that solar panels are used not only in African countries, but also, strange as it may seem – you surely know this, although it is not common knowledge – they are used in our Extreme North, in particular, to warm up oil pipes. These solar batteries are used to make sure oil does not freeze in the pipes. I was surprised to learn about this.

It appears that such a small amount of solar light (simply light, not even warmth) is enough to warm up oil in the pipes. Therefore, traditional and renewable energy sources are linked and will go hand in hand for many years. This also concerns environmental protection, those same emissions.

However, today coal still comes first in overall generation. Some experts believe that it has lagged behind heating oil and gas but I think it is slightly ahead. It is also necessary to think about these traditional energy sources because coal can also be processed to be eco-friendly but this costs money, although, after all, everything costs money.

Everything is expensive in the beginning. As technologies improve, as research pushes new boundaries and is applied in practice, this will all become cheaper and, as a result, widely used. In any event, you are involved in a noble effort and I would like to wish you success.

Thank you very much.



Ksenia Razuvayeva:

I would like to pass the mic to another female member of our group. Let me introduce Anna Kudryavtseva, a young scientist and the head of the Genome Centre.



Vladimir Putin:

I know her; I presented an award to her.



Anna Kudryavtseva:

I am so nervous, still overwhelmed by the ceremony, so I will not be able to say anything serious. Perhaps there is no point in talking about what happened before the ceremony. You know the result. But I can tell you how I got here.

I think I was born with the desire to work in medicine and science. Even as a child, it seemed like I could literally feel people’s illnesses. I wanted to become a doctor and to understand how the human body works.

But my parents wanted me to become a musician. I had to overcome enormous obstacles to finally be accepted to the university where I wanted to study. However, I did not study medicine. I studied biology.

As a matter of fact, my whole life seems like a chain of amazing coincidences. In the end, I did the right thing because doctors not only have to possess the ability and sincere desire to help but also nerves of steel – otherwise they just burn out. It is hard to be a doctor when you are very emotional and put all your heart and soul into this job.

I studied at St Petersburg University. I must say it is an excellent university. The education I received allows me to feel completely comfortable both in Russia and at international conferences. It gave me a very good background. After the university, I moved to Moscow and got a job at the laboratory of the now, unfortunately, late Academician Lev Kiselyov. My specialisation was oncology.

After defending my thesis, I was thinking what I should do next, and was waiting for a sign. And then something amazing happened. I was walking with my son at 10pm after a New Year party at the institute, and I saw the director walking to the metro, he was not driving either. This was a big coincidence, I could not believe it.

He told me that the academy gave us a large and expensive piece of equipment but the person who had purchased it refused to launch it. He said, ”I am old and sick and it is hard for me to do it,“ and so he asked me, ”Do you know anyone who could do that? Such an excellent piece of equipment. We would do anything for this person, he wouldn't want for anything.“ And I had just got my degree. ”Would I be acceptable?“ ”Why not? I would be glad if a person who completed postgraduate studies at our institute found their place here.“ And he said, ”Fine, have a go at it. If you succeed, we will put you in charge of the laboratory.“

Our Institute of Molecular Biology is a respected and high profile institution, our director is Alexander Makarov. And it is not that easy to become head of a laboratory. He does a lot to support young specialists, but not right after they receive their degree. Such a coincidence.

I managed to do everything well We launched the equipment, and I was put in charge of the lab right after defending my thesis. This was an interesting time in my life, an important milestone.

After that, I worked a lot, and the next stage was the award. It was a significant and important stage and a step forward because I reassessed my views on research in many ways while I worked in fundamental science, and I proceeded to work at the Herzen Institute, a clinic with real patients and doctors. Now I understand how it all happens in real life.

The way it works in Russia, researchers do their oncology research at their institutes, while doctors are involved in totally different work at clinics, and they rarely cross. As a result, researchers have little idea of how patients are treated and the plans used, and what doctors actually need.

Therefore, when I started working there everything in my life was flipped upside down: I realised what should be pursued and why, and how to go about it.

The award came next, followed by numerous phone calls. People called me asking for help. But I am not a doctor and I cannot cure them. I told them, “You should understand, we did fundamental research. We have done a lot but this is science. It will allow us to do something in the future. It is a solid foundation.” “But how can this help me?” they asked. “It can do nothing for you personally.”

This made me feel very sad and I was indeed eager to do something practical at this stage. I am not saying that I am giving up fundamental research and moving into applied areas but I developed a desire for practical work and chose several projects.

However, I would like to point out that the media should not merely inform but write more often that fundamental science is the foundation and it is impossible to do without it.

And, of course, now respect for scientists is growing gradually. It disappeared at some stage in Russia but I hope to God that… I have three major projects, and two of them are linked with a very important issue for Russia – reproduction. We have a strong country, of course, and our people are smart. It is very frustrating that we are lagging behind in some way.

Actually, there is a large category of cancer patients where we are facing certain difficulties. It is for these patients that apart from getting a clear picture of… Actually, all this exists but simply cannot be used at the moment because society is not quite ready – it should be prepared somehow for this this, and the legislative basis is not fully ready, either.

In other words, we need some programmes because people can only afford such technology if there are state programmes. Moreover, it is impossible to do this in isolation from genetic research.

Since I work at the Herzen Institute, they already have a team that has started working on this. As for me, I am eager to promote this project and see it through. This would be my contribution, something useful for the people.

However, this gives rise to a tricky question that may spread to many other areas. A researcher in a lab knows better than others what should be done in legislation because he knows these problems. But he does not have enough education to deal with these problems because he is not a lawyer.

I cannot quit science and study law in order to find out how to push it through. We do understand how to communicate with businesses but establishing a legislative basis is something of a problem for us. In other words, how should scientists explain to the authorities, to those who make such decisions…



Vladimir Putin:

Look, you have been lucky your entire life.



Anna Kudryavtseva:

Yes.



Vladimir Putin:

You first won the right to go into biology and medicine rather than music. Then you defended your thesis. Then you met the director of your institute by accident and got a lab. Now you are sitting next to Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Mr Kiriyenko. Make sure he has everything and he will help you organise work on expanding and upgrading the legislative basis. That is all you need to do. And you do not have to lose touch with your biology machine.



Anna Kudryavtseva:

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

I would like to wish you success as well.



Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Daniel Bell, a young teacher from the United States. Daniel, please.



Daniel Bell:

First, thank you very much, Mr President, for hosting us tonight. If you will permit me, a happy belated birthday to you. Thank you also to the organisers for starting this event.

My time here actually began a few days ago, in Moscow, at the parade where 300, more or less, students my age from all over the world gathered to build relationships and get to know each other. The opportunity that this event has presented is to examine these political problems and the global problems through a distinctly non-political lens, a human lens, to examine the human universal experiences that are coming from all that what we do. And in that time at this parade I met the students from Iran, Iraq, Syria – intelligent, driven young people my age who care about their countries and care about their respective problems. And in that moment you realise and you see more clearly than anything else that these distinctions we draw between ourselves and these complications, these abstractions we create around these problems are just that. And what lies there and what is really important is the human heart and the experience.

You mentioned our healthcare debate in the United States. I believe that that debate is at its worse and we do not realise the human element, the human effect, that people’s lives are what is there and we use instead the easy political thing to abstract and confuse.

So for me language and teaching and education are means to that, they are shortcuts on the way to touch the deepest, most intimate things we feel as human beings, our identities, who we are. And as I prepare to go to Brazil to teach English that is what I hope to do. I experienced that learning languages. What I experienced here is that even knowing one word is just a shortcut straight to what another person thinks.

This festival offers the opportunity to really engage with people of different nationalities and I have done that and I hope to continue to do that in all these different countries. This is my first time in Russia and I have got to meet a lot of young, driven Russian people my age who care about their country and care about these problems and care about the world they live in. And what I sincerely believe is I do not see them as my rivals. I hope they succeed. Because we need intelligent young, driven people to tackle these issues, whether it is curing cancer, climate change, cleaning our environment.

To paraphrase, no one people, no one nation, no one region of this world has a monopoly on answers, has a monopoly on solutions. And to tackle these things we need to be constantly connected to each other and driven and not get distracted by the things that are very easy to look at, and to realise that ultimately, this probably will affect all of us. And they are interconnected and we are interconnected as members of this planet. And the West does not start in Los Angeles and St Petersburg. We draw these lines. And events like this give us the opportunity to see that they are just lines and what is behind them is human lives. So again, thank you very much for hosting us and for the opportunity to be here today.



Vladimir Putin:

You have just made several very important points.

First, you said that no one has a monopoly on advancing their vision of global development unilaterally. This is very true.

The world is diverse and this diversity must be respected. I have exactly the same attitude to the things you just spoke about.

The second point you made, which I also think is very important, is that we need to stop seeing each other as rivals.

I do not know whether it is possible between countries but this is, generally, what we should strive for. We must make the effort to see each other as partners.

Here, my neighbour on the left already said something in the same vein. It is a crucial thing that undermines our relations at the interstate level because we see each other as rivals. Instead of cooperating and solving our common problems, we waste substantial resources and get distracted by secondary things.

We waste resources on rivalry, on how to appear better and on winning, which does not necessarily lead to a positive result for anybody, the loser or the winner. So, it is a very delicate issue.

True, this idea may be utopian because essentially all of nature is competitive and society is competitive through and through. At any rate, we must make sure that this competition does not reach a critical stage and turn into hostility, let alone war.

We also need to intensify the second vector, the vector of cooperation, in searching for solutions to common challenges and problems. If we can build our relations to this effect, everybody will benefit, no doubt.



Ksenia Razuvayeva:

Thank you very much.

Mr President, I think we are ready to wrap up the event. This discussion could go on forever. As you can see, all our participants are very well prepared and knowledgeable. Thank you very much for meeting with us.

We cannot let you go without a group photo. The participants have been eager for one, if you do not mind.



Vladimir Putin:

With pleasure.

I would like to thank you for this discussion and for coming to Russia. I really want you to return home in a good mood, with new knowledge and many useful connections.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55842
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #650
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Greetings to Sooronbay Jeenbekov on his election as President of Kyrgyzstan



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to Sooronbay Jeenbekov on his election as President of the Kyrgyz Republic.



October 16, 2017 - 12:15



In his message, the Head of the Russian State underscored that voting results had confirmed the high authority of Sooronbay Jeenbekov among his compatriots, and that they recognised his achievements in addressing topical matters of Kyrgyzstan’s socioeconomic development.

Vladimir Putin also noted that Russia praised Sooronbay Jeenbekov’s personal contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership and allied relations between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic.

President Putin voiced confidence that Russia and Kyrgyzstan would jointly expand the entire range of bilateral ties, as well as constructive cooperation at the Eurasian Economic Union and other international organisations. This meets the basic interests of our countries’ friendly peoples and helps strengthen regional stability and security.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55844






Condolences to President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia



Vladimir Putin has extended his condolences to President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack committed in the Somalian capital.



October 16, 2017 - 12:45



The telegram reads, in part:

“We vehemently condemn this outrageous crime against peaceful civilians. We support the efforts of the Somalian leadership and people to fight the terrorist threat.”

The Russian President also expressed his condolences and support for the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack.

On October 14, a truck filled with explosives blew up on a busy street of Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, killing at least 300 people.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55850






Telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli side’s initiative.



October 18, 2017 - 14:30



The two leaders discussed Russian-Israeli cooperation in the context of the agreements they reached in Sochi on August 23.

They also spoke about the Syrian settlement, the Iranian nuclear programme, as well as the results of a recent referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55869






Russian-Croatian talks



President Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who is in Russia on an official visit at the invitation of the Russian leader.



October 18, 2017 - 17:20 - Sochi







The two presidents discussed the current status and prospects of the Russian-Croatian cooperation.

Additionally, the leaders of the two countries exchanged opinions on key international issues.





































A number of bilateral documents were signed following the talks.

Upon finishing the consultations, Vladimir Putin and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic made press statements.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55868






Beginning of meeting with President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in narrow format



October 18, 2017 - 15:00 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Madame President, colleagues. I am happy to welcome you to Russia.

Thank you for accepting our invitation.

This year we will mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Croatia.

I am pleased to say that our trade is growing rapidly.

We maintain relations in a number of areas, which are highly promising.

We have an intergovernmental commission, which held a regular meeting recently. Its next meeting with be held in Croatia.

I am pleased to see you in Russia. It is a good opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, as well as international issues.

Welcome to Russia.



President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (retranslated):

Thank you, Mr President.

Thank you for inviting us to Russia and for meeting with us here, in Sochi. I am particularly pleased about this because Sochi is often compared to Opatija, the cradle of Croatia’s tourism industry.

Please, allow me to begin by inviting you to make an official visit to the Republic of Croatia. So far, not a single President of Russia has been to Croatia on an official visit, although you were in Croatia in 2007 for the Energy Forum.

I am happy to have this opportunity to meet with you today, and I am sure that this meeting will boost our relations to a new stage and will open a new page in the history of our cooperation.

Today we will be speaking primarily about bilateral relations, including economic cooperation and other topics, as well as security on the European continent, primarily security in Southeast Europe, and also issues of global security, in which Russia is playing an extremely important role.

We will also discuss a number of unsettled issues, which should be addressed through an open dialogue based on mutual respect, as I see it, because an open dialogue is a very good opportunity and venue for settling any dispute. Positive conditions are a vital element of finding solutions to problems.

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Madame President, you have a busy agenda for this visit. In addition to this meeting, you plan to hold talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and meet with Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of our Parliament’s upper house, after which you will go to St Petersburg, as far as I know.

I am confident that such numerous meetings with officials who are responsible for various aspects of life in Russia, including foreign policy, culture and the economy, will certainly benefit our bilateral relations.



Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic:

Yes, Mr President, I fully agree that our agenda is really very full. I am especially happy to be able to attend the opening of the [Russian-Croatian] Economic Forum, because very many Croatian companies have accepted the invitation to attend this forum, which reflects our interest in the further development of our economic cooperation.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55871






Press statements following Russian-Croatian talks



October 18, 2017 - 17:15









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Madame President, ladies and gentlemen,

My talks with the Croatian President have just concluded. I would like to say that they took place in a constructive spirit and reaffirmed the intention of both countries to develop cooperation in all areas.

Croatia is an important partner for Russia in Europe and the Balkans. Last May we marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over this period they became truly diverse and mutually beneficial.

Today the Croatian President and I, together with the heads of ministries and departments, discussed specific measures for further upgrading bilateral cooperation, paying special attention to economic ties.

Let me recall that last year bilateral trade amounted to $808 million and increased by 64 percent in the first half of 2017.

We believe this year there is a good opportunity to return trade to the pre-crisis level of over one billion dollars.

Participants in the regular meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held in Moscow on October 3 discussed new initiatives aimed at encouraging our trade and investment ties.

In particular, they discussed stepping up cooperation between Russian and Croatian companies to carry out joint projects in third countries. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development and the Croatian Foreign Ministry signed a memorandum aimed at helping businesses make progress on foreign markets.

We have big hopes for expanding Russian-Croatian business contacts through the business forum that will be held in Moscow tomorrow with the President of Croatia in attendance.

At the talks, particular attention was paid to the energy industry, a traditional area of bilateral cooperation. Croatia is a major importer of Russian oil products. It bought 350,000 tonnes of oil from us last year.

In addition, 2.3 million tonnes of Russia oil were delivered through Croatia’s ports and pipes for customers in southeast Europe.

LUKOIL has a ramified network of filling stations in Croatia and supplies eight percent of the fuel consumed in the country.

Russia’s Gazprom, for its part, supplies Croatia with almost half of the natural gas it consumes. It signed a long-term contract for gas supplies to 2027 with its Croatian partners in September.

The Russian corporations Silovye Mashiny [Power Machines] and Technopromexport are helping their partners develop Croatia’s power industry. The third energy unit of the Sisak Thermal Power Plant was put into service with their participation. They plan to build and upgrade other energy facilities.

The two countries' companies are boosting industrial cooperation, including in shipbuilding. Croatia's Brodotrogir shipyard has joined the work to build an Arctic tanker for the Yamal LNG project; the possibility of supplying Russian hydrofoils to Croatia is being considered.

Russian banks successfully operate on the Croatian market. There is an extensive network of Sberbank branches, which together with VTB is taking part in the financial recovery of Croatia's largest agricultural holding Agrokor.

The talks also addressed humanitarian cooperation. An intergovernmental cultural programme for 2017–19, adopted today, is aimed at putting this cooperation on a systematic footing.

We appreciate the Croatian authorities’ support for unveiling monuments to Alexander Pushkin, Yury Gagarin and Sergei Yesenin in Zagreb in 2016–17.

Russia, in turn, is considering installing a monument to Croatian philosopher and theologian Juraj Krizanic, whose life was closely tied to Russia.

Contacts are developing between twin cities. Next year, large-scale events are planned to mark the 50th anniversary of direct ties between St Petersburg and Zagreb.

Croatia is a popular travel destination among Russian tourists. Last year it was visited by 56,000 Russians. The prospects for further developing mutual tourist flows will be discussed at the Russian-Croatian business forum tomorrow.

There was also an in-depth discussion of various international issues.

To conclude, I would like to express gratitude to the Croatian authorities and to you personally, Madame President, for the comprehensive and substantive talks.

We hope that the results achieved will facilitate further Russian-Croatian cooperation in all areas.

Thank you for your attention.









President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (retranslated):

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome everyone.

I would like to thank President Vladimir Putin for the hospitality extended to my delegation and me here in Sochi, Russia. Many compare this place with the cradle of Croatian tourism, the town of Opatija, which is one of the spots on the Croatian coast most favoured by Russian tourists.

As President Putin already mentioned, we covered a number of topics that are critical for further developing our bilateral relations, from political and economic cooperation to cultural cooperation.

Much of what we have discussed made it into a whole range of new acts on our cooperation which we signed today. In this year that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of recognising Croatia and establishing diplomatic relations, I want to emphasise that Croatia, a member of the European Union and NATO, is also a country that respects the international importance of Russia and therefore seeks to give a new impetus to our bilateral relations.

I must say that today, eight years after the last official visit at the presidential level, we again expressed the mutual desire to restore cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

It is in this spirit that I invited President Putin to visit the Republic of Croatia. I hope that we will make it happen next year. This would be the first state visit by the Russian President to Croatia.

Today, we reviewed a number of open questions in our relations. They are more technical than political, and we are trying to successfully address them. Today, we established and demonstrated examples of successful cooperation that managed to revitalise Russia-Croatia economic relations.

At this point I would like to say special thanks to President Putin and the Russian administration for their understanding and constructive contribution to the resolution of the air pollution problem in Slavonski Brod.

Such positive examples of cooperation confirm again and again that many challenges can be resolved through open dialogue. Russia is a major economic partner of Croatia and we are striving to expand bilateral economic cooperation.

This is affirmed also by the enthusiasm shown for tomorrow’s economic forum in Moscow. Several hundred Croatian and Russian companies will take part in it. They will discuss opportunities to cooperate and to sign new contracts.

We acknowledge that trade is growing despite the sanctions that primarily hit our citizens and companies. I welcomed Russian investment, primarily, in the tourist industry and am ready to promote all forms of mutually beneficial investment from the Russian Federation.







Russia is displaying considerable interest in investing in the power industry. I told Mr Putin about numerous amendments to Croatian legislation, which ensure reliable investment through the liberalisation of the electricity, oil and gas markets. Although Croatia is trying to diversify energy suppliers and transport routes, it continues cooperation with Russian companies.

The contract signed between the First Gas Society and Gazprom on long-term gas supplies to Croatia is a shining example of this. I presented the Three Seas Initiative to Mr Putin.

This initiative is an informal political platform for states in Eastern and Central Europe that want to promote European ties and economic cooperation by building transport and energy infrastructure and creating digital technology with a view to ensuring the competitiveness of EU countries.

I would also like to emphasise that this initiative is primarily “for” rather than “against.” It is designed to enhance ties in Eastern and Central Europe. This initiative is very often accused of being directed against Russia but it is not aimed either against Russia or German influence in the region.

This is not an American Trojan Horse. The initiative is open for cooperation with all states, and many third countries, for instance China and other EU states, have already expressed their desire and readiness to join this project. Why shouldn’t Russia be among them?

We discussed in detail urgent crises, for instance in Syria and Libya, and global challenges that the international community is facing. First of all, this concerns the joint struggle against terrorism, extremism and radicalism.

Russia is an indispensable partner for resolving such problems and discussing global security. As a member of the EU and NATO, Croatia is committed to open and meaningful dialogue with Russia on Ukraine.

I am sure that comprehensive implementation of the Minsk agreements in the Normandy format will free Europe of instability that is not in European, Russian or Ukrainian interests.

I believe we can speak about progress in our economic relations. I think regular cooperation with the Russian Federation will lead to a reconsideration of the sanctions that are hitting our citizens and companies.

We spoke about the situation in Southeast Europe and I believe that the European perspective will guarantee stability, security and prosperity for the region’s countries. We also discussed the consolidation of our cultural and scientific cooperation.







Let me mention one of our compatriots – Robert Bartini who was born in Rijeka. He was a truly brilliant aircraft designer but it is much less known that this outstanding scientist made a large contribution to the aviation and space industry.

He worked with the teams of Grigorovich, Tupolev, Tomashevich and Beriyev. The official founder of Russian cosmonautics Sergei Korolev called this genius his teacher. It was owing to Bartini’s help, knowledge and advice that Yury Gagarin became the first cosmonaut.

I am very glad to be visiting the Russian Federation and to continue my trip in Moscow and St Petersburg. I am particularly looking forward to meeting Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia because our primary mission is to defend the interests of Christians in the world. We consider his Holiness to be our partner in consolidating positive public values in religious communities.

There is a Russian Orthodox church of St Nicholas in the Croatian city of Crikvenica, which was built in 1924. The Croatian state supports its reconstruction and I believe that once it is renovated, the church could start hosting the liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

We are starting our visit on the Black Sea coast and ending it on the Baltic Sea. On that note, I have to mention yet another famous Croat who was an admiral of the Baltic Fleet during the time of Peter the Great and led numerous battles. He is buried in the Church of St Louis in Moscow.

He advocated the establishment of the Black Sea Fleet and is believed to have drafted the code of the Russian naval and merchant fleet. There are many materials about this in Russian archives.

Such people truly united our two nations throughout history. They deserve our respect and may serve as an example for us.

Mr President, thank you very much once again for your cooperation and hospitality.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55872






Telephone conversation with President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev.



October 19, 2017 - 14:45



Vladimir Putin congratulated Almazbek Atambayev on the successful holding of presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan on October 15.

The two presidents discussed cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union and further development of Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55877






Telephone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



October 21, 2017 - 00:40



The sides expressed satisfaction with the current development of cooperation between Russia and Turkey in various areas, noting that the agreements reached at the summit in Ankara on September 27, 2017, were being successfully implemented, particularly in trade and economic relations.

In the course of a substantive exchange on the situation in Syria, the parties gave a positive assessment of joint efforts within the Astana process, which manifested itself in the creation of de-escalation zones in the Syrian Arab Republic. The discussion also covered prospects for another, 7th meeting on Syria in the Kazakh capital in late October 2017, as well as practical matters of further coordination of efforts on a Syrian settlement.

Agreement was reached to continue personal contacts. Overall, the conversation was business-like and constructive, directed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and interaction on the regional agenda.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55888
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #651
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club - PART I



Vladimir Putin took part in the final plenary session of the 14th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club titled The World of the Future: Moving Through Conflict to Cooperation.



October 19, 2017 - 20:10 - Sochi



The general topic of the Valdai Club this year is Creative Destruction: Will a New World Order Emerge from the Current Conflicts?

During the four days of the forum the participants are discussing political and social conflicts of the modern world and opportunities of society’s adaptation to the new factors and conditions. Through analysis of the current conflicts experts and political scientists predict the shape of the future world.

This year the Valdai meeting brought together over 130 participants from 33 countries.

Alongside the President of Russia the speakers at the final session included former President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, Research Director at the Norwegian Nobel Institute Asle Toje, and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma.





Research Director of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, moderator Fyodor Lukyanov:

Friends, guests,

I am pleased to welcome you to the final plenary session of the 14th Valdai Club conference.

As always, we had three exciting days filled with discussions in the run-up to this session talking about the most important and pressing issues. Its name may sound a bit ostentatious this year. We borrowed it from a famous economist and sociologist of the 20th century, Joseph Schumpeter, namely, the term ”creative destruction,“ which he coined and from which, according to him, a new order and a new world are born.

We spent these three days trying to figure out what part of this phrase we should focus on ‒ creation or destruction. Very different points of view were expressed.

First, I would like to ask Chairman of the Board of the Valdai Foundation Andrei Bystritsky to quickly bring you up to speed with regard to our discussion and its outcome. Mr Bystritsky, please go ahead.



Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club Andrei Bystritsky:

Mr President, Mr Karzai, Mr Ma, Mr Toje, colleagues,

It is an honour to join you today during the final panel discussion of the 14th annual Valdai conference. I, and not only I, believe that the conference was a success. In any case, almost everyone I talked with spoke highly of our conference.

To a degree, I believe that the annual Valdai conferences, with their ever-improving, in my opinion, quality, are reminiscent of Franz Liszt’s music sheets. He used to write notes for the musicians in the margins. On the first one he wrote ”play fast,“ on the second, ”faster,“ on the third ”as quickly as possible,“ and on the fourth, ”still faster.“ So, we will need to come up with something special for the next Valdai conference.

The title of this conference is Creative Destruction: Will a New World Order Emerge from the Current Conflicts? This subject has become a natural continuation of previous Valdai meetings that focussed on the world order, rules of the global game and the like.

Needless to say, the idea that by destroying you may create is nothing new. They said in ancient times that everything is rooted in struggle and conflict. That said, development through contradiction is only possible when people are capable of approaching conflicts rationally and acting sensibly.

Regrettably, and this was noted in our club’s preliminary report, a rational approach is currently in short supply. It seems we can give our club credit for coining what actually amounts to a new term ‒ “strategic frivolity” – readiness to create extremely risky situations in favour of opportunistic, tactical and often even absurd interests. In general, the conference abounded in the most diverse and very striking statements, which reflected to some extent the general feeling that probably extreme times are coming.

After all, one participant said the main goal is to avoid war in the next 15 years, and another one estimated the likelihood of war on the Korean peninsula at 20 percent.

On the whole, during our conference we tried to discuss the broadest possible range of conflicts that determine the destiny of the human race. For instance, we spoke about the conflict between geopolitical views of the world. We said the elites of different countries have different perceptions of it. This means that there is no common vision on what future the human race needs. But at the same time, it is impossible to do without these general views because the world is much more united and its parts are tied up closer than ever before.

There is also another problem‒ the current world is not producing security so much as it is consuming and spending what was accumulated by many cautious politicians of the past. Some members of the club believe it is necessary to revise the once immutable geopolitical notions, such as the division of the world into the centre and periphery or mainland and seafaring nations.

We also discussed conflicts connected with humanity and technologies. In the relatively recent past, technologies accelerated and promoted the development of existing human qualities, helping us satisfy our requirements, for example, our need for speed. This is why the steam train was invented, of course. But today new technologies are changing the structure of our consumption, forcing us to accept new types of behaviour. Eventually, we will have artificial intelligence, in one form or another, and robots will replace people in many professions. What will people do then? How will they react? This is a big question, especially if artificial intelligence comes in the form of a charming blonde, as one of the forum participants said.

On the other hand, it is obvious that new information technologies have made the information space as precious as land was in the age of Columbus. Interference in others’ information space is now viewed as a major threat to national security.

We also spoke about the conflict between man and nature, because people will need to live somewhere, even if together with artificial intelligence, but wildlife area is rapidly decreasing. Today, more tigers are living in captivity than in the taiga or the jungle. We agreed that we must change our attitude to nature and that the economy must be made subordinate in some degree to the dominance of the environment. The main thing is that human power has grown many times over, but have our responsibility for this world and our ability to regulate global processes increased commensurately.

Yesterday we also attended a presentation of the Future Preparedness Index, which the Valdai Club prepared with the VTsIOM public opinion centre. This index, which has been compiled for the G20 countries, gauges the extent to which various countries are prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow, which cannot be easily predicted.

And lastly, we awarded the new Valdai prize for contribution to understanding and explaining the changes taking place in the world. The jury decided to award the prize to Academician Vitaly Naumkin, an orientalist.

Thank you.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you, Mr Bystritsky. As you can see, we had a packed agenda that embraced everything we could think of.

When experts get together, they can permit themselves alarmist sentiments and even a degree of pessimism, as they look fearfully into the future. But this is their advantage over politicians, because politicians and government officials certainly cannot afford this. They must be optimistic. It is to receive a dose of optimism that I give the floor to President of Russia Vladimir Putin.



President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much.

I am not sure how optimistic it will sound, but I am aware that you had very lively discussions over the last three days. I will try, as has now become customary, to share with you what I think about some of the issues. Please do not take it badly if I say something that has already been said as I did not follow all the discussions.

To begin with, I would like to welcome Mr Karzai, Mr Ma, Mr Toje, our colleagues and all our friends. I can see many familiar faces in the audience. Welcome everyone to the Valdai Club meeting.

By tradition, this forum focuses on discussing the most pressing global political as well as economic matters. This time, the organisers, as was just mentioned again, have come up with a fairly difficult challenge asking the participants to try to look beyond the horizon, to ponder over what the coming decades may be like for Russia and the international community.

Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything and to take into account all the opportunities and risks that we will be faced with. However, we need to understand and sense the key trends, to look for outside-the-box answers to the questions that the future is posing for us at the moment, and will surely pose more. The pace of developments is such that we must react to them constantly as well as quickly.

The world has entered an era of rapid change. Things that were only recently referred to as fantastic or unattainable have become a reality and have become part of our daily lives.

Qualitatively new processes are simultaneously unfolding across all spheres. The fast-paced public life in various countries and the technological revolution are intertwined with changes on the international arena. The competition for a place in the global hierarchy is exacerbating. However, many past recipes for global governance, overcoming conflicts as well as natural contradictions are no longer applicable, they often fail, and new ones have not been worked out yet.

Naturally, the interests of states do not always coincide, far from it. This is normal and natural. It has always been the case. The leading powers have different geopolitical strategies and perceptions of the world. This is the immutable essence of international relations, which are built on the balance between cooperation and competition.

True, when this balance is upset, when the observance and even existence of universal rules of conduct is questioned, when interests are pushed through at any cost, then disputes become unpredictable and dangerous and lead to violent conflicts.

Not a single real international problem can be resolved in such circumstances and such a framing of the issues, and so relations between countries simply degrade. The world becomes less secure. Instead of progress and democracy, free rein is given to radical elements and extremist groups that reject civilization itself and seek to plunge it into the ancient past, into chaos and barbarism.

The history of the past few years graphically illustrates all of this. It is enough to see what has happened in the Middle East, which some players have tried to reshape and reformat to their liking and to impose on it a foreign development model through externally orchestrated coups or simply by force of arms.

Instead of working together to redress the situation and deal a real blow to terrorism rather than simulating a struggle against it, some of our colleagues are doing everything they can to make the chaos in this region permanent. Some still think that it is possible to manage this chaos.

Meanwhile, there are some positive examples in recent experience. As you have probably guessed, I am referring to the experience of Syria. It shows that there is an alternative to this kind of arrogant and destructive policy. Russia is opposing terrorists together with the legitimate Syrian Government and other states of the region, and is acting on the basis of international law. I must say that these actions and this forward progress has not come easy. There is a great deal of dissension in the region. But we have fortified ourselves with patience and, weighing our every move and word, we are working with all the participants of this process with due respect for their interests.

Our efforts, the results of which were questioned by our colleagues only recently, are now – let me put it carefully – instilling us with hope. They have proved to be very important, correct, professional and timely.

Or, take another example – the clinch around the Korean Peninsula. I am sure you covered this issue extensively today as well. Yes, we unequivocally condemn the nuclear tests conducted by the DPRK and fully comply with the UN Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea. Colleagues, I want to emphasise this so that there is no discretionary interpretation. We comply with all UN Security Council resolutions.

However, this problem can, of course, only be resolved through dialogue. We should not drive North Korea into a corner, threaten force, stoop to unabashed rudeness or invective. Whether someone likes or dislikes the North Korean regime, we must not forget that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a sovereign state.

All disputes must be resolved in a civilised manner. Russia has always favoured such an approach. We are firmly convinced that even the most complex knots – be it the crisis in Syria or Libya, the Korean Peninsula or, say, Ukraine – must be disentangled rather than cut.

The situation in Spain clearly shows how fragile stability can be even in a prosperous and established state. Who could have expected, even just recently, that the discussion of the status of Catalonia, which has a long history, would result in an acute political crisis?

Russia's position here is known. Everything that is happening is an internal matter for Spain and must be settled based on Spanish law in accordance with democratic traditions. We are aware that the country’s leadership is taking steps towards this end.

In the case of Catalonia, we saw the European Union and a number of other states unanimously condemn the supporters of independence.

You know, in this regard, I cannot help but note that more thought should have gone into this earlier. What, no one was aware of these centuries-old disagreements in Europe? They were, were they not? Of course, they were. However, at one point they actually welcomed the disintegration of a number of states in Europe without hiding their joy.

Why were they so unthinking, driven by fleeting political considerations and their desire to please – I will put it bluntly – their big brother in Washington, in providing their unconditional support to the secession of Kosovo, thus provoking similar processes in other regions of Europe and the world?

You may remember that when Crimea also declared its independence, and then – following the referendum – its decision to become part of Russia, this was not welcomed for some reason. Now we have Catalonia. There is a similar issue in another region, Kurdistan. Perhaps this list is far from exhaustive. But we have to ask ourselves, what are we going to do? What should we think about it?

It turns out that some of our colleagues think there are ”good“ fighters for independence and freedom and there are ”separatists“ who are not entitled to defend their rights, even with the use of democratic mechanisms.

As we always say in similar cases, such double standards – and this is a vivid example of double standards – pose serious danger to the stable development of Europe and other continents, and to the advancement of integration processes across the world.

At one time the apologists for globalisation were trying to convince us that universal economic interdependence was a guarantee against conflicts and geopolitical rivalry. Alas, this did not happen. Moreover, the nature of the contradictions grew more complicated, becoming multilayer and nonlinear.

Indeed, while interconnectedness is a restraining and stabilising factor, we are also witnessing an increasing number of examples of politics crudely interfering with economic, market relations. Quite recently there were warnings that this was unacceptable, counterproductive and must be prevented. Now those who made such warnings are doing all this themselves. Some do not even conceal that they are using political pretexts to promote their strictly commercial interests. For instance, the recent package of sanctions adopted by the US Congress is openly aimed at ousting Russia from European energy markets and compelling Europe to buy more expensive US-produced LNG although the scale of its production is still too small.

Attempts are being made to create obstacles in the way of our efforts to forge new energy routes – South Stream and Nord Stream – even though diversifying logistics is economically efficient, beneficial for Europe and promotes its security.

Let me repeat: it is only natural that each state has its own political, economic and other interests. The question is the means by which they are protected and promoted.

In the modern world, it is impossible to make a strategic gain at the expense of others. Such a policy based on self-assurance, egotism and claims to exceptionalism will not bring any respect or true greatness. It will evoke natural and justified rejection and resistance. As a result, we will see the continued growth of tensions and discord instead of trying to establish together a steady and stable international order and address the technological, environmental, climate and humanitarian challenges confronting the entire human race today.

Colleagues,

Scientific and technological progress, robotic automation and digitalisation are already leading to profound economic, social, cultural changes, and changes in values as well. We are now presented with previously inconceivable prospects and opportunities. But at the same time we will have to find answers to plenty of questions as well. What place will people occupy in the “humans–machines–nature” triangle? What actions will be taken by states that fail to provide conditions for normal life due to changes in climate and environment? How will employment be maintained in the era of automation? How will the Hippocratic oath be interpreted once doctors possess capabilities akin to all-powerful wizards? And will human intelligence finally lose the ability to control artificial intelligence? Will artificial intelligence become a separate entity, independent from us?

Previously, when assessing the role and influence of countries, we spoke about the importance of the geopolitical factor, the size of a country’s territory, its military power and natural resources. Of course, these factors still are of major importance today. But now there is also another factor – the scientific and technological factor, which, without a doubt, is of great importance as well, and its importance will only increase over time.

In fact, this factor has always been important, but now it will have game-changing potential, and very soon it will have a major impact in the areas of politics and security. Thus, the scientific and technological factor will become a factor of universal and political importance.

It is also obvious that even the very latest technology will not be able to ensure sustainable development on its own. A harmonious future is impossible without social responsibility, without freedom and justice, without respect for traditional ethical values and human dignity. Otherwise, instead of becoming a world of prosperity and new opportunities, this “brave new world” will turn into a world of totalitarianism, castes, conflicts and greater divisions.

Today growing inequality is already building up into feelings of injustice and deprivation in millions of people and whole nations. And the result is radicalisation, a desire to change things in any way possible, up to and including violence.

By the way, this has already happened in many countries, and in Russia, our country, as well. Successful technological, industrial breakthroughs were followed by dramatic upheavals and revolutionary disruptions. It all happened because the country failed to address social discord and overcome the clear anachronisms in society in time.

Revolution is always the result of an accountability deficit in both those who would like to conserve, to freeze in place the outdated order of things that clearly needs to be changed, and those who aspire to speed the changes up, resorting to civil conflict and destructive resistance.

Today, as we turn to the lessons of a century ago, namely, the Russian Revolution of 1917, we see how ambiguous its results were, how closely the negative and, we must acknowledge, the positive consequences of those events are intertwined. Let us ask ourselves: was it not possible to follow an evolutionary path rather than go through a revolution? Could we not have evolved by way of gradual and consistent forward movement rather than at a cost of destroying our statehood and the ruthless fracturing of millions of human lives.

However, the largely utopian social model and ideology, which the newly formed state tried to implement initially following the 1917 revolution, was a powerful driver of transformations across the globe (this is quite clear and must also be acknowledged), caused a major revaluation of development models, and gave rise to rivalry and competition, the benefits of which, I would say, were mostly reaped by the West.

I am referring not only to the geopolitical victories following the Cold War. Many Western achievements of the 20th century were in answer to the challenge posed by the Soviet Union. I am talking about raising living standards, forming a strong middle class, reforming the labour market and the social sphere, promoting education, guaranteeing human rights, including the rights of minorities and women, overcoming racial segregation, which, as you may recall, was a shameful practice in many countries, including the United States, a few short decades ago.

Following the radical changes that took place in our country and globally at the turn of the 1990s, a really unique chance arose to open a truly new chapter in history. I mean the period after the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Unfortunately, after dividing up the geopolitical heritage of the Soviet Union, our Western partners became convinced of the justness of their cause and declared themselves the victors of the Cold War, as I just mentioned, and started openly interfering in the affairs of sovereign states, and exporting democracy just like the Soviet leadership had tried to export the socialist revolution to the rest of the world in its time.

We were confronted with the redistribution of spheres of influence and NATO expansion. Overconfidence invariably leads to mistakes. The outcome was unfortunate. Two and a half decades gone to waste, a lot of missed opportunities, and a heavy burden of mutual distrust. The global imbalance has only intensified as a result.

We do hear declarations about being committed to resolving global issues, but, in fact, what we see is more and more examples of selfishness. All the international institutions designed to harmonise interests and formulate a joint agenda are being eroded, and basic multilateral international treaties and critically important bilateral agreements are being devalued.

I was told, just a few hours ago, that the US President said something on social media about Russia-US cooperation in the important area of nuclear cooperation. True, this is the most important sphere of interaction between Russia and the United States, bearing in mind that Russia and the United States bear a special responsibility to the world as the two largest nuclear powers.

However, I would like to use this opportunity to speak in more detail about what happened in recent decades in this crucial area, to provide a more complete picture. It will take two minutes at most.

Several landmark bilateral agreements were signed in the 1990s. The first one, the Nunn-Lugar programme, was signed on June 17, 1992. The second one, the HEU-LEU programme, was signed on February 18, 1993. Highly enriched uranium was converted into low-enriched uranium, hence HEU-LEU.

The projects under the first agreement focused on upgrading control systems, accounting and physical protection of nuclear materials, dismantling and scrapping submarines and radioisotope thermoelectric generators. The Americans have made – and please pay attention here, this is not secret information, simply few are aware of it – 620 verification visits to Russia to check our compliance with the agreements. They visited the holiest of holies of the Russian nuclear weapons complex, namely, the enterprises engaged in developing nuclear warheads and ammunition, and weapons-grade plutonium and uranium. The United States gained access to all top-secret facilities in Russia. Also, the agreement was almost unilateral in nature.

Under the second agreement, the Americans made 170 more visits to our enrichment plants, touring their most restricted areas, such as mixing units and storage facilities. The world’s most powerful nuclear enrichment plant – the Urals Electrochemical Combine – even had a permanent American observation post. Permanent jobs were created directly at the workshops of this combine where the American specialists went to work every day. The rooms they were sitting in at these top-secret Russian facilities had American flags, as is always the case.

In addition, a list was drawn up of 100 American specialists from 10 different US organisations who were entitled to conduct additional inspections at any time and without any warning. All this lasted for 10 years. Under this agreement, 500 tonnes of weapons-grade uranium were removed from military circulation in Russia, which is equivalent to about 20,000 nuclear warheads.

The HEU-LEU programme has become one of the most effective measures of true disarmament in the history of humankind – I say this with full confidence. Each step on the Russian side was closely monitored by American specialists, at a time when the United States limited itself to much more modest reductions of its nuclear arsenal, and did so on a purely goodwill basis.

Our specialists also visited enterprises of the US nuclear arms complex but only at their invitation and under conditions set by the US side.

As you see, the Russian side demonstrated absolutely unprecedented openness and trust. Incidentally – and we will probably talk about this later – it is also common knowledge what we received from this: total neglect of our national interests, support for separatism in the Caucasus, military action that circumvented the UN Security Council, such as the bombing of Yugoslavia and Belgrade, the introduction of troops into Iraq and so on. Well, this is easy to understand: once the condition of the nuclear complex, the armed forces and the economy had been seen, international law appeared to be unnecessary.

In the 2000s our cooperation with the United States entered a new stage of truly equitable partnership. It was marked by the singing of a number of strategic treaties and agreements on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which is known in the US as the 123 Agreement. But to all intents and purposes, the US side unilaterally halted work within its framework in 2014.

The situation around the 2000 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) of August 20 (signed in Moscow) and September 1 (in Washington) is perplexing and alarming. In accordance with the protocol to this agreement, the sides were supposed to take reciprocal steps to irreversibly convert weapons-grade plutonium into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and burn it in nuclear plants, so that it could not be used for military purposes. Any changes in this method were only allowed by consent of the sides. This is written in the agreement and protocols to it.

What did Russia do? We developed this fuel, built a plant for mass production and, as we pledged in the agreement, built a BN-800 plant that allowed us to safely burn this fuel. I would like to emphasise that Russia fulfilled all of its commitments.

What did our American partners do? They started building a plant on the Savannah River Site. Its initial price tag was $4.86 billon but they spent almost $8 billion, brought construction to 70 percent and then froze the project. But, to our knowledge, the budget request for 2018 includes $270 million for the closure and mothballing of this facility. As usual, a question arises: where is the money? Probably stolen. Or they miscalculated something when planning its construction. Such things happen. They happen here all too often. But we are not interested in this, this is not our business. We are interested in what happens with uranium and plutonium. What about the disposal of plutonium? Dilution and geological storage of the plutonium is suggested. But this completely contradicts the spirit and letter of the agreement, and, most important, does not guarantee that the dilution is not reconverted into weapons-grade plutonium. All this is very unfortunate and bewildering.

Next. Russia ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty more than 17 years ago. The USA has not done so yet.

A critical mass of problems is building up in global security. As is known, in 2002 the United States pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. And despite being initiators of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and international security, they initiated that agreement themselves, they are failing to meet their commitments. They remain as of today the only and largest holder of this form of weapon of mass destruction. Moreover, the USA has pushed back the deadline for eliminating their chemical weapons from 2007 to as far as 2023. It does not look proper for a nation that claims to be a champion of non-proliferation and control.

In Russia, on the contrary, the process was completed on September 27 of this year. By doing so our country has made a significant contribution to enhancing international security. By the way, the western media preferred to keep quiet, not to notice it, though there was one fleeting mention somewhere in Canada, but that was it, then silence. Meanwhile, the chemical weapons arsenal stockpiled by the Soviet Union is enough to destroy life on the planet multiple times over.

I believe that it is time to abandon an obsolete agenda. I am referring to what was. Without a doubt, we should be looking forward, we have to stop looking back. I am talking about this so as to understand the origins of the current situation that is taking shape.

It is high time for a frank discussion among the global community rather than just a group of the chosen, allegedly the most worthy and advanced. Representatives of different continents, cultural and historical traditions, political and economic systems. In a changing world, we cannot afford to be inflexible, closed off, or unable to respond clearly and quickly. Responsibility for the future – this is what should unite us, especially in times like the current ones when everything is changing rapidly.

Never before has humankind possessed such power as it does now. The power over nature, space, communications, and its own existence. However, this power is diffuse: its elements are in the hands of states, corporations, public and religious associations, and even individual citizens. Clearly, harnessing all these elements in a single, effective and manageable architecture is not an easy task. It will take hard, painstaking work to achieve this. And Russia, I will note, is willing to take part in it together with any partners who are interested.

Colleagues, how do we see the future of the international order and the global governance system? For example, in 2045, when the UN will mark its centennial anniversary? Its creation has become a symbol of the fact that humanity, in spite of everything, is capable of developing common rules of conduct and following them. Whenever these rules were not followed, it inevitably resulted in crises and other negative consequences.

However, in recent decades, there have been several attempts to belittle the role of this organisation, to discredit it, or simply to assume control over it. All these attempts predictably failed, or reached a dead end. In our opinion, the UN, with its universal legitimacy, must remain the centre of the international system. Our common goal is to raise its authority and effectiveness. There is no alternative to the UN today.

With regard to the right of veto in the Security Council, which is also sometimes challenged, you may recall that this mechanism was designed and created in order to avoid direct confrontation of the most powerful states, as a guarantee against arbitrariness and recklessness, so that no single country, even the most influential country, could give the appearance of legitimacy to its aggressive actions.

Of course, let us face it, the experts are here, and they know that the UN has legitimised the actions of individual participants in international affairs after the fact. Well, at least that is something, but it will not lead to any good, either.

Reforms are needed, the UN system needs improvement, but reforms can only be gradual, evolutionary and, of course, they must be supported by the overwhelming majority of the participants in the international process within the organisation itself, by broad consensus.

The guarantee of the UN effectiveness lies in its representative nature. The absolute majority of the world’s sovereign states are represented in it. The fundamental principles of the UN should be preserved for years and decades to come, since there is no other entity that is capable of reflecting the entire gamut of international politics.

Today, new centres of influence and growth models are emerging, civilisational alliances, and political and economic associations are taking shape. This diversity does not lend itself to unification. So, we must strive to harmonise cooperation. Regional organisations in Eurasia, America, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region should act under the auspices of the United Nations and coordinate their work.

However, each association has the right to function according to its own ideas and principles that correspond to its cultural, historical and geographical specifics. It is important to combine global interdependence and openness with preserving the unique identity of each nation and each region. We must respect sovereignty as the basis underlying the entire system of international relations.

Colleagues, no matter what amazing heights technology can reach, history is, of course, made by humans. History is made by people, with all their strengths and weaknesses, great achievements and mistakes. We can have only a shared future. There can be no separate futures for us, at least, not in the modern world. So, the responsibility for ensuring that this world is conflict-free and prosperous lies with the entire international community.

As you may be aware, the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students is taking place in Sochi. Young people from dozens of countries are interacting with their peers and discussing matters that concern them. They are not hampered by cultural, national or political differences, and they are all dreaming about the future. They believe that their lives, the lives of younger generations will be better, fairer and safer. Our responsibility today is to do our best to make sure that these hopes come true.

Thank you very much for your attention. (Applause.)



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you very much, Mr President. I would like to ask you to clarify something. You mentioned science and technology as perhaps the most crucial factor today. Yet even we, the current living generations, remember outbursts of euphoria over the importance of technology, and later that euphoria faded somehow and it became clear that what has always been, the fundamentals – territory, demography – are still eternal, and while technologies are adapted somehow, the fundamentals remain most crucial.

Why do you think it has the potential now to be a game changer?



Vladimir Putin:

The things you mentioned do remain eternal, fundamental values. It is no accident that the Torah calls giving up territory a great sin. Both territory and the wealth of the land, people – those all remain the most crucial factors.

But today there has been a qualitative change. The rate of change is so high. Mr Gref must have told you (he can tell such tales till dawn) that it is becoming plain to see – science and technology is becoming the decisive factor in the area of military security and international politics. Everything is happening so fast, and the changes are irreversible.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you.

I give the floor to Hamid Karzai, who ruled Afghanistan for 10 years. Afghanistan is involved in the ongoing processes, however, unfortunately it is trying to deal mostly with the problems of the past centuries rather than those of the 21st century.

You have a wealth of unique experience indeed. Mr President, the floor is yours.



Hamid Karzai:

Your Excellency, Vladimir Putin, the honourable President of Russia, honoured colleagues on the podium, ladies and gentlemen,

It is such a tremendous honour for me to be among you all today here. I have participated in the deliberations and discussions in the past two days. I have been to many such occasions in the past 15 years. This is among the best. And I hope Mr Bystritsky can invite me again next year.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. The Valdai Discussion Club has raised an issue of creative destruction: will a better world emerge from the current conflicts? Well, I am from a very small country with very limited means. But somehow our location in the past three centuries has thrown us in the middle of the greatest of games. And we have been the centre of those games for good or for worse.

And from my point of view and from the point of view of the Afghan discussion of creative destruction, I would rather use in our case the phrase used by the tsarist foreign minister of Russia at the time, Count Karl Nesselrode. He called the great game of the time a tournament of shadows. When you saw the game at play, you saw shadows but you did not see the actual hands behind unless you looked closer and deeper.

Afghanistan has gone through the tournament of shadows in the past two centuries at least. In the 19th century that Nesselrode called the tournament of shadows between Great Britain and the Russian Empire, Afghanistan was in the middle. We played both sides. But the British happened to be a bit more clever than the Afghans and we lost part of our territory.

And then in the 20th century, with the rise of the Soviet Union as our neighbour and as a great power, from 1919 to 1979 Afghanistan saw the greatest period of its stability on account of having us balanced the Soviet Union and the United States properly. Of course, we were more reliant on the Soviet Union, much closer to the Soviet Union, but also did shake hands in a warm way with the United States and allowed them to come and participate in the building of our country. With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghanistan became the hot spot of the Cold War, or the war turned hot on Afghanistan at the time.

It is this specific period of the Afghan resistance against the former Soviet Union that has left us with tremendous legacies, terrible legacies. While, on the one hand, the Soviet Union was trying to impose Communism on Afghanistan, as His Excellency Mr President referred to the Rogerwood, those who were helping the Afghan resistance, the Americans and their allies and our neighbours, especially Pakistan, they tried to use the Afghan resistance, which we were doing for our liberation, to defeat the Soviet Union through the use of religious radicalism.

So the arrival of those extremist elements into Afghanistan, the import of those elements into Afghanistan and the massive destruction that they tried to cause to the Afghan society, our tradition and culture… We were a Muslim country, a deeply believing Muslim country. But we were a moderate country, never an extremist country. We still are a moderate country. But the US and its allies tried to turn us into an extremist country in order to use religion to defeat the Soviet Union. So they would call our resistance to the Soviet Union as the Americans would fight to the last Afghan with the Soviets.

At the end of that conflict, there were only two losers who were before that close friends, the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. We both suffered badly, Afghanistan much more so. And we see the consequences even today. The United States for a while became the sole super power – or as they wish, the hyper power. Europe did better. Pakistan did much-much better. It became a nuclear power and got all intelligence tools that they needed. Afghanistan suffered and continues to suffer today.

The tragedy of September 11 suddenly brought us once again into the very centre of the world. The US after that tragedy, with the backing of the United Nations, with the backing of Russia, with the backing of China, with the backing of our neighbours Iran and India, and also in a way of Pakistan, and the rest of the international community, intervened in Afghanistan. That intervention in the initial stages succeeded dramatically and most efficiently. Not because of the military might of the United States – I must note this point. Not because of the, what are those planes called? F-52s? M-52s? B-52s. Not because of those planes, not because of the military might of the United States, but because the Afghan people cooperated, it was the first time in our history that the Afghan people cooperated with an invading force, with an arriving foreign force. It was for that that success came within a month and a half.

I do not want to go into the lengths of that. I just want to give you a small story of how I was personally involved.

When the US just arrived, I was in central Afghanistan in the place called Tarinkot in the Oruzgan Province. It was the month of Ramadan. I was having Iftar, or dinner with some colleagues. And suddenly, somebody came to say that the Americans who arrived that night in Tarinkot, a group of fourteen of them, the CIA and the military together, they wanted to see me. As they came in, the man sitting with me was narrating a story, telling me how, while chasing the Taliban, the US planes had accidentally bombed his house, in which he lost three or four of his grandchildren and a daughter. So I was embarrassed. I did not know if I should invite the Americans when this man had suffered so much. I asked them, “Gentlemen, should I invite the Americans?” He said, “Yes, please, by all means, bring them in.” So I invited the Americans. They came in, a colonel and a CIA officer, who later became the Deputy Chief of the CIA, recently retired. When they sat, I told them that this was what had happened to this man and he lost his family in their bombings. And then that man stopped me and said, “No, tell them that I have three, four more children. If in the liberation of Afghanistan I lose the other three children and grandchildren of mine, I will not mind. I want my country liberated.” It was the kind of enthusiasm that they had.

And for a number of years, we did very well. Education, health services, democratic institutions, women’s rights, their arrival on the scene of Afghanistan – because of the support of the Afghan people and because of the support of all the countries present here, primarily, the big powers, Russia, China, Iran and so on. I was taken to the United States on a US plane. I was brought to Moscow, Mr President, on a Russian plane. Your government may have not told you. I came here on a Russian plane. I went to China on a Chinese plane. The Indians provided the same facilities. It was this massive international cooperation with the United States and its allies that made a success.

But soon, we began to get troubles. Extremism arrived again, violence erupted again, terrorism arrived again. And the US did not pay attention to where it was coming from. It began bombing Afghan villages, it began killing Afghan people, it began putting Afghan people in prisons. And the more they did the more we had extremism.

Today, I am one of the greatest critics of the US policy in Afghanistan. Not because I am anti-Western, I am a very Western person. My education is Western, my ideas are Western. I am very democratic in my inner instincts. And I love their culture. But I am against the US policy because it is not succeeding. It is causing us immense trouble and the rise of extremism and radicalism and terrorism. I am against the US policy because on their watch, under their total control of the Afghan air space, the Afghan intelligence and the Afghan military, of all that they have, that super power, there is Daesh in Afghanistan. How come Daesh emerged in Afghanistan 14–15 years after the US presence in Afghanistan with that mass of resources and money and expenditure? Why is the world not as cooperative with America in Afghanistan today as it was before? How come Russia now has doubts about the intentions of the US in Afghanistan or the result of its work in Afghanistan? How come China does not view it the same way? How come Iran has immense difficulty with the way things are conducted in Afghanistan?

Therefore, as an Afghan in the middle of this great game, I propose to our ally, the United States, the following: we will all succeed if you tell us that you have failed. We would understand. Russia would understand, China would understand. Iran, Pakistan, everybody would understand. India would understand. We have our Indian friends there. We see all signs of failure there, but if you do not tell us you failed, what is this, a game?

Of course, we are not going to play the game of extremism there. That is why many people are asking in Afghanistan and elsewhere whether extremism and terrorism is a tool and a pretext, as the honourable President mentioned earlier. Are we really fighting extremism or are we pretending to be fighting extremism? And are we defending our interests at any cost? This is something that I have been facing for years in my deliberations and talks with our colleagues around.

My proposal today is, Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, that in order for us, the international community, with Afghanistan as a place where we have immense suffering… just today we had nearly 50 of our soldiers killed. Yesterday, we had 70 killed. And in the past two days the country has lost 300 people, young men, who have wives and children, who are all very young.

The way forward is this: the United States of America in Afghanistan must begin to re-engage in a new contact with Afghan people. Two: the United States in Afghanistan must begin to re-engage with our neighbours and big powers of the world – that means our neighbours, that means China, that means Russia, that means India – on a clear, transparent platform of objectives. And with this in mind, the international community must support the Afghan mechanism for the resolution of the problems that we have.

The Afghan mechanism today, the best available, is the Grand Council of Afghan People or the Loya Jirga. Your support of this mechanism and the coming together of the international community and really giving Afghanistan the opportunity to own its processes for peace and political development are going to free us from this curse of extremism. Pakistan, our neighbour, has a tremendous role here to play. I wish Pakistan participated in a very civilised dialogue with the Afghan people. Use of extremism, the exploitation of extremism is no solution. It causes trouble for all.

With this, I hope, since the President of Russia is here and we expect a lot of Russia as a neighbour, as an old friend and historical ally, to engage more formidably with the United States and the West on Afghanistan and to lend a supporting hand to the Afghan people to initiate their own mechanisms for the resolution of the problems we have.

And please do send your businesses and investors to Afghanistan. We are too close to you not to have your businesses in our country.

Thank you very much.



Fydor Lukyanov:

Thank you, Mr President. You have brought us back to more practical current topics. I have only one small question for you. I hope you have a short answer to it.

You have said that you have democratic instincts in general. Could that be your problem? We often talk in the Valdai Club about democracy as a great form of government but in the modern world, it often comes across many difficulties and sometimes produces the opposite effect. Maybe democracy is not what Afghanistan needs? Maybe you should try something else?



Hamid Karzai:

We are, as the Americans would say, a hell of a democratic country. Because, as I told you yesterday, each Afghan is a king to himself. We are a very egalitarian country. And egalitarianism gives you the foundations of debate. But it must be our own. It cannot be – I must say this, I am sorry, I do not like to mention this but I must say this – it cannot be John Kerry’s democracy. It has to be ours. He should not come to us to count our votes or to assign the number of votes to this or that candidate. When it is our democracy, when we practice it the way we are, according to our tradition, it works. So, as the Chinese would say, we must choose our own model of development. And that is the right course.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

Actually, John is bad at counting. The process takes him two or three months, so there is no result yet. (Laughter)



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Yes, we can do this much better.



Vladimir Putin:

He is a good guy, but maths do not seem to be his strong point.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you. We look at the essence of democracy. We know that democracy goes hand in hand with a market economy, which has become global in the 21st century.

We are glad that our meeting is being attended by a person who looks at the world from a different perspective. He is Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group. If you please.



Jack Ma:

Mr. President Putin,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honour to be invited. I was sitting there thinking why I should have been invited earlier. When I hear so many worries and fears that makes me feel that I am a very happy person because I do not have that much to worry about. I know I have a lot to worry about, but I do not have to worry as much as the Presidents have to worry about.

I was born in 1960s, in a country, China, full of Soviet movies, and stories and sounds. So I think Russia and China share a lot of similarities. Both countries came from a lot of problems, and came from a lot of suspicion. But every time I come to Russia, I feel more and more confidence in Russia, especially this time in Moscow. I spent three days walking around and looking around. I see that the city is getting cleaner. There is more order and, of course, more traffic. This is why we think that Alibaba should join forces with the development of Russia.

Yesterday I went to Moscow University, and I had a wonderful time with the young people, the talents there. I see their anxiety, and I see their creativity and the imagination the young people have in Russia. I think Alibaba should have the great opportunity to work with Russian young scientists, engineers, to develop something that is good for the future, for tomorrow.

Last year, I flew in the air for 867 hours, and I have been to many countries. I feel that the world is full of worries and fears. The area I worry about, an area a lot of people worry about, is technology. I think when we worry about technology, and worry that the technology will destroy our future, I think that if we have more imagination, if we have more confidence, we will feel much better.

In 1995, when I started my internet business in China, I was invited to join a group of experts, IT Expert Discussion, in Beijing, about 30 people. We sat in a room discussing how terrible the internet will be, what are the things we should worry about, any policy we should make. We had a whole night discussing the worries about the internet. Today, twenty years past, those things we worried about never came up. Those things we never worried about all came up.

I am very thankful for those worries, because this gave Alibaba opportunity. We did not have a lot of smart competitors join us. We grew so fast over the past 18 years, today we create more than 33 million jobs for China, and we ourselves made last year over $550 billion. Where other people worry, we try to figure out the way how to solve the worries.

Today, many things have changed, but people still worry about internet. They even worry more. It reminds me of the yearly days when people worried about cars, when automobiles were designed. People worried more about car accidents, rather the great things that the car would bring to human lives. I noticed that people worry about data, about privacy, people worry about security. I think that the worst thing we should worry about is the worry itself. A lot of countries, because of worry, they lose a lot of things. In Europe today, we do not see a lot of big internet companies. One of the reasons is that they worry too much, I think. The worry will stop us from being more creative, being more confident, and stop young people from getting more opportunities. We do not have solutions for the future, but there are solutions for the future. We do not have solutions for tomorrow, but our young people will have solutions for tomorrow.

Yesterday, when I saw young people at Moscow University, I know they are trying their best. I think they will have solutions for the future. So trust the young people, trust our future. Young people never worry about their future. In all the universities I go to, everyone I speak to, people never worry about the future. They worry about us. They worry about stupid decisions we make for them. Most of the stupid policy decisions we made are all out of great intentions, and are taken with kindness. This is something the young people worry about. I have been working in Alibaba. We have 60,000 great, excellent young people from all over the world. In order to lead them, to lead those smart people, they need a stupid leader like me. They need to stay foolish, stay optimistic, and always try to find solutions for tomorrow. This is how I work with smart people.

Today the world has 1.8 billion people using internet. They speak, they check information, they communicate, and do all those things you can do through the internet. But they are not happy, because today young people do not want to be informed, they want to get involved. My grandfather got all the information through a newspaper. My father got information through the radio. I got my information from TV. We were all told to do this. But the internet gives young people the opportunity to get involved. They want to be the masters of themselves. Very soon, we are going to have four to five billion people on the internet. All the problems we have today will become bigger problems, if we do not see this with great optimism.

The other thing I wanted to say is that if there is something we should really worry about, is we should worry about the education system. Whether you like or do not like it, the technology revolution is coming. Nobody can stop it. But the way we teach our kids, the curriculums we teach our kids, the subjects we teach our kids, will stop our kids from getting jobs. Because one thing is sure: the computer is going to be much smarter than human beings. If we keep on teaching our kids the way we taught over the past one hundred years, our kids will be losing jobs or will not be able to find jobs over the next thirty years. Computers can remember better, computers can calculate better, computers never have this kind of human anguish. This is something we should teach our kids: to be more creative. We should teach our kids to be more innovative. We should teach our kids to be more constructive.

I want every government to pay special attention to the education system over the next 30 years. We worry about data technology, but data technology is something that might be the solution to solve the world’s sustainability, solve the world problem of inclusiveness. We are entering into a new world, but very few people really understand how powerful it is, how revolutionary it is. If you do not think positively, you will not have a positive result. If you think negative, you will surely have a negative result. Today we worry, we feel pain about the internet. But I would tell you: we are not even entering the growing pain of internet technology. Every technology takes about fifty years. The first twenty years is about internet technology companies. The next thirty years is about the application of this technology. The next thirty years will be the years when the technology of those companies will be used to do good. The car was not invented in America, but America made use of it. Electricity was not invented in America, but America used it.

People talk about the digital time, and IT time. I would say, the world is shifting from IT to DT. DT is not the Digital Time. It is Data Time. Digital Time is the upgraded version of IT Time. DT is totally different from IT. I do not have time to explain it. Someday we will have a better time to discuss it.

Data Time is a new theory. Data technology is the solution to solve a lot of problems we have today. For example, people worry about privacy, people worry about security. We use data to use internet technology, to use internet financing. We have given loans to over five million small businesses. Every small business gets a loan from us of less than $5,000. The procedure is 3–1–0. They apply within three minutes. Within one second the money will be on the account, and zero people touch it. So the 3–1–0 approach solves a lot of problems for increasing financing. This is what data brings us. IT technology makes us strong. DT technology is to empower the others. With IT technology, we compete with knowledge. With DT technology, we compete with wisdom. IT technology we compete with muscle. DT technology – we compete with brain. IT makes us know the world better. DT will know the human being better.

People always say, what is the difference between smart and wise? Smart people know what they want. Wise people know what they do not want. This is what we believe. DT is the human behaviour. By learning the behaviours, we will understand ourselves better. When we understand ourselves better, we will know what we do not want. I believe that the world has a lot of worries and a lot of problems, because we want too much. A lot of things we want, we get, but actually we do not want them. In the IT Time, 20 percent of the countries succeed, and 80 percent of the countries do not have a chance. IT is 20/80, but DT is 80/20. We have to care for those 80 percent of the countries, developing countries, young people, and small businesses. We should ensure that the technology is inclusive.

About globalisation, I think globalisation has nothing wrong. But globalisation today is not perfect. It is only a baby. One thousand years ago, global trade was determined by a few kings and queens. The last thirty or forty years, globalisation benefited only 60,000 big companies. What if we can support 60 million small and medium-sized companies that can grow global trade? What if we can help young people so that they can buy, sell, pay, deliver and travel globally?

We think that over the last century, massive, large-scale standardisation is the key. This century, with personal-made, with small and medium-sized companies we may have a lot of things that are different. I want to say that with DT Time, the world will be different. We can make the world more fair. We will make the technology to empower more young people, more small businesses. Our businesses grow, because we support using technology, support young people only, we support SME only. Globalisation can never be stopped, because the world is movable.

The other thing is that we should never stop trade. When trade stops, war starts. Trade is something to build trust. When we build trade, we respect the other culture. When we do trade, it means that we appreciate the other culture. So we should encourage more trade. We should encourage more young people, small and big business to engage across the board. I think that the world needs not only a G20, we also need a G200. The world should not only have a B20, but also a B200.

Of course, the way we do trade will be totally different. We are not going to do trade going to trade shows, trade fairs. Most of the business will be done on the internet. In the future, the trade will not be done through containers. Trade will be done through packages. In the future business will not be B2C. In the future, the business will be C2B. This is what we believe. We think in the future there will be no Made in China, no Made in America, no Made in Russia. It is going to be Made in internet. You can design here, transport there, manufacture in this country. The thing is that we should not worry that trade will stop. We should worry about what kind of policies we should use to encourage global trade. With what kind of policies we can encourage young people, small businesses?

Finally, I want to say that DT technology will kill a lot of jobs. But most of these jobs are stupid jobs. These jobs are not supposed to be done by computers, are not supposed to be done by human beings. Over the past one hundred years, we made people like a machine. Now we make machines like people. But the right way to do it is to make over the next ten-twenty years a machine like a machine and people like people. A machine will never be able to conquer human beings. Machines are smart, machines are stronger and faster, but a machine does not have a soul, does not have values, does not have a belief that people have. So we should not make a machine think like a human being. We should make a machine learn like human beings.

This is what I want finally to say: technology is scary. The first technology revolution caused World War I. The second technology revolution caused, directly or indirectly, World War II. Now we are in the third technology revolution. What if a Third World War? If the human beings do not have the same enemy, we will fight among ourselves. The enemy should be poverty, the enemy should be environment, the enemy should be disease. I think that all those countries: China, Russia, USA, European, should share the technology, unite together to fight this war, and this is the war that, if we fight it together, young people will be much happier.

Finally, the bad news is that we are entering into a world that we do not know. The good news is no one knows. Please pay special attention to the next thirty years. Please, pay special attention to those people who are below 30 years old, because they might be the leaders of tomorrow. They are the challengers, they are the changers. Please, pay attention to those companies who have less than 30 employees. If we pay attention to small, and small is powerful, small is beautiful, and if we pay attention to the young people, small businesses, I think that the world economy could be much more sustainable.

Thank you very much.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

So, this is the source of optimism. I love business, it makes things simpler. It shows that anything is possible. It is nice when a person believes and is certain that there is a solution for everything. I have no questions, because everything has become clear to me.

We need to balance our discussion again so the last person to speak will be Mr Asle Toje from the expert community. I hope you will bring a few shadows back to our discussion.



Asle Toje:

I will certainly do my very best. First of all, I would like to say that I am honoured to be here at this panel, representing, what I gather, is the academics, alongside the representative, the leader of a great power, the former leader of a small power and a titan of industry.

I would like to take this opportunity initially to thank the organisers of this Valdai Forum, the discussion club. You have done a great job, and the four days that have passed have been inspiring, and it’s given us a chance to get to know the Russian perspectives, but also to be discussing our common global challenges in the most forthright manner.

Then, to the matter at hand. Human history, my friends, is characterised by prolonged periods of stability being interrupted by short sharp shocks, and those shocks are often associated with war, creating creativity, but, let us be honest, mostly destruction. The most dangerous moments in international politics, political science teaches us, occur when a rising power is about to change places with an established power. The established power will then grow less inclined to uphold the rules of the system that it has created, being disappointed that it has allowed other actors to grow powerful within it. The rising powers, on the other hand, are frequently less unhappy about the established system, feeling that it has been weighed so as to prolong the dominance of the established powers, and this is frequently true, all sides of it.

What happens, according to scholars, such as Robert Gilpin, is that as the international community grows less certain about the established powers’ willingness to police the system, this can encourage risky behaviour, uncertainty, insecurity. Recently there has been a book making the rounds called The Thucydides Trap. Those of you not familiar with Thucydides, it is a Greek thinker who wrote about the Peloponnesian wars, and explained that wars that broke out between Athens and Sparta, and the wars at the rise of Athens, and the fears that this created in Sparta made war unavoidable. Graham Allison, who wrote the book The Thucydides Trap, he has examined 15 cases of power transition that has taken place in the 15th century, and what he found, he said, in 12 out of 16 cases, the established, the incumbent power and the rising power have ended up in war, and, therefore, this should really focus our minds, because we are living through a period of power transition right now.

Over the years there has been much discussion about the world becoming multipolar. I do not really believe in that. Frankly, if anything, the world is becoming more bipolar. The United States is still, by far, the most powerful actor in the international system, although China and its economy is growing so quickly that if it has not already surpassed the American economy, it will do so in the short to medium term, it depends on what measures one chooses. China is no match for the United States militarily, but Russia has still got one of the most awesome military arsenals, especially nuclear weapons, of any state in the world. And we have seen, well, in accordance, it is predictable when you look at the balance of power theory, the rapprochement between China and Russia, these two states sticking closer together. This is going to provide a great challenge to the United States and how the United States and the West meet this challenge, will determine how we will live, and if we will live, in the years to come.

I think the West has had great difficulties dealing with the rise of challengers. I would like to remind you that the West was never so powerful as it were in the years immediately after the Cold War. During the Cold War the West had developed, you know, to use a medical expression, a blood circulation system, a nervous system from institutions that allow a permanent flow of humans, capital, ideas, merchandise, which became the beginning of globalisation. And many in the West saw globalisation as westernisation, and it has come as somewhat of a negative surprise that other actors have taken aspects of globalisation and made it their own, and have been very successful in doing so.

Therefore, in the West, the current times are often seen as a time of uncertainty and fears. I think it was very well pointed out in the last presentation, this agonising over the future, and we often forget that for many others, especially on the Eurasian continent, this is a golden era, and in the Eurasian continent we’re seeing a lot of power accumulating, we’re seeing roads, cities, train networks snaking through the post-Soviet wilderness, and creating a fabulous amount of wealth and dynamism. And we see, and this is also globally, that we are living through a time of great technological progress, a time of engineering marvels that have been unsurpassed in human history. And at the same time, we see an international system that is, if not a new Cold War, then certainly at a low ebb since the end of the Cold War.

So, where the optimists, especially the champions of business, see connectivity and interdependence as being our future, the pessimists see chaos, a world that is no longer governable. I think that we will find that chaos and connectivity will coexist, and that we will have both at the same time. I think, in the West there is a crisis of liberalism, there is crisis of a very particular kind of liberalism that has been met with a great amount of public dissent in a great many countries. I do not think liberalism is dead, but I do think that the specific form of liberalism, the one-eyed over-certain type of liberalism so eager to impose itself on others, has gone somewhat out of fashion.

In Eurasia, I think, some of the adherents to authoritarian capitalism frequently forget that the great advantage of democracy is not unfiltered public opinion into the realm of policy. The great strength of democracy is independent institutions and dynamic institutions. And I think that adherents to authoritarian democracy will find a problem, as their countries are going through these titanic changes where people are seeing in their own lifetimes greater changes, changes to absolutely every single facet of their life: how they live, where they live, what they work with, how their families operate, everything, how they adhere to religion, everything. That is going to create a lot of uncertainty, a lot of anguish in these societies, and I think that the state institutions are going to find it difficult to keep pace with the public mood. That I think is going to be the corresponding challenge for countries that we, in the West, at least, call authoritarian, adherents to authoritarian capitalism.

We are now seeing a period of greater rivalry. And let us keep in mind: competition is good, competition is what drives humanity forward, we shouldn’t be afraid of competition. What we should be afraid of is making enemies of each other. The Russian President gave a comprehensive list of Russian grievances, and, as far as I can see, many of these grievances are legitimate, and should be taken very seriously. And I have to say that in the West, the West have their own list of grievances directed at Russia and other actors. I think it might be a good idea if we put those lists away somehow and try to cooperate better. It is quite interesting to see that the dynamism that we see in the globalisation of the economy has not been replicated in the dynamism of the international institutions. Many of the international institutions, as the Russian President rightly pointed out, have been eroded in the last years, and we do need to reverse that trend.

And I think that the path forward to peace, and nobody’s going to be surprised that I say this coming from the research wing of the Norwegian Nobel institute, I think we can learn something from the last will and testament of Alfred Nobel, where he singled out three charges, three suggestions for how to foster peace. He focuses on the importance of disarmament, the importance of institutions and the importance of good will, the will to work for fraternity amongst nations. And I think, in order to achieve this, we’re going to need statesmanship, there’s no way around it. And I think that is my appeal and my suggestion for this panel.

Thank you.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you.

I know that you have no relation to the Nobel Committee, the organisation that awards the Nobel Prize, but you do work at the Nobel Institute. I cannot help but ask, now that it has been mentioned: just two weeks ago, we learned about the new winner of the Nobel Peace Prize – a movement that advocates a complete nuclear weapons’ ban. Forgive me, but do you think they really believe in this utopia – that anyone would abandon their nuclear weapons, which in some sense guarantee stability – or is this just a gesture to indicate the right way of thinking?



Asle Toje:

Well, if it is utopia, then Russia believes in this utopia, the United States believes in this utopia, this has been frequently stated in the UN, in the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The established powers have committed to working for a world without nuclear weapons. ICAN, when, and I do not speak on the behalf of the Committee, but in their statement the Committee said the Nobel Peace Prize had two issues that were lifted forth. One – bringing attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear war, and I think this is something that cannot be stated too often. The use of nuclear weapons is totally unacceptable, and I think this is something where public opinion matters. I think that, especially, we have been talking about the young; I think the young need to weigh in on the policymakers.

The second issue is that ICAN has brought forth a new attempt, or a new path towards bringing about a world with less, with fewer, or with no nuclear weapons. This is one of the few new initiatives on the horizon at a time where many of the established policies are bogged down and are not moving at all. And I do not think anybody should be surprised that the Norwegian Nobel Committee focuses on nuclear weapons. No single issue has been singled out by the Nobel Committee more often than nuclear disarmament. Ten Nobel prizes has had this in its rationale, so nobody should be surprised.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Then I will have to try to convince you, Mr President. If they have awarded ten Nobel Prizes; and even in our time, our country – then the Soviet Union – put forward the idea of a complete ban, maybe we should return to it?



Vladimir Putin:

Our colleague from the Nobel Institute is partly right.

I you ask me whether nuclear disarmament is possible or not, I would say, yes, it is possible. Does Russia want universal nuclear disarmament or not? The answer is also yes – yes, Russia wants that and will work for it. This is the good part.

However, as always, there are issues that make you think. Modern high-tech nuclear powers are developing other types of weapons, with higher precision and only slightly inferior to nuclear weapons in their destructive force. Nuclear weapons include bombs and missiles that hit large areas, carrying a powerful charge that affects a huge territory with the power of both the explosion and radiation. Modern high-tech armed forces are trying to develop and put into service high-precision weapons, which come close to nuclear weapons in their destructive power; not quite, but close.

I think that if we take this seriously – I can see what is happening in the world: those who say they are ready, are ready as much as they have progressed in the development and deployment of new weapon systems. I must say right away that we will be ready for this too, while carefully following what is happening in the world, as soon as our country has new non-nuclear weapon systems, even non-nuclear ones.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

I see. Thank you very much. Colleagues, we have come to the second part. We have a unique opportunity to ask questions.

Dmitry Suslov, let us begin with you.



Dmitry Suslov:

Mr President, Dmitry Suslov, Higher School of Economics, Valdai Club.

I would like to carry on with the nuclear topic, or, to be exact, to emphasise the sector where, as I see it, there is destruction but no creation yet. I mean arms control, first of all nuclear arms.

You were right to say that the military and strategic situation in the world is changing fundamentally, or has already changed. This includes the precision-guided non-nuclear munitions, as well as the missile and even cyber defence, which is considered a combat sphere today. However, instead of developing a concept of the new international strategic stability or adapting the old rules of arms control to the new situation, we, unfortunately, see only the destruction of the old rules without the formulation of new ones.

You were right to say that 2002, when the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, was like opening Pandora’s box. Unfortunately, we have to admit that Russia is taking part in this dismantling process, as well.

You have mentioned the plutonium agreement, I mean the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement. Last year Russia suspended it. The process has gone so far that the 1987 INF Treaty [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty] is in question, and the US Congress not only allows the Trump Administration to withdraw from it, but even approve a budget bill that would force them to produce the intermediate-range missile. And the extension of New START is also questionable.

It turns out that by choosing this way we, in fact, are regressing back to the 1950s, which, as you know, ended in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Are we ready for this situation, taking into account the global strategic situation, which is more difficult and complex than in the 1950s? What must Russia and all of us do to provide for this evolutionary transition to new strategic stability?



Vladimir Putin:

We are not going back to the 1950s. Attempts have been made to push us back there. You have mentioned some agreements. There are three agreements in which we have suspended our membership. Why did we do so? Because our American partners are not doing anything.

We cannot do everything alone. We took a unilateral decision to eliminate our chemical weapons, and we have eliminated them, as I said in my opening remarks. But our American partners said they would not do the same yet, because they do not have the money for this.

They have no money? The American mint is printing dollars, but they have no money. We found the money to build plants for the destruction of chemical weapons. I believe we built eight such plants, investing huge funds in construction and in training personnel. It was a titanic job. We are now thinking about other ways to use these facilities.

As I have said when speaking about plutonium, we have created a scheme for turning weapons-grade plutonium into mixed oxide fuel. It took money and effort as well, for the matter concerns investment. We have built a reactor and coordinated the method for destroying this plutonium with the Americans. But then they took a unilateral step in violation of the agreement without even notifying us of this as partners should. How did we know this? We learned about this from a budget submission to the Congress. They asked for millions of dollars to finance a new utilisation method and postponed the process for an unspecified period.

No, this is not how it should be. Under this new American method, plutonium can be converted back to weapons-grade. We have not withdrawn from these agreements, but we have suspended them, expecting a normal reaction from our partners. We hope they will resume the negotiations.

As for the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, I fully agree with you. I have said many times, and others have too – all experts agree on this – that this treaty was the cornerstone of international security in the sphere of strategic arms. But no, years of negotiations with our American friends have failed to convince them to remain within the limits of this treaty.

Now we hear that New START does not work either. We are not going to withdraw from it, although something may not work with us either. This is always a part of some kind of compromise. However, it is better to have some agreements rather than none at all. If we understand this, we will do everything to meet our commitments, and we will meet them.

Now back to the INF Treaty, on medium and short-range missiles. They always said, well, not always, but recently we have been hearing many accusations about Russia violating this treaty by cooking up something. Maybe we would be tempted to do just that if we had no airborne and sea-based missiles. Now we have them. The US had such missiles, and we did not.

When we agreed to eliminate the intermediate- and shorter-range missiles, the deal concerned Pershing missiles, which are land-based, and our missile systems.

Incidentally, when our intermediate- and shorter-range missiles were eliminated, our chief engineer committed suicide, because he believed that it was betrayal of his country. This is a tragic story; let us change it.

However, the US still has both airborne and sea-based missiles. In fact, this was unilateral disarmament for the Soviet side as well, but now we have both airborne and sea-based missiles. You can see how effective the Kalibr missiles are: from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Caspian Sea, from the air or from submarines, whatever you wish.

Moreover, besides Kalibr, with an operational range of 1,400 km, we have other airborne missile systems, very powerful ones with an operational range of 4,500 km. We believe that we have only balanced out the situation. If someone does not like it and wishes to withdraw from the treaty, for example, our American partners, our response would be immediate, I would like to repeat this warning. Immediate and reciprocal.

However, we have complied and we will comply with our old treaties, as long as our partners comply as well.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Pyotr Dutkevich.



Pyotr Dutkevich:

Pyotr Dutkevich, Carleton University, Canada.

Mr President, first of all, thank you for keeping in touch with us, it is a great pleasure.

At the beginning of October, Canada joined the Magnitsky Act. Many countries have announced that they are ready to support this law, too. Are you not worried about the consequences of this process? Would you mind commenting on this fact?



Vladimir Putin:

When the situation with Magnitsky, who lost his life in prison, occurred, I was not working in foreign policy or security. I was Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, but, of course, I knew what was going on, I observed and discussed this with Dmitry Medvedev, who was the President back then. This seemed strange and completely unexpected for us that such a tragic event, and the death of a person whatever he was charged with is always tragic, became the source of such political games.

What do I think about what you have just said, about Canada joining or wanting to join, or about somebody else wanting to do it? These are all some very unconstructive political games over things, which are in essence not what they look like, to be treated in such a way or to fuss about so much. What lies underneath these events? Underneath are the criminal activities of an entire gang led by one particular man, I believe Browder is his name, who lived in the Russian Federation for ten years as a tourist and conducted activities, which were on the verge of being illegal, by buying Russian company stock without any right to do so, not being a Russian resident, and by moving tens and hundreds of millions of dollars out of the country and hence avoiding any taxes not only here but in the United States as well.

According to open sources, I mean American open sources, please look up Ziff Brothers, the company Mr Browder was connected with, which has been sponsoring the Democratic Party and, substantially less, the Republican Party during recent years. I think the latest transfer, in the open sources I mean, was $1,200,000 for the Democratic Party. This is how they protect themselves.

In Russia, Mr Browder was sentenced in his absence to 9 years in prison for his scam. However, no one is working on it. Our prosecution has already turned to the appropriate US agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General for certain information so we can work together on this. However, there is simply no response. This is just used to blow up more anti-Russian hysteria. Nobody wants to look into the matter, into what is actually beneath it. At the bottom of it, as usual, is crime, deception and theft.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55882
__________________
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 October 21st, 2017 #652
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club - PART II



October 19, 2017 - 20:10 - Sochi





Fyodor Lukyanov:

Rein Muellerson.



Rein Muellerson:

Thank you.

My question is to President Putin. In your speech, you mentioned Catalonia. My observations suggest that, normally, independence is achieved then and there, where some major powers or at least regional players are interested in this independence or in case no one pays attention to this.

In your speech in March 2014 with respect to Crimea, where, by the way, I was a month ago and I must say I really enjoyed it, you cited the advisory opinion of the International Court on Kosovo. The declaration of Kosovo's independence indeed violates international law. The aerial bombings of Serbia due to Kosovo were also in breach of international law.

It seems to me that Kosovo opened up Pandora's box. The independence of the Kurds in Iraq meets the aspirations of no one but the Kurds and perhaps also the Israeli interests. However, this is not enough. The whole of Europe and the European Union are worried about Catalan independence. Madrid is using force, relatively moderate force, against supporters of an independent Catalonia.

My question to you is as follows. Apart from following the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, how could Russia help resolve similar conflicts so as, on the one hand, not to encourage the “parade of sovereignties,” while, on the other hand, helping ethnic groups and minorities, whose aspirations are not met by the authorities? What would be Russia's position in such cases?

One thing I cannot help mentioning. You spoke of the “turbulent” 90s and I recalled how Andrei Kozyrev once told President Nixon that Russia had no national interests, only common human interests. Nixon shook his head.

Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

This shows that Nixon has a head, while Mr Kozyrev, unfortunately, has not. He has a cranium but no head as such.

As for the “parade of sovereignties,” as you said, and our attitude towards this… Actually, I believe, on a global scale, the creation of mono-ethnic states is not a panacea against possible conflicts, but just the opposite. Because after various partitions and sovereignties, the creation of mono-ethnic states might lead to clashes in the fight for the realisation of the interests of the newly established mono-ethnic states. That is what is likely to happen.

This is why people who live in a unified state within common boundaries have a greater chance that their state will pursue a balanced policy. Look at Russia. Muslims constitute nearly 10 percent of our population, which is a lot. They are not foreigners or migrants. Russia is their only homeland, and they see it as their homeland. What has this encouraged us to do? I suggested that we seek observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. This influences our domestic and foreign policies, and makes our policy better balanced and attentive to this part of the international community. The same is true for other countries.

As for the ruling of the UN court, I have it. I did not cite it so as not to waste your time. I read the ruling because I knew that we would touch on this matter. You are experts, and so you know everything about it. However, I would like to remind you. On November 8, 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 63/3. Question: Does the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo’s temporary institutions comply with international law? This question was forwarded to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

On July 22, 2010, after two years of deliberations, the Hague Court issued an Advisory Opinion that the declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted on February 17, 2008 did not violate international law. The court ruling concerns not just Kosovo, but also the applicability of international law to the declaration of independence by any part of any state in principle. In this sense, you are absolutely right that this broad interpretation does not apply to Kosovo. It was a ruling that opened Pandora’s box. Yes, you are absolutely right about this. Bull’s eye.

Look at what the court ruling of July 22, 2010, says. Paragraph 79: “The practice of States in these latter cases does not point to the emergence in international law of a new rule prohibiting the making of a declaration of independence in such cases.” Paragraph 81: “No general prohibition against unilateral declarations of independence may be inferred from the practice of the [UN] Security Council.” Paragraph 84: “the Court considers that general international law contains no applicable prohibition of declarations of independence. Accordingly, it concludes that the declaration of independence of 17 February 2008 did not violate general international law.” Here it is, in black and white.

How all the Western countries pushed for it and pressurised this International Court in the Hague! We know for certain that the US had a written recommendation for the International Court. The State Department wrote, “The principle of territorial integrity does not exclude the establishment of new states in the territory of existing states.” Below: “Declarations of independence can (and often do) violate domestic legislation. However, this does not mean that it is a violation of international law.” Further, “In many cases, including Kosovo, the circumstances of the Declaration of Independence can mean fundamental respect of international law on the part of the new state.”

Germany: “This is a matter of peoples’ right to self-determination. International law pertaining to the territorial integrity of states does not apply to such peoples.” They decided to declare independence, well, good for them. And the integrity principles do not apply to this state.

The United Kingdom: “Secession, or the declaration of independence, does not contradict international law in itself.”

France: “It (international law) does not allow, but does not forbid it (secession or separation) in general.” So here you are.

Then there was the reaction to this Court ruling. Here is what Ms Clinton wrote (somebody may have worked with her) after the ruling: “Kosovo is an independent state, and its territory is inviolable. We call on all states not to become overly focused on Kosovo’s status and make their own constructive contribution to supporting peace and stability in the Balkans. We urge the countries that have not yet recognised Kosovo to do so.”

Germany: “The consultative ruling of the International Court confirms our legal assessment of the legitimacy of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. It reinforces our opinion that the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo are undeniable.”

France: “The independence of Kosovo is irreversible. The ruling of the International Court, which terminated the legal debates on the matter, has become a milestone and will allow all parties to dedicate themselves to other important issues to be resolved.”

Now, “other important issues” have arisen today, and today, when these “other important issues” have arisen, including in Catalonia, nobody likes it. Nobody! This is exactly what I called double standards. This example is the Pandora’s box that has been opened, and the genie that was let out of the bottle.

What is our position on this case? I said, I was saying, if you listened carefully, I was saying that we hoped that the problem would be resolved based on Spanish legislation and Constitution. I believe this is the end of it. The end of it. However, of course, we have to be careful in such issues and very sensitive to everything that is going on. We hope that everything will be resolved within the framework of democratic institutions and procedures; there will be no more political prisoners and so on. However, this is an internal issue of a country. I think this is enough.

Thank you.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

For those of you who may have forgotten, President Putin is a lawyer by training, so debating him may be a challenge.

Margarita Simonyan [editor-in-chief of the Russia Today television channel], please.



Margarita Simonyan:

Good afternoon,

Thank you, Mr President, for your shocking story about the American flags at our nuclear facilities.

Mr Hamid Karzai, thank you for your bold and honest position.

Mr Jack Ma, thank you for the inexpensive Chinese-made ceiling lamp that I bought on Alibaba. (Laughter)

However, if I may, I would like to talk about issues that concern me. You may have heard that Russia Today and Sputnik – our media working abroad – have been subjected recently not just to pressure, but real harassment at their place of work.

As recently as two days ago, Hillary Clinton said that the alleged Russian interference in the elections, for which we are primarily blamed (half of the CIA report on this topic was about Russia Today and Sputnik, and my name was mentioned 27 times in it) is comparable to the 9/11 attacks.

We are required to register as foreign agents. As we know from the media, the FBI opened an investigation into our activities. Our journalists have come under incredible pressure: every day they read about how they will never be able to get a job anywhere else. Yesterday, the Foreign Office of Great Britain chewed out deputies who continue to appear on our broadcasts. What will happen next is anyone’s guess.

A year ago, people from the State Department told me that they respect freedom of speech, and as long as no restrictive measures are applied to US media in Russia, no such measures will be applied to us. However, these measures are being applied to us already, at a time when huge numbers of American and other media, including Russian language media, continue to operate in Russia. I can only praise them, as they are doing a great job and have vast budgets that are tens of times larger than those available to our media.

You may be surprised, but by some criteria, such as citations in social media, Radio Liberty ranks first among all Russian radio stations. You once joked that you have no one to talk to since Mahatma Gandhi died. Everyone had a good laugh back then, but in the end this is exactly how it looks – we are in a situation where Russia is a more democratic country than the countries that taught us democracy. Russia maintains several positions. One of them is that our response should be proportionate, and only such a response will force them to leave us be. Another position is that we should turn the other cheek and take the high road. May I ask you, what is your position in this regard?



Vladimir Putin:

First, about the situation around our information resources, such as Russia Today and Sputnik. Their capacity cannot compare with what our colleagues have in the US, in Europe; they simply cannot compare. We do not have so-called global media, mass media with global reach. This is the monopoly of the Anglo-Saxon world, primarily the United States.

Indeed, we have been told all along that it is absurd and even undemocratic to pressure any lawfully functioning media outlets, to close or persecute them, to exert pressure on journalists. There is only one democratic way to fight things one does not like, for both the authorities and the opposition: to express your opinion, but to express it so vividly, colourfully and brilliantly that people would believe you and accept your point of view, follow you and stand by you and support your position. All the rest is undemocratic.

What we see happening around our media now – I repeat, they are far less powerful than the US or British media – I simply do not know how to describe this. “Confusion” is too mild. They have turned everything upside down.

Regarding interference or non-interference: everyone knows, the whole world knows what the British or American media do. They directly and constantly influence internal political processes in almost all countries. How else are we to interpret what the media do, especially those outlets that work in, say, the political segment of the media?

They do influence things, of course, by expressing a certain point of view – in this case, we are talking about Russia’s point of view. And even so, they do not always take Russia’s point of view. I cannot monitor them all the time, but sometimes I see what Russia Today broadcasts. Its team includes journalists from various countries: Americans, and British, I believe, and Germans, too. They do excellent work. Really talented people. I sometimes marvel at the courage and talent they possess to lay everything out so clearly, precisely and fearlessly – my hat is off to them. Apparently, this is the key to Russia Today and Sputnik’s success, but it is also what they are hated for; anyway, it has nothing to do with democracy.

Now about “turning the other cheek.” I have already spoken about our nuclear facilities. It would seem we have disclosed everything we have, there is nowhere else to search, so we expected our American partners to do the same, well, at least to show some consideration for our interests, so that we would be full-fledged partners. As you can see, this is not the case, and even the opposite is true: as soon as they realised that our nuclear sector needs additional investment and modernisation, that our missile technology is growing obsolete, that there are other problems – aha, who would consider a weak partner? No one even talks to them or considers their interests anymore.

Therefore, in this case, all we can do is mirror their actions and rather quickly at that. As soon as we see any moves that limit the activities of our media in any way, a proportionate response will follow.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr Karzai, do you want to add anything? Do you also have problems with foreign agents?



Hamid Karzai:

Just a little note on the media and the role of the international media where the West is very strong. I have a good deal of experience on that from my days in office and subsequently. The alternative media developed by Russia and China are closing the gap, which is very good news. I must also tell you that I know that RT reaches lots of homes in America. And so does CGTN. So the gap is closing. And this alternative availability of media is good for all of us. It is good for the Western audience and good for our audience. So I guess we are going to better days in terms of the free flow of information.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr Erlan Karin, please.



Erlan Karin:

Thank you.

Mr President, we met here last year at a time when the situation in Syria, in particular in Aleppo, had deteriorated. Early this year, we launched the Astana process to settle the Syrian crisis. Delegates from various sides of the conflict and representatives from the guarantor countries – Russia, Turkey and Iran – met for the first time for negotiations in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Since then we have achieved some results, have held several rounds of talks and have signed a number of documents.

How would you describe the intermediate results of the Astana process?

One more thing. These events have cast a new light on the crisis in the Middle East. I am referring to the Kurdish referendum in northern Iraq, which you have mentioned, the military operation in Kirkuk and changes in the overall military situation in Syria. What are the prospects for a settlement in Syria? What do you think about the situation in the Middle East as a whole?



Vladimir Putin:

The first thing I would like to do regarding the Syrian settlement and the Astana process is to thank President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for making it possible for us and the other participants of this process to meet in Astana. Kazakhstan is not just a place where we meet; it is a very suitable venue because Kazakhstan maintains neutrality. It does not interfere in the complicated regional processes and is respected as an intermediary.

I would like to note that at a certain point President Nazarbayev took responsibility for preventing the parties to the conflict and the negotiations from leaving the table. It was a very positive thing to do, and we are sincerely grateful to him for this.

As for where this process stands, it is gaining positive momentum. There have been ups and downs, about which I will speak later, but overall, the process is proceeding positively. Thanks to the stand taken by Turkey, Iran and, of course, the Syrian Government, we were able to narrow the gaps in the sides’ positions on the key issue of ending the violence and creating de-escalation zones. It is the most significant result we have achieved in Syria over the past two years, particularly as part of the Astana process.

I have to note that other countries, including the United States, are greatly contributing; even though they are not participating in the talks in Astana directly, they are influencing these processes behind the scenes. We maintain stable cooperation with our American partners in this sphere, on this track, even though not without disputes. However, there are more positive than negative elements in our cooperation.

So far, we have managed to agree on many issues, including the southern de-escalation zone, where Israeli and Jordanian interests are also present. Of course, this process could not have been what it is now without the positive impact of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as many other countries, small but important, including, by the way, Qatar.

What are the prospects? There is every reason to believe – I will put it cautiously – that we will finish off the terrorists in the short term, but that is no cause for joy, for saying that terrorism is over and done with. Because, first, terrorism as a phenomenon is deeply rooted – it is rooted in the injustice of today’s world, the raw deal that many nations and ethnic and religious groups get, and the lack of comprehensive education in entire countries across the world. The lack of a normal, proper, basic education is fertile soil for terrorism. Therefore, if we finish off the pockets of terrorist resistance in Syria, this certainly does not mean the threat to Syria, the region and the world as a whole is gone – absolutely not. On the contrary, you always have to stay alert.

The rough-going process between the opposition and the government is also a source of concern. The process is under way but is moving very sluggishly, feebly; the parties to the conflict are very distrustful of each other. I hope that it will be possible to overcome this. Based on de-escalation zones, we hope to move on to the next stage. There is an idea to call a congress of the Syrian people, bringing together all ethnic and religious groups, the government and the opposition.

If this could be done, also with support from guarantor countries and even major powers outside the region – Saudi Arabia, the United States and Egypt – that would be the next, additional but very important step toward a political settlement. And then perhaps toward drafting a new Constitution, but it is still early to talk about that. This is roughly the plan.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr President, will the de-escalation zones not lead to the division of Syria?



Vladimir Putin:

Such a threat does exist, but as I said earlier, I do not want this to be a blueprint to partitioning Syria, but on the contrary, a situation where, once the de-escalation zones are in place, the people who control these zones would start making contact with Damascus, with the government.

Actually, this is what is already happening in many places. For instance, in southern Damascus, on a small territory controlled by the armed opposition, people go to work in Damascus and return home every day. You see, life is encouraging communication.

I strongly hope that this practice will evolve in other de-escalation zones as well and that gradually, step by step cooperation will begin on the day-to-day level, which, in my opinion, is bound to grow into long-term political agreements.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Let us look at the Middle East a little more closely.

Ms al-Ketbi.



Ebtesam al-Ketbi:

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, Professor of Political Science and Head of the Emirates Policy Centre. Mr President, it is obvious now that Russia in the Middle East is a really successful country. And a master of the game, especially in Syria. But in the wake of King Salman’s visit, which the Saudi describe as a historical visit, I want to ask you: what is the strategic shift in Russian policy towards the Gulf States? Or is this just something that will not last forever, taking into consideration that GCC used to be a traditional alliance of the US, and this is also another success of Russia by pulling the Saudi towards Russia? Is this a real shift or you still do not trust the Gulf States?



Vladimir Putin:

The world is changing, all countries are changing and relations between states are changing. There is nothing unusual in this. In fact, back in Soviet days, Saudi Arabia’s relations with the Soviet Union were fairly good, but there were constraints of a purely ideological nature. Today there are none and we have nothing that would fundamentally divide us. Now, what can unite us with Saudi Arabia or countries in the region? Actually, I can see absolutely no reason for these dividing lines. I have a very good personal, almost friendly relationship with almost all the leaders of these states.

The visit by the King of Saudi Arabia was a great honour for us. It was a historic event indeed, if only because it was the first visit by a King of Saudi Arabia to Russia. In and of itself, this shows Saudi Arabia’s attitude toward building a relationship with Russia.

We have absolutely no problem with the fact that these countries, including Saudi Arabia, have their own special interests, historical ties and allied relations with, among others, the United States. Why should this worry us? This does not mean that we are forbidden from working with Saudi Arabia; we will do so. As for Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, it is up to them to decide who they prefer to work with and on what issues.

Russia is demonstrating stability, predictability and reliability in its foreign policy. And I believe that this appeals to our partners. In addition, we have shared economic interests – importantly, interests of a global nature. Now, we have coordinated our position on the energy market with OPEC nations, above all with Saudi Arabia and the [oil] price has been stable, at over $50 [per barrel]. We consider this a fair price; it is quite suitable for us. This is the result of joint efforts.

There are also other results. The first opportunities have emerged for defence technology cooperation. Yes, there are multi-billion contracts with the United States. Very well! Do you know what our people say? “The chicken pecks one grain at a time.” Our ties will expand slowly and perhaps these contracts will grow.

I was also asked whether we are afraid that Saudi Arabia will be with the United States again? We are afraid of nothing! What is there for us to be afraid of? You know, it is Saudi Arabia that should be afraid, so to speak, that the Americans will bring democratisation to Saudi Arabia. This is what they should fear. But what is there for us to fear? We already have democracy. We will keep working. (Laughter.)



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Colleagues, I have a request: many of you wish to speak; time is passing quickly, so let us move into a lightning round. Have respect for everyone, for each other. Brief questions, no long comments. I also have a request for panel speakers – be as brief as possible.

I spotted Mikhail Remizov here. You have the floor.



Mikhail Remizov:

Mikhail Remizov, Institute of National Strategy.

I have a brief but broad-ranging question. It concerns the agenda of the next presidential term.

Today, the discussion is usually focused on the lineup of contenders, but it seems to me that it is more important to hear, above all, how you, Mr President, see the mission, the historic task of the person who will be elected our country’s president next year. What are our national super-tasks for this period, for 2018–2024?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, I have repeatedly spoken about this. Unfortunately, there is nothing new in your question, but I will say this again. We should make Russia very flexible and highly competitive.

Flexible – in terms of forms and methods of governance, flexible in terms of developing an economy that is geared toward the future, in terms of introducing advanced technology and assessing these opportunities and using them.

Needless to say, we should strengthen our defence capability and improve our political system so that it is like a living organism and develops in keeping with the world as a whole.

When we talk about technology – the person on my left, the founder of a major global company, spoke about big data. You see, we are not even aware of what this is all about. Perhaps you know, many people know about a recent case in the United States when a company all of a sudden started sending a 14-year old girl offers to buy items for pregnant women, which outraged her parents. They wrote a complaint to the company and the company apologised. Then it turned out that the girl was pregnant. She did not know about that and her parents did not know either. It turned out that based on a large number of data, a change in the girl’s interests, preferences, questions and queries the machine came to the conclusion that it was dealing with a pregnant woman and issued an order to another machine to offer her goods for pregnant women.

First and foremost, this is some kind of control over humans administered by technology. There are both positive and negative aspects here and we need to consider this. We will need to think about all this in our country and use it for the benefit of our people. This is our super-task.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

By way, do you think a woman can become our next President?



Vladimir Putin:

Anything is possible here. Why not? (Laughter.)



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Mr Von Ploetz.



Hans-Friedrich von Ploetz:

Mr President, the Russian media are very generous in interviewing participants here, but I was struck by the pessimism about our relations. And I tried to remind them that during the Cold War we had bigger differences than we have today, and our younger generations in particular, but also the business community, are unhappy with the present situation. So would you give maybe me and also your media a little bit of encouragement and say, “It may not look as good as it should be, but there are perspectives and I am working on it”?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, indeed, you are right; we had more differences and disagreements in Soviet times. However, do you know what else was in even greater supply? Respect.

I can hardly imagine Soviet flags being torn down from Soviet diplomatic missions when the Soviet Union was around. However, you did this. That is not the only sign of disrespect. It shows itself not in such demonstrative actions, but in some substantive matters as well. We have already talked about this today, so we probably should not go over it again.

We used to be more respectful of each other’s interests. Clearly, respect must be backed up by economic and military power. This is clear. We ourselves are largely to blame for putting ourselves in such a position. In the humiliating situation, as in the 1990s, when we allowed you to access our nuclear facilities expecting you to reciprocate. However, you did not, and expecting you to was probably stupid on the part of those who did so back in the new Russia.

Nonetheless, I would like to end my remarks on a positive note. I believe that much in resolving the issues of interest to you and us depends on working together. This should help us stay focused on the thought that our prospects are good.

We just talked about Syria. To reiterate – I do not think I can disclose the details – but we have a dialogue at the working level, at the level of special services, the Defence Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry, almost on a weekly basis. We do achieve some results, which means we are capable of it.

I think that this approach should be applied to other areas of our interaction as well.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

A bit of optimism – Ruslan Yunusov is over there, a man of the future.



Ruslan Yunusov:

Ruslan Yunusov, the Russian Quantum Centre, Valdai Club.

Mr President, Jack Ma has already mentioned the importance of education. In the past 10-odd years, we have achieved many results by introducing the National Final School Exam (EGE), but this is standardisation.

It is quite probable that in a changing world, when technology arrives very quickly, we need to develop and introduce additional curricula into school education. They should probably be more directed at talents, all the more so as there are online venues or venues like Sirius. What do you think?



Vladimir Putin:

About introducing additional programmes?



Ruslan Yunusov:

Additional school curricula. But this is optional because it is impossible to give deep knowledge on all subjects.



Vladimir Putin:

You know, there are modern methods of teaching. One of them is based on the premise that it is impossible, as you have rightly said, to go deep into every subject. It is necessary to present a general overview and then choose the most important, essential and promising area for a specific person, a specific child that is interested and talented in a certain type of activities, a certain type of knowledge. This is the path to follow.

As for the EGE, we have many disputes. I do not want to recall this now. Indeed, this method of testing knowledge has largely justified itself, but it generated many problems as well.

Recently I spoke to my former university teacher Yury Tolstoy, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a man whom I love and hugely respect. He is one of our brilliant law scholars. He has been teaching all his life, and he made a great comment. He said that yes, everything is fine, all these new forms, but there is only one concern: what if our education loses its “spirit.”

It is necessary to heed these words. After all, education should not turn into a conveyor belt. It is not simply a conveyor belt of knowledge, not simply rote learning. Education must always have a creative element. Of course, the EGE limits this creativity. This is clear, but this element should be introduced and combined with the deep specialisation you mentioned.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Georgy Toloraya, please.



Georgy Toloraya:

Mr President, I cannot but draw your attention to the acute international problem, which is the Korean Peninsula issue that you mentioned. Many years ago, I happened to accompany you to meetings with Kim Jong-Il. Back then, it seemed we could persuade the Koreans to be less recalcitrant. However, when a country is threatened with destruction, it is difficult to expect people to be flexible. The sanctions, which we joined, are of little help here. On the contrary, they tend to make people even angrier.

What do you think Russia can do to resolve this situation? How can we work with the Americans on this matter?



Vladimir Putin:

As you are aware, the situation is dangerous. Talking about a preventive disarming strike (we have heard such hints or even direct threats) is dangerous. I have said so many times.

Who knows where and what the North Koreans have stashed away, and whether they will be able to destroy everything at once with one strike. I doubt it. I am almost sure that this is impossible. Although theoretically, this is possible. But this is extremely dangerous.

Even if we assume that they are being tested to find out what they have hidden and where, not everything will be found. So, there is only one way, which is to reach an agreement and to treat that country with respect. I mentioned this in my remarks.

What role can Russia play? It can act as an intermediary in this case. We proposed a number of joint tripartite projects involving Russia, North Korea and South Korea. They include building a railway, pipeline transport and so on. We need to work. We need to get rid of belligerent rhetoric, to realise the danger associated with this situation, and to move beyond our ambitions. It is imperative to stop arguing. In fact, it is as simple as that.

Something I already mentioned here. We did agree at some point that Korea would stop its nuclear weapons’ programmes. No, our American partners thought that was not enough, and, a few weeks later, I believe, after the agreement, imposed more sanctions, saying that Korea can do better. Maybe it can, but it did not take on such obligations. It also immediately withdrew from all the agreements and resumed everything it was doing before. We must exercise restraint in all these actions. We did reach an agreement back then, and, I think, we can do so now as well.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr President, the Olympic Games in South Korea are coming soon. Do you think they may be threatened by something?



Vladimir Putin:

I hope that the Olympic Games will come off.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Are we going to participate? Or is it going to be under the Olympic flag again?



Vladimir Putin:

With regard to the Olympic Games, what do we see and what do I pay attention to? We can see that the Olympic Committee is under strong pressure. We have no complaints regarding the International Olympic Committee. Very decent people, people of action work there, but they are dependent on advertisers, television channels, sponsors, and so forth.

In turn, these sponsors get unambiguous signals from certain American authorities. It is not that we think so – we know it for a fact. There are two options: one is to force Russia to participate under a neutral flag, and the other is to keep us from participating in the Olympics altogether. Either way, it is humiliating for our country.

If anyone believes that acting this way would influence the course of the election campaign in the Russian Federation next spring, they are deeply mistaken. The effect will be quite the opposite, while the Olympic movement will suffer serious damage.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Feng Shaolai, please.



Feng Shaolai:

Mr. President,

It is a great pleasure to meet with you again. At our club’s annual conferences, we learned more about this topic – from crises and conflicts to a new world order.

You have worked closely with foreign leaders, including Mr Xi Jinping. What do you think about his most recent speech at the 19th Congress, which he delivered two days ago?

Since you have been in contact with him for quite a long time, can you share your impressions of him as a person? And, of course, I have a question regarding the specific progress and specific challenges, as well as new conditions for the continued development of cooperation between Russia and China.

Thank you very much.



Vladimir Putin:

As you may know, during our meetings we publicly call each other friends. This speaks to the level of the relationship that has evolved between us on a human level.

However, in addition to that, we uphold the interests of our states. As diplomats say, they are often very close or identical. An amazing situation has evolved and, God willing, it will continue for as long as possible: we always reach consensus on every issue, even seemingly controversial ones; we always come to terms, look for compromise solutions and find them.

Ultimately, these agreements benefit both states because we move forward, do not become fixated, do not stop, do not drive the situation into an impasse, but resolve contentious issues and move on, and new opportunities arise. This is a very positive practice.

As for the ongoing party congress in China, we are also closely following it, and I note the unusual openness of this party congress. I believe there is an unprecedented number of journalists and members of the international community there. There is no doubt that everything that the President of China has said, his speech and the ongoing discussions show that China is focused on the future.

We are seeing both difficulties and prospects. As noted earlier, China has wonderful economic prospects: 6.8-percent GDP growth, I believe, in the first three quarters of this year. This may be a little less than before, but it makes no difference. I believe that the ongoing changes on the labour market and in the economy as such are behind this growth. On the whole, China, on a par with India that is also demonstrating very good economic growth today, is certainly a global economic “trader.”

We have the highest country-to-country trade with China and enormous joint plans, including some in very significant, serious spheres, like outer space, high technology and energy. All of this is laying the groundwork for developing our future interstate relations.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Then I have to ask Mr Ma. What does Chinese business expect from the Communist Party congress?



Jack Ma:

Well, the business world, if we pay special attention to this People’s, this Party Congress, and I read a lot on the way, because I happen to be in Moscow, and I listen and watch. The business community among my friends, they are all very positive about that. Now what we need is a legal, friendly environment for doing business. China should be more open, and for my business, China should import more than export. Because we have been doing exporting for the past 30 years. How can China import more things from the other side of the world? That would make China’s environment better, and that will also help the world economy better. Meanwhile it can improve China’s economy better. So, I think the business world thinks that, especially the past five years when the central government focused on anti-corruption, which is so successful, has helped clean the business environment for doing business in China. So, very positive.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Andrei Sushentsov.



Andrei Sushentsov:

Andrei Sushentsov, MGIMO University, Valdai Club.

Mr President, speaking here last October, you responded to questions regarding the prospects for presidential candidate Donald Trump and you used an interesting formula to the effect that you were ready to work with any US president and that you did not know what kind of president Mr Trump would be if he won. The impression is that Trump is breaking all records in unpredictability. And it seems that cooperation with Hillary Clinton perhaps would have been more comprehensible. What is your take on this situation?



Vladimir Putin:

As you know, our people say, “You have to make the sign of the cross if you’re seeing things” It only seems that way. We do not know how things could have turned out in reality either, do we?

With regard to the incumbent president, as I said a year ago – and I can repeat this now – we will do our job. And I am saying now: we are working with the president that the American people have elected. As for unpredictability, he is not the only one to blame. It also has to do with the intense opposition in the country.

After all, he is being prevented from carrying out any of his election platforms and plans. In health care, in other spheres. The moment he makes a decision on migrants, a court immediately blocks it. This is happening all the time. So to say that he is the only source of this unpredictability – no, this depends on the entire US political system. Nevertheless, we will work with the partners that we have.

The United States is a great power, the world’s largest economic and military power. Granted, unfortunately, our bilateral trade is negligible, almost nothing: $20 billion. All the same, the impact of the US is global, very significant. It is one of our most important partners, no doubt. We will continue working despite all difficulties. That is, of course, if they also want this. If they do not, we will not.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr Toje, do you think the world would be blooming with other colors if Hillary Clinton were in office?



Asle Toje:

I have to concur with the Russian President on that. That is contrafactual, and I really do not have an opinion on that. But Mr President, I was told that you like tough questions. We have visited North Korea, we have been to the Middle East, what about Ukraine? From the European point of view, the ball is firmly in the court of Russia. It has turned into a semi-frozen conflict; the sanctions that were meant to be dynamic have become semi-permanent. What does Russia intend to do about this and where do you see this situation standing in three years’ time? And, if I may add, since we are so lucky to have on the panel a state leader who has more experience than most, President Karzai, could you weigh in on this and tell us a little bit about, perhaps, what should be done and what should not be done in resolving the conflict in Ukraine?



Vladimir Putin:

We will give you a tip. Mr Karzai knows how to do it: they have been fighting there for 30 years now, but the means are good there.

With regard to Ukraine, you said that, according to Europeans, the ball is in Russia’s court. Well, we think the ball is in Europe’s court, because due to the completely unconstructive – I am choosing my words so as not to appear rude – position of the former members of the European Commission, the situation went as far as a coup. Do you know what they did?

The issue was only about Ukraine signing an association agreement, an economic agreement with the European Union. Then President Yanukovych said, ”I have a problem with the text, I am going to reschedule its signing. Let us work on the text some more.“ He did not even refuse to sign it. Then there were riots backed by the United States – both financially, politically and in the media – and all of Europe.

They supported the unconstitutional seizure of power, a bloody one at that, with casualties, and took things as far as a war in southeastern Ukraine. Crimea declared its independence and its reunification with Russia, and now you think that we are to blame for that? Was it us who brought about the anti-constitutional coup? The current situation is the result of the unconstitutional armed seizure of power in Ukraine, and Europe is to blame, because it backed it.

What could have been easier than to say back then: ”You staged a coup, and after all, we are the guarantors.“ As guarantors, the foreign ministers of Poland, France and Germany signed a document, an agreement between President Yanukovych and the opposition. Three days later, it was trampled upon, and where were the guarantors? Ask them where these guarantors were? Why did they not say, ”Please, put things as they were. Get Yanukovych back in office and hold constitutional democratic elections.“ They had every chance of winning, 100 percent, no doubt. No, they had to do it through an armed coup instead. Well, we were confronted with this fact, accepted it and signed the Minsk agreements.

However, the current Ukrainian leadership is sabotaging every paragraph of these agreements, and everyone can see it perfectly well. Those who are involved in the negotiation process are fully aware of it, I assure you. Not a single step has been made towards implementing the Minsk agreements. Still everyone is saying, ”Sanctions will not be lifted until Russia complies with the Minsk agreements.“

Everyone has long since realised that the current leadership of Ukraine is not in a position to comply with them. Now that the situation in that country has hit rock bottom both in terms of the economy and domestic policy, and the police are using gas against protesters, expecting the President of Ukraine to take at least a small step towards implementing the Minsk agreements is an exercise in futility. I am not sure how he can accomplish this. But there is no alternative to it, unfortunately. Therefore, we will keep the Normandy format in place as long as our colleagues like, and we will strive to implement these Minsk agreements that you mentioned.

Quite recently, we effectively supported an initiative to send UN peacekeepers there. Not even peacekeepers, but armed UN units to protect the OSCE staff. We have always been told and asked to arm the OSCE personnel operating on the demarcation line. We immediately agreed to it. But then the OSCE refused to do so.

I am sure you are aware of it, and many in the audience who deal with these matters professionally should also be aware of this. The OSCE said, ”No, we cannot do that, we have no such expertise, no weapons, we have never used weapons in our operations. Also, we are actually afraid that the weapons could turn us into a target for one side in the conflict or the other.“ Well, a no is a no.

President Poroshenko came up with an idea to create proper conditions for protecting the OSCE staff with the help of UN armed units. We agreed and almost initiated this process, to avoid being accused of sabotaging things. No, they thought it was not enough. Now they want to interpret it liberally.

You see, what we are afraid of – I will tell you, if we can say that we are afraid of anything at all. If they fail to adopt the amnesty law prior to resolving political issues and providing these territories with a special status in accordance with the law adopted by the Rada and extended for another year recently, then closing the border between Russia and the breakaway republics will lead to a situation similar to Srebrenica. There will be a bloodbath. We cannot let this happen.

Therefore, blaming everything on Russia and saying that the ball is in our court, and we should do something about it, just does not cut it. Let us work on it together. Go and use your influence with the current government in Kiev, so that they take at least some steps towards normalising the situation. We will work hand in hand and do our best to normalise the situation. We need a democratic and friendly Ukraine.

Look, when some empires disintegrated or some territories changed hands in the wake of a war, this is one situation. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia voluntarily gave all these territories away. We voluntarily agreed that all former Soviet republics would become independent states. We never even thought about taking anything from anyone or dividing things, do not forget this – we did it of our own accord. And we do not want to now, either. We want to have a neighbouring country that is friendly to us.

Were you really thinking that you and Ukraine would sign an association agreement, open up all Ukrainian markets and borders, and Ukraine, as a member of the free trade zone, would become a gateway to our market? We said right away, ”Guys, you cannot do this, stop.“ No one even wanted to listen to us. They told us, ”We do not interfere with your dealings with China. You do not interfere with our dealings with Canada, so stay away from our dealings with Ukraine.“ That is what they told us, verbatim. What kind of a conversation is that? No one even wanted to hear that we have some special relations with Ukraine, and some branches of the economy are tied up with that country.

So, let us return to a constructive and substantive dialogue, as diplomats say. We are ready, and we will be pleased to do so, the sooner the better, since we do not need any conflicts on our borders.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Well, since we started talking about Ukraine …



Vladimir Putin:

No, wait, Mr Karzai will give us a good piece of advice.



Hamid Karzai:

Well, sir, on Ukraine and the conflict phase there, I was, uh, it was during my last years of government when this crisis emerged in Ukraine. I and my close colleagues in my government and foreign policy and security issues convened, and we met. I told them that Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the independent states, Ukraine was one of the closest countries to Russia, in ethnic relations and economic relations, and in cultural relations, and in terms of the value that Ukraine holds for Russia. So my approach was one of sentiment and sensitivity, but, keeping the Russian sentiment in mind, keeping the Russian sensitivity in this region in mind. Look at it this way: if Russia went and tried to turn Canada into an ally of the Warsaw Pact against America, what would America do? They would act more aggressively than what Russia did. On Crimea: to the extent that I understand, Crimea was given to Ukraine in 1957, is that true? 1954. So it was part of Russian territory. And my government was the first government to recognise Crimea as part of Russia. And we gave that recognition to it. Not because we were against Ukraine as Afghanistan, no, but we respect Ukraine, we have immense respect for them, as we respect Russia. We looked at facts, historical facts, and the sensitivities, and the variants that we considered were true, and behaved accordingly. To my very good surprise, the new Ukrainian president, when he met with me during the condolences ceremony to the late King Abdullah in Riyadh, he was very kind to me. I had retired, and he did not say that you did that. He was nice and good to me as if he understood our point of view, so I thank him for that.



Asle Toje:

President Putin, where do you see this conflict standing three years from now?



Vladimir Putin:

I strongly hope that we will make progress. I say this with absolute sincerity. It is not enough only to appeal to Russia; it is also necessary to influence Kiev’s position. Now they have made a decision on the language, essentially prohibiting the use of ethnic minority languages in school. Hungary and Romania raised objections. Poland also made some comments in this regard. However, the European Union as a whole is silent. Why are they not condemning this? There is silence.

Now they have erected a monument to Petlyura. He was a man with Nazi views, an anti-Semite who killed Jews during the war. Except for the Zionist Jewish Congress, everyone else is silent. Are you afraid of hurting your clients in Kiev, is that it? This is not being done by the Ukrainian people; this is being done at the prompting of the relevant ruling authorities. But why are you keeping silent? Until it is understood that this problem cannot be resolved without influencing the other side, nothing will happen.

I hope that this realisation will eventually come. I can see our partners’ interest, primarily our European partners’ interest in resolving this conflict. I can see real interest. Angela Merkel is doing a great deal, putting the time in, becoming deeply involved in these matters. Both the former president of France and President Macron are also paying attention. They are really working on this. However, it is necessary to work not just technically and technologically but politically. It is essential to exert some influence on the Kiev authorities, get them to do at least something. Ultimately, Ukraine itself has a stake in normalising our relations.

Now they went and imposed sanctions on us, as the EU did. We responded in kind. The president asks me, “Why did you do this?” I say, “Listen, you introduced sanctions against us.” This is just amazing! “Well, these sanctions are nothing to you, but you are really hurting us.” Now, did you not think that there would be a response when you were doing this? I am at a loss for words!

However, the realisation that this situation is untenable and should be resolved – I believe that it is becoming obvious and most importantly, it is becoming obvious to the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian citizens. We like Ukraine and I really regard the Ukrainian people as a brotherly nation if not just one nation, part of the Russian nation.

Even though Russian nationalists do not like this and Ukrainian nationalists do not like this either, this is my position, my point of view. Sooner or later, it will happen – reunification, not on an interstate level but in terms of restoring our relations. The sooner, the better, we will do our utmost towards this end.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Colleagues, I deeply regret to say that we have already been working for more than two and a half hours. Mr President, how are you?



Vladimir Putin:

I am fine.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Then Mr Zerbo can have the floor.



Lassino Zerbo:

Thank you, President Putin, I am Lassina Zerbo. I want to, first of all, thank you and congratulate you for keeping your promise on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. I met you two years ago in New York, I came after you when there was doubt about Russia’s commitment to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. You affirmed it, and I am happy that you have said it again today. But I have a question to you, President Putin. You are showing leadership today and in front of everybody here, in non-proliferation and disarmament. We talked about North Korea; we talked about international agreements. Can you share this leadership among the P5 countries, in a way where the issue of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, that is crucial to advance non-proliferation and disarmament, can be taken seriously, so that this treaty that is 20 years pending entry into force can see some advancement? That is my first question.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Only one question please, only one.



Vladimir Putin:

Maybe his second question is more interesting.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Next year.



Vladimir Putin:

The first question will receive a short answer – we will facilitate this. Of course, we are interested in this and will work on it.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Vyacheslav Nikonov.



Vyacheslav Nikonov:

Good evening, Mr President.

You have said with good reason that now the situation is simpler than in the years of the Cold War. I agree, but not everything is simpler. During the Cold War, there were certainly no West-organised coups in Ukraine and no US and NATO military presence in Eastern European countries – Poland and the Baltic states.

In the past few months, this military presence has been obviously mounting in blatant violation of the Russia-NATO Founding Act. To what extent do you think this poses a strategic threat to the Russian Federation, and what may be the response?



Vladimir Putin:

We are analysing and closely following this. We know and understand every step. You know, you have just given me a good opportunity to say that we will do this and that, we will respond in this way. We are not worried about this. Let them do their exercises. Everything is under control. (Laughter.)



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr Saran.



Samir Saran:

Thank you, Mr President, for this very engaging evening. You have very sportingly taken lots of questions from lots of us, and I have seen very few world leaders who have done this. So I think that is something that really must be appreciated. Very few would also disagree, sir, that in the last three years Russia has clearly emerged as the most important geopolitical actor in the world, be it your engagements in the Middle East, and, of course, the Afghanistan process that you are supporting and initiating, your ability to push back against some of the groupings that the Western countries had established, are all on record, and establish you as, perhaps, the most singular, most decisive geopolitical actor. But many would also agree that it is only going to be sustainable if we can also see the Russian economy grow significantly in the coming decade, especially in a time when energy markets are changing, where resource and consumption patterns are different, where technology plays a big role, Russia would need a new game plan to move from its current status as a middle level economy to a significant economic power. What are your proposals for doing this? Does BRICS fit into the plan? And, as an aside, when you met both President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi in China recently, how was the atmosphere in the room? Does BRICS still have a valid future?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping are very contemporary people. They have different characters and may have different personality types, but they are one hundred percent up-to-date. Emotionally, they describe their positions in a slightly different way, but both are looking into the future. India certainly sees this in its Prime Minister.

The President of China is a reserved and meticulous man, but we are in close communication with each other and I see how he thinks and what he thinks about. He thinks about the future, the future of his country and the future of the entire world. It is enough to see his speech at the anniversary session of the United Nations. Read it again. A wonderful, brilliant speech. It is very orderly and serious.

As for other countries, we expect other countries, South Africa and Brazil to make their contribution. We have put in place new economic development institutions there to support our national economies. These are the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the [New] Development Bank. These institutions are only beginning to pick up pace. I am sure that the future is very bright.

After all, it is not a closed bloc, not a military organisation. We work based on our shared interests. The similarity of our economic structures is another unifying factor. However, we are all thinking about ways of making our economies modern, forward-looking, developing and digital.

Today I hope we are already past the stage in our own Russian economy when we were affected by falling energy prices and this sanctions-related pressure had a negative impact (limited but it still has to be acknowledged). However, now our economy has been growing for the fourth quarter in a row. I believe that this year’s growth will be modest but still significant considering the previous decline and 2-percent negative growth. Russia has never had such low inflation as now: 3 percent. This has never happened before. This is the first time we have achieved this with our targeted macroeconomic policy, from month to month.

Our unemployment is at a minimal level (below 5 percent); our capital investment in fixed assets is growing, and we have a positive trade balance. Strangely enough, despite the fact that we have financed our deficit, as it were, from reserve funds, over the past two years we have observed growth in our hard currency reserves.

In 2015, I believe they were at just a little over 300 billion; now it is 420 billion. And they are growing, they continue to grow. All of this – the macroeconomic basis and development programmes related to support for key economic sectors, including [technologically] advanced sectors, are changing the structure of the economy. Gradually, not as quickly as we would like, the economic structure is changing, as evidenced, in particular, by budget revenues.

The share of revenues other than from oil and gas is increasing but the share of oil and gas revenues is declining. Therefore, I very much hope that all these processes will move ahead. We can see that a similar process is about to begin in Brazil. Our economic analysts believe that Brazil will take the next step on this upward trend. So all of this taken together makes me optimistic with regard to BRICS’ development prospects.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Ladies and gentlemen, unlike President Karzai, I do not have democratic instincts. Therefore, although President Putin is so kind as to sit with us, I know the limit.

What will we do now? We will ask five questions in a row and panelists will answer them. And at that point, I suppose, we will conclude our meeting. Here are the names of the lucky ones who will get to do this: Sabine Fischer, Huang Jing, Konstantin Zatulin, Toby Gati and Yevgeny Minchenko.

Let us start from this side. Mr Zatulin.



Konstantin Zatulin:

Mr President, we all know that in the past few years domestic conflicts in the European Union have been very acute because of the migrant influx. After the start of events in eastern Ukraine, Russia without a fuss accepted over a million refugees – 1.2 million to be exact – who fled from the war and persecution.

The majority of these people do not want to return. It is difficult to judge them for this. They want to call Russia home. Will you support additional amendments so that we in Russia could absorb and help them adapt faster?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, the Government and relevant authorities have received such instructions. This should be done carefully, considering our possibilities, the social consequences, and the readiness or lack thereof of the social infrastructure. But I think this is fair. We must support these people, and those who want to remain in Russia should have the opportunity to do so.

We are working on this now. However, a million, even a bit more in different estimates, is already here. Poland announced recently that it already has a million Ukrainians. And there are quite a few in other countries. This is, of course, unfortunate for Ukraine. De-industrialisation is going on, large industrial enterprises are shut down, the Russian market is lost, and nobody wants the goods.

The metallurgical industry is still operating there, but machine building, aviation and space are, of course, in a deplorable condition. These are high-tech, promising areas. But I hope this will also pass sometime. I am hoping this will happen, among other things, as a result of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine. I believe it is necessary to restore ties. Actually, Russia needs this, too.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Sabine Fischer.



Sabine Fischer:

Sabine Fischer, Science and Politics Foundation, Berlin.

Mr President, you were very critical about the West’s policy regarding its relations with Russia. Indeed, many aspects that you have touched upon call for an in-depth critical discussion. At the same time, we know that in any relationship – whether between countries or between people – both sides make mistakes. So I have a question. What political mistakes, in your opinion, has Russia made in its relations with the West over the past 15 years and what needs to be done, what conclusions need to be drawn for the future of these relations?



Vladimir Putin:

Our most serious mistake in relations with the West is that we trusted you too much. And your mistake is that you took that trust as weakness and abused it. It is therefore necessary to put this behind us, turn the page and move on, building our relations on the basis of mutual respect and treating each other as equal partners of equal value.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

You can only put question to one person.



Huang Jing:

Mr Chairman, I have actually one question for each of the co-speakers, if that is OK. If not, you tell me.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Just one to one speaker.



Huang Jing:

OK, to one speaker, one question. Then it will have to be Your Excellency, President Putin. This is my seventh time attending Valdai. Each time I learn a great deal, especially from your Western vision. I just cannot help asking you this question. We know that this world is undergoing unprecedentedly fast and irrevocable transition, and as such major powers matter and leadership matters. But unfortunately or fortunately, fortunately, first, is that all the major powers – Russia, the United States, China, India, Japan, Germany or Great Britain – almost every major power has a competent and a capable leader like yourself, except the number one power, the United States. We happen to have a president, unfortunately, that needs to be managed, although it remains to be seen if he is manageable or not. And you have been very successful in the senior, in terms of presidency. As a senior president, if you were asked to give advice to Mr Donald Trump on how to be a good president, how make a positive contribution to this transition world, what would you say to him? Thank you.



Vladimir Putin:

I am sorry, but I consider the question inappropriate. Mr Trump was elected by the American people. And for this reason alone he should be treated with respect even if you disagree with a position of his.

He is being disrespected in the country. This is a deplorable, negative aspect of the American political system. You can argue but you cannot show disrespect. Not just for him personally but for the people who have voted for him. This is the first thing.

Secondly, as I already said, I believe the President of the United States needs no advice because to be elected, even without extensive government experience, you have to have talent and go through this crucible. He did just that. And he won. He won fairly.

As for leadership, I would still ask our moderator to reconsider his decision and give the floor to Mr Karzai [and] Mr Ma. Why? Because they are really great leaders, each in his own domain.

It is one thing to lead the United States, Russia or China but another thing to lead Afghanistan amid an endless civil war, balancing between various forces and putting oneself in the line of fire almost every day. Courage and leadership were of paramount importance there, so I am simply asking you…

As for Mr Ma, he has created such a colossal computer empire! And I would also be interested to hear answers to questions that may be asked here.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

So, Gerhard Schroeder was right, after all, when he said that Putin is a pure democrat. I am unable to resist.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, what he said is quite right.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Please, answer the question about the governing role.



Hamid Karzai:

Well, it is a philosophical question. I do not know how to answer that. Leadership. I believe it involves personal qualities and also experience together. I entirely agree with the answer that His Excellency President Putin gave with regard to President Trump. He is the elected President of the United States, and the American people are a great people, hard-working people; I have worked with them, and I know them very well. Yes, we have differences on security issues in Afghanistan with them and what they are up to, but otherwise, it is a highly respectable country and a great people that they have, very down-to-earth people. On leadership… we have a tradition in Afghanistan. We do not praise people in their presence, so if President Putin were not here, I would have given him as an example. Now you are here, and I do not know what to do. Still, I think that you are doing very well.



Jack Ma:

Thank you. I absolutely agree with President Putin about Donald Trump. I think he is a very unique president. And he is elected by the people, and it needs to be respected. And I am not a politician, I am a business guy. I was to be a teacher. I was trained to be a high-school teacher, and I taught in a school for six years. And I learned from being a teacher how to be a leader. A teacher’s job is to always hope that his students are better than him. Normally, as a teacher, I want my student to be a banker, a good politician, a scientist or an athlete. I do not want my students to be bankrupt, in jail or like this. So when you have good intentions for your people, people can feel it. And I think to be a leader is not about you, it is not only about you. It is about the people, you should build up a good team to support you. Without a good team, nobody can be a good leader. So I think you should have a good team, a team that shares the same vision, same belief. And third, a good leader can be proved only when the tough situation comes. It is easy to be a leader in peaceful times, and today, for this critical period of the world, both political, business, science, we are taking a huge challenge. So a great leader at that time can only show leadership at the tough time; and as a leader, when you become leader, or you want to be a leader, or you are elected leader, your job is to face the challenge. Other people can sleep, you cannot sleep. Other people can stop, you cannot stop. Unfortunately, to be a leader is tough, and to be a leader, I think, is very lonely. I understand, it is not easy. For managing a company like mine – only 60,000 people – I have enough headaches. To manage a country in such a complicated world… I show my great respect for any politician. Thank you.





[Here part of the text was lost - Alex Him

Fyodor Lukyanov:

Yevgeny Minchenko.



Yevgeny Minchenko:

Thank you so much. Committee on Political Technologies of the Russian Association for Public Relations.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, over the past two years, in general, an unprecedented renewal of the governor's corps took place - 27 governors were changed. And I would like to draw attention to two nuances.

First. Many thanks that the rejuvenation is taking place and the people of my generation (1970s-80s of birth) come to power.


Second. Despite the fact that there are regional heavyweights, such as the Uss, for example, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory or Azarov in Samara, there are a lot of people who have not been connected to these regions before.

This rate is not only for young people, but also for those people who are not connected with this regional political elite, do not have the experience of living in this region. What strategy is behind this?]





Vladimir Putin:

The stake is on modern, promising technocrats. We have a unique opportunity – ultimately, through the expression of their political preferences by the people who live in those areas – to bring to power in the regions, present these people to the public and give them an opportunity to prove themselves. Then steer them to an election campaign, take them through the crucible of election campaigns – each step is important – and create a governors’ corps comprised of young, forward-looking, modern young people who care about the future of their region and Russia as a whole.

However, this does not mean that we are doing this indiscriminately; this does not mean that I personally am unhappy with the performance of those governors who have taken a new job or have retired – there are also those. Some have to leave due to health considerations. Generally, this is a natural process. We will continue to do so in the future, but very carefully, very cautiously, so that we always have a balance in the governors’ corps, in the Government, between reliable, experienced professionals and people who are just embarking on their career in a particular area of activity.

In my opinion, everything that has been done recently was done successfully. To reiterate, I will have more meetings with the people who have worked for many years. I am very grateful to them for their work, for their results. However, time moves on and life is following its course. This is a natural process. I am pinning high hopes on this young generation of managers. Russia needs such people.



Toby Gati:

Thank you, thank you, President Putin. We have heard from you on many occasions, and it is a wonderful opportunity, and I think you are the only world leader who has ever done this. And maybe perhaps it is an appropriate thing also that the last word is given to an American, actually, the only American who has spoken. Let me ask you a few things. You have complained and pushed back on US presidents and on US exception, its feeling that it is an exceptional nation, at many times, and at this session, you critisised every single US president since the fall of the Soviet Union, without talking about any of the positives. And as someone who worked in one of the administrations, the Clinton Administration, I do not remember it that way. And I remember many things that were done, from WTO membership to increased contacts for students, doctors, experts, health, space, and I am kind of surprised that your assessment is more negative than it was last year and the year before. Now, I think many welcome this, and not only in Russia, but in the United States. I watch American TV, but I also watch Russian TV. But frankly, it does not leave much room for people who do not welcome this state of affairs, and it gives an opportunity for people to blame any problem on foreigners and, it is usually here on Americans. What we try to do at Valdai, and you know this, is talk about why people think what they think, and how do we overcome it. So does it bother you at all that you are reinforcing every negative stereotype about the US and making it harder, in my personal opinion, to overcome some of these. And perhaps it would be helpful to talk about some of the positive things. About President Trump: I did not vote for him, but I did not work for Hillary Clinton either. In America, we respect those who respect our institutions, not just individuals, and I think that is really important. And I do not know if my colleagues from America would agree, but we think the institution matters more than the person. So, let me conclude on a positive note, though. If you had to pick one or two areas where you would try your hardest to break through this negative mood, what would the areas be, and what would you try to say to the American people to make that possible?



Vladimir Putin:

First of all, this is related to a critical attitude towards each other. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, as you surely know, an unprecedented anti-Russia campaign has been launched in the United States – starting with the late stages of the Obama Administration, and it is not over yet.

I do not understand why you are surprised by my critical attitude towards the activity of the previous US administration, as well as the present administration. The United States has unleashed an unprovoked anti-Russia campaign. Somebody lost the election to Mr Trump, Russia was blamed for everything and a vicious anti-Russia hysteria – there is no other way I can describe this – was whipped up. Any issue, any failure is being attributed to Russia. Is that not so? Yes, this is exactly the case – on any issue. Look for the Russian trail, and, by the way, they immediately find one. This is my first point.

The second is, we have met here today not to award medals and orders to each other; we are having a discussion and we are doing this sincerely and honestly. I also presented my position on many aspects of our relations that I consider negative. I did not create stereotypes; I spoke about facts.

For example, the fact that chemical weapons have not been eliminated. Is this a stereotype or a fact? It is a fact. Instead of destroying chemical weapons, they have put this off until 2023. I spoke about destroying plutonium. Is this a stereotype or a fact? It is a fact. Instead of meeting their bilateral obligations, they changed them unilaterally and are not complying with them within the framework of the treaty; this is what I spoke about.

However, this does not mean that our relations in the past did not… Yes, by the way, when I said that we gave our partners access to all nuclear facilities – what is this, some kind of an anti-American stereotype? Of course not – I spoke about our openness, but said that this openness was not duly appreciated.

Because it is perfectly obvious – and I have to repeat this: as a former FSB director, I know for sure that there was massive support for separatism and radicalism in our North Caucasus. Do not tell me anything about that – I know it. Was there no bombing of Belgrade? Without UN Security Council approval? What is this, an anti-American stereotype? It is a fact. Did the armed forces not move into Iraq without approval from the UN Security Council? Is this a stereotype? It is a fact. The United States itself is creating such stereotypes.

However, this does not mean that there was nothing good in our relations. There were good things, too, I agree with you – support in joining the WTO, that is true, and there were other positive developments. Even on an interpersonal level, we had very good discussions and contacts. For example, I will never forget Bill Clinton’s support when I was taking my first steps as Prime Minister.

Boris Yeltsin sent me to New Zealand to stand in for him and that was where I first met Mr Clinton. We established a very good, positive, kind human relationship. In other words, we do have something positive to talk about, but I am talking only about what is standing in our way. Have we gathered here only to praise each other or what? The current situation leaves much to be desired, doesn’t it? You have hysteria out there; we have discontent; you are tearing down our flags, closing our diplomatic missions. What is so good about it?

All of this is the result of the problems that have accumulated. I explained where they came from. After all, we have met here not to praise and pamper each other but to identify problems, show where they come from and think about how to resolve them. Can they be resolved or not? I believe that they can. Let us work together to this end. We need your advice and recommendations. This is why we meet here at the Valdai Club.

Thank you for your question.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Mr President, as you have noticed, this year at the Valdai Club we are not asking you the question that in the past was often asked at the Valdai Club. You know what I mean, don’t you?



Vladimir Putin:

No, I do not.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

It is about the election. Are you going to …?



Vladimir Putin:

It is time for us to wrap up…



Fyodor Lukyanov:

This is why we are not asking this question. However, I would like to say this in a roundabout way.

Firstly, the Valdai Club finds it hard to imagine how we will be meeting if you take a different decision. We have become accustomed to this. You are like a talisman for us. This is hard.



Vladimir Putin:

Does this mean that you will not invite me? Or that you will immediately strike me off the food supply list like a demobilised soldier?



Fyodor Lukyanov:

Fine. Agreed.

Secondly, who would miss you far more than we would – fortunately or unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about that – would be the world public, especially the Western public. Because at present you are performing a very important function.

When all is said and done, you are a pole – a pole of evil probably that consolidates and mobilises. I simply cannot imagine how they would cope without you. So it seems to me that you should think very hard before making a decision. The world needs you!



Vladimir Putin:

I looked at Petr Aven and remembered our oligarchs. In closing, I will tell you a wonderful story.

An oligarch has gone bankrupt (not Aven; he is doing fine; we will talk about the development of Alfa Group yet, but such things happen) and is talking to his wife. This is an old joke – so old it has grown a beard – probably longer than your beard. So he tells her, “You know, we will have to sell the Mercedes and buy a Lada.” “Fine.” “We will have to move from the Rublyovka house to our flat in Moscow.” “Okay.” “But will you still love me?” And she goe,: “I will love you very much – and I will miss you greatly.” So I do not think they will miss me for very long.



Fyodor Lukyanov:

We will also miss you until the next meeting of the Valdai Club.

A great big thank you to all panel speakers. Thank you to all our colleagues. I believe we have covered a lot of ground today, if not set a record.

Thank you very much. All the very best.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55882
__________________
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 October 29th, 2017 #653
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Meeting with Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin



Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin. The Minister reported to the President on the current economic situation in the country and the main macroeconomic trends.



October 20, 2017 - 15:40 - Sochi









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Oreshkin, are the economic figures you have for eight or for nine months?



Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin:

For nine months.



Vladimir Putin:

What is the good news?







Maxim Oreshkin:

The third quarter has just ended, we are summing up statistical results, and this data is good. The GDP grew by 2.4 percent in September and by 2.2 percent overall in the third quarter. The current recovery continues gradually.

We have positive data on agriculture. The weather was not very good from the start of 2017, and negative statistics were posted for a long time. However, the sector grew by 8.3 percent in September, due to a good harvest. This is already 3.8 percent since the start of the year.

Overall, the upcoming quarterly forecasts are also positive. There are factors linked with the gradual restoration of salaries, and the restoration of lending activity and investment activity.

These factors will continue, and, of course, this will support economic activity. But, of course, the most important thing is to think about long-term and sustained economic growth.







Vladimir Putin:

How does investment look in this context?



Maxim Oreshkin:

So far, we have compiled investment statistics for the second quarter, the figures for the third quarter are not ready yet. But the second quarter …



Vladimir Putin:

What are the figures?



Maxim Oreshkin:

Investment grew by 6 percent in the second quarter. We are expecting overall investment activity to subside somewhat throughout 2017. We considered 6 percent to be a good figure, and we are expecting it to subside a little to total about 4 percent this year overall.



Vladimir Putin:

Just as we planned: 4 percent this year.



Maxim Oreshkin:

Yes, when we compiled the forecast, the latest update was made in August, and we are planning to achieve exactly these targets.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55887






Meeting with Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yury Chikhanchin



Head of Rosfinmonitoring briefed the President on the service’s current activities.



October 23, 2017 - 14:40 - The Kremlin, Moscow









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, Mr Chikhanchin. Please.



Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yury Chikhanchin:

Good afternoon.

Mr President, I would like to brief you on preparations for the next report to FATF [Financial Action Task Force] and the results of our activities. In the first quarter of next year, we are to report to the international community on the efficiency of our legislation and the national anti-money laundering system.

We have done a great deal in this sphere, proving that cooperation with the mega regulator and law enforcement agencies can help enhance the financial institutions’ compliance with the law. You can see the figures on this slide. Based on this, we have taken measures to rule out some negative moments of special concern for the international community. These are the transfer of funds abroad, transit schemes and so on.

This is what we have done so far at this stage. To begin with, the law you have signed allows banks to reject requests for certain transactions, for example, they can refuse to open accounts for clients whom they do not consider to be law abiding. This year alone, there were 460,000 refusals, and we prevented 180 billion rubles from being transferred into the shadow economy. I would like you to know that we have received about a thousand complaints about the allegedly illegitimate reasons for denying these people’s requests. Such things do happen. We are working with Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina to find mechanisms that would enable us to avoid such unfortunate mistakes.

As I have already said, there was a 2.5-fold drop in the number of …







Vladimir Putin:

In the number of suspicious transactions.



Yury Chikhanchin:

Yes. This is a very important development, since all suspicious transactions originating from our country become transparent for foreign banks. This suspicion has become a major factor.

I would like to say that the system we have launched at the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring together with the Central Bank shows that in 75 to 80 percent of cases data on banks whose licences were revoked coincide.

What are other areas where we have worked? And what other areas do we need to highlight? Of course, the first thing that should be mentioned is the creation of a mechanism for monitoring government spending.



Vladimir Putin:

Related to public procurement?







Yury Chikhanchin:

Yes, public procurement, and everything else. We started working with the taxation service, and prevented illegal VAT refunds for a total of 2.5 billion rubles.

As for loans, our data show that we were able to prevent the disbursement of 3.5 billion rubles to companies that failed to meet requirements. We shut off faulty contractors from public funds totalling 8.6 billion rubles.

I would like to emphasise that a number of criminal schemes have become a thing of the past. For example, it used to be that when a bank went bankrupt, a government contractor would suffer. But the removal of authorised banks solved this issue. Today we no longer have any loans to affiliated parties, etc. A number of measures were undertaken to this effect.

All in all, we were able to save the budget some 7 billion rubles under public procurement contracts alone.

Regarding the outcomes of the financial investigations, we carried out a number of them, and transferred to law enforcement agencies materials on illegal financial transactions totalling 67 billion rubles. In addition, 39 billion rubles in cash were seized, and 18 billion rubles were confiscated. All this was done in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, using our data.



Vladimir Putin:

What about your relations with the law enforcement agencies?







Yury Chikhanchin:

I believe we have very good relations with them, primarily with the FSB, the Interior Ministry, the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

I can tell you that we worked with the FSB to prevent the embezzlement of some 1.5 billion rubles at construction projects both in Crimea and the Tyva Republic. Our cooperation with the Federal Taxation Service has helped recover nearly 5 billion rubles and collect some 10 billion rubles in additional taxes. The Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated 13 criminal proceedings against various organisations based on our information.

I would like to say a few words about our efforts against the financing of terrorism, which is a topical subject. We have indeed found our place in this system. The main result is that we have launched an out-of-court system of seizing the assets of persons connected with terrorism. Thus far, we have seized about 6 billion rubles this year. This may look like a modest sum, but it is really quite substantial, considering that the preparation of the terrorist attack in St Petersburg cost 150,000 rubles and such terrorist attacks as in Paris, where the terrorists used knives and axes cost virtually nothing. We have managed to block the accounts and prevent specific actions.

Also, we have developed good relations with international partners, primarily with Central Asian states, on matters related to terrorism. We exchange information with them, and the assets of some 150 people have been frozen in Central Asia based on the information we provided. We have frozen the assets of approximately 100 people from these republics who are living in Russia.

We worked with the FSB and commercial banks to model a scheme of the terrorists’ financial actions. This has helped us to identify some 200 people and initiate criminal proceedings against them. In other words, banks have learned to identify terrorists based on this information. This is the main result.

I would like to tell you about one more project, which we are launching at FATF. Acting with your approval, we have established an international centre to train professionals for our system. Later we established a special body, the Institute of Financial and Economic Security at MEPhI, and then we involved eight other Russian universities, including the Sevastopol and Simferopol universities in Crimea, as well as the Rostov university in this project.

As of now, over 30 universities from Central Asian states have joined this networking project, which means that all of them have accepted a common tuition programme and standards. Our students start working in the third year. Foreign students, and we enrol about 200 of them, do not have to pay to study at our establishments. They defend their diplomas at our place in Moscow, but the procedure is streamed via video conference to their home countries. The heads of national banks, financial intelligence services and prosecutor general’s offices can see how their students defend their diplomas and so make decisions on their employment.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55895






Meeting with Federal Customs Service Head Vladimir Bulavin



The Head of the Federal Customs Service updated the President on the service’s performance.



October 25, 2017 - 16:00 - The Kremlin, Moscow







At the beginning of the meeting, the President congratulated the customs service staff on their professional holiday.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Bulavin, today is your professional holiday, Customs Officer’s Day. I would like to congratulate you and the staff of Russia’s Customs Service on this holiday and to wish you success and good luck.

I know that you and the personnel of the Russian Customs Service have been working smoothly and successfully this year. The Customs Service is one of the most important state agencies responsible for budget revenues. You have a special responsibility. Like the border guards, you are the first Russian officials foreigners meet. Moreover, you have not just fiscal but also economic responsibilities. Much depends on the proper organisation of this work.

I hope that the service will pick up steam under your guidance. You have assumed this position only recently, and you know about the service’s problems. You must keep working to introduce new technologies so as to streamline the operation of border facilities, including the arrival and inspection stations, so that foreign trade operators feel your support and see the customs service as not just a fiscal agency, but as an agency that is responsible for export-import transactions, which are a vital element of the country’s economic life.

Of course, you must never forget about the personnel’s compliance with law. I hope this will be done routinely, and the customs service personnel will be concerned above all, with the interests of the country and the national economy, and that the service, with support from the Government, will also take care of social matters, including salaries and the social protection of its employees.

Once again, congratulations on your professional holiday and good luck.



Federal Customs Service Head Vladimir Bulavin:

Mr President, thank you for your appreciation of the work of the customs officers and the Federal Customs Service as a whole.

Today, on our professional holiday, I am happy to report on the positive dynamics and practical results achieved by the Federal Customs Service in all spheres of its operation.

Customs and tax payments have been made in full. In the first nine months, the revenue side of the budget received 3.21 trillion roubles.



Vladimir Putin:

What was the planned figure?







Vladimir Bulavin:

We have hit our projections and even surpassed them by three percent. I must say that we are registering the same trend as last year: the import component of customs payments is a bit higher, 55 percent, and the export component is 45 percent. This has to do not only with the increase in declarations and weight of imports but also with better administration of commercial consignments that are brought in by our businesses.

Speaking about business, we are working on the task that you set a while back – to enhance our cooperation with business and step up our dialogue with it. Our public council, expert advisory council is actively working. I can say that we listen to each other and hear each other.

A comprehensive programme on developing customs to 2020 has been drafted with the active participation of businesses. It has a very important section, 10 Steps to Meet Business Halfway. We set forth fairly ambitious goals, for instance, to bring the level of automatically registered declarations to 99 percent (that is, without the involvement of a customs inspector) and to raise the level of automatically issued declarations to 80 percent, but I must make a caveat here – this applies to risk-free supplies alone. In all, 64 percent of all declarations will be issued automatically.

Major reforms in customs administration are an important component of our comprehensive programme. We have reported to you about our approaches and would like to thank you for your support. Today we have 672 locations for customs procedures in this country and we want to reduce them to 16. We plan to establish online customs offices in the capitals and major cities and online declaration centres in the existing customs centres – the regional Kaliningrad and Moscow customs centres, the energy and excise customs centres; separate online declaration centres in the ports of St Petersburg, Novorossiysk and Vladivostok.

In the process, we will move from private premises that do not belong to the state to public spaces, which will allow us to resolve one more important task: we will break personal contacts between our customs inspectors and foreign economic actors, thereby substantially reducing corruption risks – the task you set us. In addition, it will be much easier to control 16 online declaration centres than 672 customs offices.







Vladimir Putin:

But it is important to make sure they will cope with all the work.



Vladimir Bulavin:

No doubt, they will be enough, all the more so since our programme is designed for three years. We plan to carry out the reforms in stages, depending on the region in question. Businesses support us. I would like to repeat that they took an active part in drafting our comprehensive programme.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55919






Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets



Olga Golodets updated the President on the situation around the placement of children in adoptive and foster families. Preparations for hosting WorldSkills 2019 competition in Kazan were discussed separately.



October 27, 2017 - 12:40 - The Kremlin, Moscow









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ms Golodets, we recently met with the winners of the WorldSkills 2017 Competition. I would like to know about your plans to prepare for the next vocational skills competition, which will be held in Kazan. We know that Kazan has won the right to host the next WorldSkills competition.

However, I would like to begin with a different issue. As I can see from these documents, the number of children who have moved from orphanages to foster or adoptive families has increased considerably. Is this really true? What is happening in reality?



Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets:

Mr President, the current adoption rate is really impressive. We started working on this seriously in 2012, following your instructions, when we had 119,000 names of children available for adoption in the database. Since then, the number has decreased to 51,594. It is gratifying that civil society has started helping us with adoption. Public attitude towards adoption has changed. We see that foster and adoptive families wholeheartedly support the mechanisms of assistance that have been created under Government resolutions. Families are helping each other take on the difficult issue of bringing on children who have been left without parental care. This is why the number of children in need has decreased.



Vladimir Putin:

Are you referring to children in orphanages?







Olga Golodets:

Yes, I am. We have also seriously amended the operation of and regulations for orphanages. Not long ago, only a few orphanages complied with the new standards under which children did not live in groups but in a kind of family, where they were taught the skills necessary for living in a family. These children attend neighbourhood schools and hobby groups where they associate with other children. This helps in placing them with foster or adoptive families. The number of these kinds of orphanages is increasing, yet our priority is to continue to reduce the number of orphans in Russia.



Vladimir Putin:

Good. This is a positive process and a good trend. However, you need to pay more attention to the foster and adoptive families, support and help them. We should coordinate this with the regions.



Olga Golodets:

We will do this.



Vladimir Putin:

And now let’s talk about WorldSkills.



Olga Golodets:

About WorldSkills. Thank you very much for paying so much attention to it. To be honest, we were unsure that we would see the successful results we have.

We joined WorldSkills in 2012. If you remember, Russia first took part in the 2013 competition and received an “honorary” 41st place. Our victory at the competition this year is an amazing achievement. Everyone understands that it is important not to relax. Rather than simply achieve victories, this competition aims to improve the quality of professional education in the country. And, just as important, the leaders of Russia’s regions and everyone involved in the vocational training system share this opinion today.

Indeed, we won the right to host the 2019 competition in Kazan in a difficult bid process. We competed against Paris and Charleroi, Belgium, and Kazan won the bid. This is amazing. And now, we must be very well prepared for it.

Today, they are building a large exhibition centre in Kazan. This exhibition centre will become the main venue for the competition. After it, the centre will be used to hold major economic exhibitions. This will be a very serious venue featuring a convention hall and 169,000 square metres of exhibition space. Russia and Tatarstan need this modern facility today.

Some 2,000 volunteers will work in Kazan. Centres for training WorldSkills volunteers are already being organised. We want to train our young people under the WorldSkills system, so they can display genuine hospitality at the highest level.

And now the most important thing, that is, training teams and students. We use so-called WorldSkills ambassadors to ensure high training standards for everyone. These are people who have made significant progress and now they are helping the young people.







Vladimir Putin:

Significant progress in their own fields and careers.



Olga Golodets:

In their fields and careers. For example, Arkady Novikov supervises the restaurant business and cooking skills. He attends our national championships and offers advice to young participants. And this direct connection is important.

It is important that our teams are directly supported by national companies because we should not forget that the WorldSkills system also aims to promote Russian technologies on the global market. On the whole, this is a very serious way to promote Russian presence on the global market. We are supported by companies like Rosatom, Rostec and Russian Railways. We see this support as an effort, including by our companies, to enter global markets. This support helps us train teams to the highest standards. And I hope that our young people will perform just as well at the upcoming competition.



Vladimir Putin:

Don’t forget about job placement for our current champions.



Olga Golodets:

Yes.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55931






Meeting with Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina



Elvira Nabiullina briefed the President on the situation in the banking sector and the Central Bank’s current activities.



October 27, 2017 - 18:15 - Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ms Nabiullina, to begin with I would like to hear your assessment of the state of the national banking system, the financial system. I know that later on you would like to tell me about new technology and other aspects of your current work. Go ahead please.



Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina:

The banking system and the financial system as a whole are stable. In terms of key indicators of profitability and soundness, we have reached the 2014 level after the fairly difficult 2015 and 2016.

Lending is gradually growing. Consumer lending services are already posting good growth rates, and lending to non-financial organisations, the real economy, is starting to increase.

Banks have accumulated profit, which is a source of capital. Banks need capital to develop lending. We hope, and our forecasts show, that lending is expected to grow steadily.

We are witnessing new trends in the banking market. I wanted to tell you about financial technology. Technological progress is important in all areas, including finance. We are already witnessing that this is significantly changing both the business model of banks and relations with customers.







Many financial services are provided remotely. We see that in the past two years online payments increased 1.8 times. For instance, payments from mobile telephones increased by 90 percent.

E-commerce is on the rise. Russia is in no way inferior to other countries in terms of the financial technology development levels, and even surpasses them in some respects. For example, mobile banking applications are estimated to have one and a half to two times the functionality as those of our European colleagues.

Of course, the development of financial technology poses several challenges for the Central Bank as a regulator. Developing the infrastructure is the first. Protecting citizens' rights when using financial technology is the second. Defending against cyberattacks is, of course, the third.

I wanted to say a few words about financial infrastructure, because numerous legislative initiatives are being discussed now. Importantly, we do not want to find ourselves in a situation similar to the one three years ago when our access to financial markets was limited, and we had to urgently create a nationwide payment card system and a reinsurance company, as well as to develop our own rating industries.







In financial technology, we also need to build a national infrastructure which will allow us to move forward building on our own foundation. First of all, this concerns the remote identification system, and the legislation is being amended accordingly. We believe this is important, because people want to obtain services regardless of where they are, at any time of the day, and without having to go to offices.

There should be a remote identification system in place, including on the basis of biometric data. We can see some banks beginning to develop this system. However, we believe it should be a single state system with protected personal data and the ability to exchange information, so that everyone could develop this technology, not just major banks or big players, but smaller participants as well.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55935
__________________
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 October 29th, 2017 #654
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Youth 2030: The Image of the Future panel session



Vladimir Putin attended the Youth 2030: The Image of the Future panel session.



October 21, 2017 - 16:45 - Sochi



In the course of the session, representatives of different countries made presentations on a number of development trends: future technologies, healthcare, aircraft of the future, new media, economy for future development, modelling the future, global policy, future science and education, industries in the future, world railroad network, setting up the Future Team.

The 19th World Festival of Youth and Students is held n Russia on October 14 to 22. On the first day, an international student carnival was held in Moscow, whereas the main events are hosted by the Olympic Park in Sochi between October 15 and 22. More than 29,000 people from over 180 countries have participated in the festival.





Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends, ladies and gentlemen.

On my way here, I was thinking about what I could say to you, and I realised that I should not set a task before myself to tell you something interesting. First, because everyone has their own interests; second, you are all young people, and the younger the people are, the more convinced they are that they know better and more than anyone else. For that reason, it is no use setting myself the task to surprise you.

Just like your colleagues on the podium, on this stage, I will just tell you a few words, which I believe, after listening to your colleagues, to be important. I will just share my ideas about what should be borne in mind, in my view, when you start implementing your wonderful and ambitious plans.

Let me start with the simplest things. First, these plans, unless they lie in the area of fundamental science, should be of an applied character. You must be able to realise them, and not only from the point of view of tomorrow and the day after, but also today.

For example, if we look at environmental protection. That wonderful girl, a beauty from Finland, told us about rubbish incineration plants. Yes, there are already many such plants in the world, but you must realise that when you incinerate waste you need to use the energy resulting from the burning. However, almost everywhere the energy generated in this way is subsidised, which means it is not competitive as yet. If we want these technologies to become widespread, and if we want to really influence environmental protection, we should make this energy competitive by using all the capabilities of current and future technologies. As long as we subsidise it from the budget – and I am saying this as a person who deals with it professionally, it will not be widely used.

The same happened in aviation. Do you remember that the Soviet Union had a Tupolev Tu-144 aircraft? There was a supersonic jet in Europe too. Where are they now? Only combat air force has supersonic airplanes while civilian aviation has none. Why not? It is too expensive.

Alexei Kosygin, who was Prime Minister in the Soviet Government, was asked once, “How much does the Soviet supersonic passenger plane Tu-144 cost?” You know what he replied? He said, “There is only one person who knows that. It is me. But I will not tell anybody.” It will be difficult for us to introduce new technology as long as this situation persists.

I had a meeting with Russian young people a short while ago and said that we can imagine – actually, we needn’t as these are today’s realities – covering the distance from the westernmost point of the Russian Federation, from Kaliningrad, to the easternmost point, Vladivostok not in eight to nine hours, as we do now, but in just 20 minutes by using space technology. This is the way a rocket flies, with such a speed. Can we use them? Yes, we can. But will it be used today? No, it is much too expensive. Space tourism has developed, and it costs 20 million to take a space flight. Can anyone in this audience afford this? That is fairly unlikely. However, we have to work on making it widely accessible. Can this be done? It certainly can. But to do that, new technologies have to be used effectively, and they must be introduced. And this is what you spoke about here today.

To do this efficiently, we must pay attention to what I believe is one of the key things. It is education, and it was also spoken about here. It is great that here in Russia, we have managed to hold this festival – true, the event has not finished yet but it is approaching its end. It is great that we have managed to hold such a conference, such a meeting, and I will explain why. Because education today is being completely transformed, as much as technologies are.

Firstly, it is obvious that the people who will have competitive advantages are those who do not just possess knowledge of certain interesting and important facts, but who have what is called soft skills, who have both a creative, planning and other kinds of intelligence. An individual must follow a learning trajectory, a path for acquiring more and more new knowledge, because the world is constantly changing, and education must follow it further, and an individual should also go further. Absolute competitive advantages will belong to those who can not only think in a modern way but also accumulate knowledge from totally different areas of knowledge and different sciences, those who can combine them and effectively apply them to solve the problems facing all of us.

One more aspect is also extremely important, and this festival is a good illustration of the point. This aspect is called the communication skill, the ability to control, if not suppress, one’s emotions, to work in a team – a very important quality. I would very much like to hope that this festival, let me reiterate this, supports and develops these qualities in you, and they will accompany you in you lives.

Finally, the third very important aspect for all of us regardless of what we do or will do in the future. Do you know what it is? It is the moral component of our work, of any job. You spoke about biology and medicine here. A girl from India does a very specific job, she works in emergency healthcare. But you also spoke about biology here. Many of you specialise in it and know what it is. Many are excited by other things and are not so much involved. I would like to make just a few remarks.

Genetic engineering will undoubtedly open up incredible opportunities in pharmacology, new medicines, altering the human genome if a person suffers from genetic diseases. All right, that is good. But there is another part to this process. What does it mean? It means that humans acquire the capability to get into the genetic code, which was created by nature or, as religious people say, by Our Lord. What practical consequences can this entail? It means – we can already imagine it – not so much theoretically, it is already possible to create a person with the desired features. This may be a mathematical genius, this may be an outstanding musician but this can also be a soldier, an individual who can fight without fear or compassion, mercy or pain.

You are aware that humankind may, and most probably will enter a very complicated and very demanding period of its existence and development. And what I have just said may be more terrifying than a nuclear bomb.

When we do something and whatever we may be doing, let me repeat this once again, we should never forget about the moral, ethical foundations of our work. Whatever we do should benefit people. Make them stronger, not destroy them. This is exactly what I would like to wish you.

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55890






Vladimir Putin attended concert concluding World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi



The President attended the Russia show at the Medals Plaza in the Olympic Park.



October 21, 2017 - 17:00 - Sochi







The show was dedicated to the flourishing folk culture in the age of social networks and was designed to showcase the best the country has to offer, to present to the spectators Russia’s cities and their sights, and the cultures of different ethnicities.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, friends. Greetings.

The festival week in Sochi, in Russia is approaching its end. However, I am confident that it benefited the 30,000 young people who came to our country from around the world. Thank you for your trust.
















I congratulate everyone who actively participated in the festival’s events. I know that an unusual, absolutely exceptional energy reigned at the festival, as it still reigns on this square. It is the energy of the young. I am sure that as you depart from Russia, you will leave behind a piece of your heart, while Russia will stay in your heart forever. We believe in you.
















(Speaking English) The future starts here and now. The future is you. All the best, dear friends. All the best. Thank you.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55891






Greetings to Ksenia Perova, winner of 2017 Archery World Cup Final in Mexico City



Vladimir Putin congratulated Ksenia Perova on her women’s ‘recurve bow’ gold medal in the 2017 Archery World Cup Final in Mexico City.



October 22, 2017 - 23:00







The message reads, in part:

“You moved toward this sought-after goal with persistence and perseverance, improving your mastery and physical training, and establishing yourself as a serious competitor, which paved the way to victory in Mexico City.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55901






Meeting with WorldSkills-Russia national team



Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with members of the WorldSkills-Russia national team that took first place in team scoring at the 44th WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 Competition.



October 24, 2017 - 15:50 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The Russian national team was represented by 58 competitors and 52 experts from 24 regions of the country and took part in the competitions in all 52 competencies at WorldSkills International.

Apart from high scores the Russian team was fifth in the number of medals won. It took 11 medals, including six gold, four silver and one bronze.

WorldSkills International is an effective tool for personnel training in accordance with world standards and the requirements of new high-tech production lines.

Participants demonstrate their professional skills in the categories Construction and Building Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Social and Personal Services, and Transportation and Logistics.

A total of 78 countries have joined the competition during its half century history. Russia joined in 2012 and has taken part in three world and two European championships.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Thank you very much for your applause. Let me return it to you, because you deserve applause for winning WorldSkills.

All those who worked with you, and you yourselves, put in an enormous amount of work. I am referring to your coaches, experts and teachers. Perhaps you noticed that I just spoke at the Russia Calling! forum that is organised by one of our leading banks – VTB.







I mentioned your victory and recalled that we only joined this movement in 2012 and competed for the first time in 2013 when we placed just 41st. And now you placed first in total points. This is simply stunning progress.







I would like to congratulate you and our young participants because they also took first place in this segment of professional skills in school disciplines. This is a wonderful result and I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart!







Moreover, this is incredible progress. I am pleased to note that about half of all efforts, all fields were in a very important area for the future – the so-called digital economy. And this is particularly impressive because a modern successful specialist should by all means have this knowledge: skills of the digital economy, robotics and software engineering. You demonstrated these skills and did so brilliantly.







I must say that this inspires pride in you – those who achieve such results – pride in the country, pride in working people because it is owing to them that the economy and the country in general are becoming stronger, more powerful and acquiring good prospects.

Naturally, proceeding from what you have achieved we will draft future personnel training programmes, and this is one of our most important areas. The Government and relevant agencies are taking into account all these modern trends so that colleges and other secondary and higher educational institutions make adjustments to training programmes, including the training of those who work with you, your teachers.







As you know well, next time (apparently, you took part in the ceremony) this event will take place in this country, in Kazan. I am sure that the very fact that we will host WorldSkills will encourage us to continue upgrading the skills, knowledge and methods of training that were so wonderfully displayed with your help this year. I congratulate you and wish you all the best.

Incidentally, how many members did your team have – 58? You did a brilliant job. But the economy needs hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of specialists like you. Let me congratulate you once again and wish you all the best.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55907






Greetings on the opening of National Convention of Student Construction Brigades



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants in the National Convention of Student Construction Brigades held in Yakutsk.



October 28, 2017 - 09:00



The message reads, in part:

“The history of student construction brigades goes back more than fifty years. Many generations of daring young men and women, who sincerely love their Motherland, developed virgin lands, and gave their labour and talents to the development of the country’s industry, construction and transport, and the entire national economy.

I am glad that you continue their endeavours, carefully preserve the glorious traditions of comradeship and mutual help, invariably show initiative and energy, which are necessary for addressing crucial national challenges, and learn to achieve the goals you have set.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55937






About Aleksey Kosygin - https://vnnforum.com/blog.php?b=1258
__________________
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

Last edited by Alex Him; October 29th, 2017 at 09:13 AM.
 
Old October 29th, 2017 #655
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Russia Calling! Investment Forum



Vladimir Putin spoke at the annual Russia Calling! Investment Forum organized by VTB Capital. This year’s event is being held under the slogan Manage the Difficulties, Control the Risks.



October 24, 2017 - 14:00 - Moscow



The forum is the leading event in attracting portfolio and strategic investment in the Russian economy and promotes effective cooperation between Russian businesses and international investors.

Over 2,000 delegates from more than 60 countries, including 500 investors from Russia, Europe, the United States, Asia, the Middle East and Africa are taking part in the forum’s work.

Heads of major international corporations, leading Russian companies and representatives of the Russian Government have been invited to attend the forum’s plenary session.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon,

I am happy to welcome the participants of the 9th Russia Calling! Investment Forum, which brought together over 2,000 guests from more than 60 countries this year, including major investors, heads of leading Russian and foreign companies, and prominent finance and investment professionals.

This means that the Russia Calling! Investment Forum has firmly established itself in the global business calendar and has gained solid respect. Its representative attendance has once again underscored the great interest that modern Russia and its potential evokes, and showed a mutual desire for dialogue and cooperation, which is a key condition for establishing and developing business ties, and finding promising investment destinations.

Russia offers excellent opportunities for cooperation, especially now that our economy has come out of stagnation, and its revival has become sustainable. Russia’s gross domestic product has been growing for twelve months in a row.

Colleagues, forgive me if I have to repeat something. This has probably been discussed already in some form, but I have to repeat some of these things and I will do it with pleasure.

Starting from the second quarter of this year, growth has exceeded two percent. Industrial production growth in January-September was 1.8 percent, with manufacturing industries confidently in the black – the automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries, and electrical equipment are in the lead.

It is important that the Russian economy is acquiring a new quality that was not there a year ago. But what new quality are we talking about?

First, I am referring to dynamics. The dynamics is based on increased domestic demand, on growing consumption and investment. So, starting from May 2017, retail trade has been growing by more than one percent, primarily due to the growth of real wages.

The increase in real wages in January-September was 2.5 percent. People feel this with a certain lag, but gradually this sphere is being revived, which is extremely important for the social sphere and for the economy.

According to preliminary estimates, investment in fixed assets of enterprises and organisations have grown by 4.2 percent over three quarters. This is twice as high as the GDP growth rate for the same period.

Such soaring rates lay the foundation for further growth. According to our Economic Development Ministry, GDP growth for January-September 2017 was 1.8 percent, as I said.

Second, we reached a record low inflation rate in the history of Russia. As of October 16, it was 2.7 percent in annual terms. This allows us to expect that by the end of the year inflation will be below the benchmark of 4 percent.

I know, of course, that some experts are concerned about such a low level of inflation, low for our economy, for the economy with such a structure. And some experts see in these dynamics a deflationary threat to the economy.

Here is what I would like to draw attention to. Almost all central banks, all regulators in all countries that do inflation targeting, show such excessive, at first glance, caution. I think it is to some extent justified, because there are still a lot of risks. There are still a lot of threats for an economy with a structure like ours that depends on the world's raw materials market.

Therefore, I fully understand and generally approve of the Central Bank’s policies, which are based on caution. But at the same time I want to emphasise that price stability, no one ever denies this, plays an important role both in terms of interest rates and in general for macroeconomic stability.

Here I think we are achieving good results, including thanks to a responsible budget policy and strict line of the Central Bank, as I said.

The federal budget’s dependence on the oil market is clearly decreasing. In 2014 oil and gas revenues accounted for more than half of the budget revenues (51.3 percent, to be more exact), while this year the figure amounts to about 39 percent. In the next three-year period, only one-third of the federal budget revenues will come from the oil and gas sector. At the same time, the total revenues of the federal budget will certainly grow.

The so-called non-oil and gas budget deficit is shrinking. At the same time, colleagues, we are well aware of the threats related to this non-oil and gas deficit, where it comes from and what could be the consequences if it is left unattended. We realise this all too well.

Facing an economic crisis and a downturn (I will not go into what caused all this), it was our duty to focus on social justice, on the people, whose real incomes and wages took a nosedive.

Against this backdrop, scaling down social spending would have been irresponsible and unfair to the people. After all, Russia, just like any other country in the world, seeks social stability.

By the way, the economy and investors also need stability. There was also the need to heat up the economy, and we did just that, by taking targeted and structured measures. We can now see that these efforts yielded positive results.

This non-oil and gas deficit is expected to drop from the current 8.5 percent down to 5.9 percent of GDP in 2019, while the overall federal budget deficit will be below one percent. Let me reiterate that all this is expected to contribute to stabilising the macroeconomic situation, and this is already happening. We see that these efforts have not been made in vain.

We are seeing that the business community appreciates our efforts: confidence is on the rise and businesses, including foreign companies, are ready to invest in the Russian economy. This is another distinctive feature of the new stage in the development of the Russian economy which I have just talked about.

Foreign direct investment in non-financial industries totalled $23 billion over three quarters, having doubled compared to the same period last year, and reaching a four-year high.

Russia has been improving its current account balance on the back of capital inflow and the recovery in foreign trade. The country’s currency reserves increased by 13 percent year-to-date. The ruble has stabilised. For your reference, let me tell you that the international reserves held by the Russian Central Bank at the beginning of the year were equal to 377 billion, but as of October 13 they reached 427 billion.

We are facing many strategic challenges today. Besides simply consolidating the positive trends we must infuse additional dynamics to the Russian economy and make it more efficient.

Let me emphasise again that we cannot settle for current economic growth rates. The indicators must be higher than world averages. At this point, several organisational restrictions prevent us from reaching this goal. To overcome them we must use new sources of growth.

First, we must increase labour productivity by modernising production and launching new industrial facilities that are based on the latest technology.

To achieve this, we will continue to improve the business climate in Russia, encourage competition and create more attractive conditions for investment, thus making it more profitable.

Of course, we will concentrate on upgrading the quality of vocational training and the skills of Russian specialists that are already valued at the international level.

As you know, I regularly meet with Russian and foreign business representatives. One problem they mention is the shortage of qualified personnel, and we consistently work to overcome this.

I am pleased to note that Russia won the team scoring in skilled labour jobs at the WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi recently.

It is not even so important that we took first place. We only joined this competition in 2012, competing for the first time in 2013 when we only took 41st place, or last.

But now we are first. So, the dynamics and the rate of qualitative changes are very good. Just like our junior team won the JuniorSkills championship that was held on the global level for the first time.

The growth and realisation of the Russian economy’s export potential is the second source of growth. Lately, much has been accomplished in this area. The exports not related to raw materials are increasing. This figure has grown by 18.6 percent to $77 billion over the first eight months of this year. This represents 35 percent of Russia's total exports.

Engineering shows good results. The supply of civilian machinery and equipment to international buyers increased by 16.9 percent to $10.8 billion over eight months of this year.

Also notable is an increase in exports of Russian machinery and equipment to the EU countries by 15 percent to $2.1 billion. As you know, Europe is a highly competitive and saturated market, which is traditionally hard to enter.

The agro-industrial complex is also adopting a new development model. It is becoming the largest non-resource exporter in our country. Exports of food and agricultural raw materials increased by 19.6 percent to $11.9 billion in January-August. This covers the January-August period. Autumn is in full swing. The harvesting campaign has just been completed. We still have a lot to accomplish.

To put this in perspective, as of the end of 2016, (I have already mentioned these figures, but perhaps not everyone heard it, and they are interesting), the exports of food and agricultural goods grew by 4.9 percent to a total of $17.1 billion. We sold weapons worth of $15.3 billion in 2016. Exports of agricultural goods exceeded that of weapons.

In order to stimulate non-oil and gas exports further, we will continue to remove infrastructure administrative barriers, improve the efficiency of instruments to support exporters, meaning the exports insurance and credit system, assistance in product certification and protection of our producers' rights as they enter foreign markets.

I am aware of the fact that the funds we are investing in these areas are not sufficient. Of course, we will increase all these support elements as our budget opportunities continue to grow as well.

Integration processes in Eurasia open up major prospects for our exporters and, in general, for building up cooperation and investment ties. Business and trade relations with key countries in Asia, the Middle East, and other regions of the world are developing in line with this logic.

Another possible source of growth for the Russian economy is higher efficiency of education, healthcare, the social sphere and governance. I am referring to digitalisation, the widespread introduction of information technology.

I am confident that the development of the digital economy and the launch of new business models will make Russian companies more competitive and diversify the economy in general, give a fresh impetus to the industries and markets based on breakthrough technological solutions, and raise living standards in Russia.

Ladies and gentlemen, in recent years, Russia pursued a conservative and cautious budgetary and monetary policy. This approach has justified itself, ensured the necessary stability in the economy, in public finances and banking, and laid the foundation for positive long-term development.

Now, relying on the results achieved, we must certainly move on, while also bearing in mind all the problems hindering economic growth. We can see them clearly, and we know what to do about them.

We need to find a balance between maintaining stability and more actively supporting new growth factors in the Russian economy. To do this, it is important to concentrate resources and invest in infrastructure, healthcare and education.

I am not telling you anything new, of course, this is an axiom that experts and specialists around the world confirm unanimously. Russia is no exception in this sense – we are perfectly realistic about it and know what we need to do.

Undoubtedly, first of all, we need to invest in the development of the so-called human capital. It is also necessary to significantly expand the banking system’s lending capacity, primarily to the real economy.

Russia’s continued confident development and growth of investment and the success of business undertakings directly depend on the effective, verified implementation of these steps.

Friends and colleagues, we are open to cooperation and partnership. I hope this cooperation will be successful both for Russia and for our foreign partners, for Russian and foreign companies.

I know that you still have a lot of interesting work ahead. Thank you for inviting me to speak here.

Thank you and good luck.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55903






Greetings to participants, guests and organisers of the 20th International Exhibition KHIMIA-2017



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants, guests and organisers of the 20th International Exhibition for the Chemical Industry and Science KHIMIA-2017.



October 23, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads, in part:

“Your exhibition has become one of the largest and most respected international forums that demonstrate the latest achievements of the chemical industry and science. It brings together leading engineers and producers, as well as members of the business and expert communities from Russia and other countries. This format encourages fruitful exchange of experience, the implementation of cutting-edge and innovative technologies, and solutions to key professional problems.

Russia’s chemical industry has considerable potential, which must be effectively applied to boost the country’s economic development and expand its export potential. It is gratifying that this year the forum will, for the first time, include an exposition of national start-up projects in chemistry and chemical technology. I see this initiative as an important component for outlining the industry’s future and dynamic movement forward.”

The 20th International Exhibition for the Chemical Industry and Science KHIMIA-2017 is underway in Moscow from October 23 to 26, 2017.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55894






Meeting with Government members



Vladimir Putin held a regular meeting with Government members.



October 25, 2017 - 14:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The meeting participants also discussed current issues. Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Mikhail Men reported on the readiness of the housing and utilities sector for the heating season.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection Maxim Topilin updated the Government members on the payment of wage arrears. Vladimir Putin pointed out that more attention should be given to such matters and said he would alert the prosecutor’s offices and the Investigative Committee to this.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

The Government, in particular the Finance Ministry, worked at the State Duma today to amend the 2017 budget ahead of discussions of the budget for 2018 and the subsequent two years. What I would like you to take note of is military pensions.

This is what I would like to say. It is true that military pensions nearly doubled, or more precisely, increased by 90 percent, between 2011 and 2017. In the past, we indexed military salaries and military pensions simultaneously. I have noticed that the 2018 budget stipulates the indexation of military salaries on January 1 and the indexation of military pensions on February 1. This decision concerns 2.6 million people. I think we can act as we did in the past, that is, index military salaries and military pensions, as well as the salaries and pensions of the staff and veterans of the other uniformed services, which include Interior Ministry personnel, the Russian National Guard, firefighters, etc., on January 1.

However, to be able to do this we need to earmark the funds already this year, because military pensions are paid in advance. If we index military pensions on January 1, military pensioners must receive their money in December, which means that it must be available. We have sufficient budgetary revenue for this.

I would like the Finance Minister to report on this.







Finance Minister Anton Siluanov:

Indeed, Mr President, our revenues this year are sufficient for implementing your instructions on indexing military pensions and the pensions of other uniformed veterans from January 1, 2018. We will take this into account this year and we will implement your instructions.



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, please do. I request that the Government oversee this process and take this into account when making plans for the future.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55917






Greetings to participants and guests of For You, Mother! forum dedicated to Mother’s Day



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants and guests of the forum For You, Mother!, which opens a series of events to be held ahead of Mother’s Day, which is marked in Russia on the last Sunday in November.



October 24, 2017 - 18:30



The message reads, in part:

“This wonderful festival is filled with the special warmth and sincere and deep gratitude we feel for our mothers, grandmothers and wives, that is, all women who take care of children.

Strong spiritual and family values form the basis of our society’s moral welfare and confident development. The family is where we receive the first glimpse of civic duty and patriotism and it is responsible for creating the atmosphere necessary for the development of children’s personality and world outlook. This is why support for family, mothers and children, as well as the demographic situation and children’s education are among the national priorities. It is highly commendable that this serious and much-needed work is being promoted by such initiatives as your forum, which has been co-sponsored by the Moscow Association of Multi-Child Families and the Moscow authorities.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55914






Security Council meeting



Vladimir Putin chaired an extended meeting of the Security Council at the Kremlin.



October 26, 2017 - 14:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The participants discussed matters related to the protection of the state information infrastructure and measures on its development.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we will discuss a set of issues on ensuring the security of Russia’s information infrastructure.

Obviously, the sustainable performance of information systems, means of communication and mass media and their protection are of strategic importance to the country. This is an important factor in ensuring the state’s sovereignty, defence capability and security and the efficient development of the economy, the social sector and state administration that are all based on advanced technology, including digital technology.

We discussed these issues in detail, mapping out immediate and long-range goals three years ago at the Security Council meeting on October 1, 2014. Much has been done since then to ensure the reliability of the information infrastructure, especially in government bodies.







Russia’s Doctrine of Information Security was endorsed in December 2016. The Federal Law on the security of critical information infrastructure of Russia will enter into force on January 1, 2018.

Thus, the legal foundation for further practical steps in this area has been laid.

The federal bodies that have the authority to monitor this are operating successfully. I am referring to the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control and the FSB that ensures the operation of the government system of detection, warning and remedial action of computer attacks on information resources. Experts at Roskomnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media) are also working on this.







Meanwhile, it is imperative to keep in mind that the level of threat in the information space is on the rise, the number of risks is increasing, and the implications of various kinds of cyber attacks are no longer local, but truly global in nature and scale. For example, the spread of the WannaCry virus in May and June affected information resources in 150 countries, including Russia.

External invasion of electronic systems in the field of defence and public administration, life-supporting infrastructure and finance, and leaking of electronic documents can lead to the worst possible outcome.







I would also like to note that a number of countries are actually using information technology as part of their defence system and have formed cyber units, and are also actively using the information space to weaken their competitors, to promote their economic and political interests, and to achieve their geopolitical goals in general, including as soft power.

In this regard, we must have a clear understanding of the trends underlying the development of the global information sphere and predict potential threats and risks. Most importantly, we should outline additional measures that will allow us to not merely identify threats in a timely manner, but to actively respond to them as well.







Now, with regard to the primary focus of our efforts.

First, we need to improve the state system for identifying, preventing and eliminating computer attacks on Russia's information resources. This, in particular, concerns the interaction mechanisms used by its departmental segments.

Second, we need to increase the level of protection of state bodies’ information systems and communication networks. I believe that it is necessary to raise the executives’ personal responsibility for ensuring information security. I will say later why I am focusing on this.

The next important task is to reduce as far as possible the risks related to the objective need to use foreign software and telecommunications equipment.

We must consistently implement import substitution projects. We have had this programme for several years now. I would like to hear your opinion on what we should do to provide additional support for our domestic producers and encourage them with a view to enhancing their potential and competitiveness.

Fourth, it is necessary to enhance the security and sustainability of the Russian segment of the Internet. If additional normative acts must be adopted, let us today discuss your ideas and proposals on this score.

I would like to emphasise that this has nothing to do with limiting access of law-abiding citizens to the Internet or some total barriers and filters. It is essential to strictly observe and respect the Constitutional right to receive and disseminate information.

Like other democratic countries, we should fight against those who are using the information space for propaganda of radical ideas and justification of terrorism and extremism and nip in the bud any attempts to post online materials that threaten the security of our state, society as a whole and its individual members.







As you know, this year the liability for setting up sites that urge children and teenagers to commit suicide has been legally raised. Our law enforcement bodies and security services have started identifying and curbing cases of recruitment into terrorist groups, including ISIS, which is banned in Russia, and similar organisations.

It is necessary to be tough as regards those persons and groups that are using the Internet and the information space for criminal purposes.

And, finally, the fifth point. We should be more active in facilitating the formation of the system of international information security, develop cooperation with our partners at global and regional venues, such as the UN, BRICS, the SCO, APEC, CSTO and CIS and conduct interdepartmental consultations and talks with them. Obviously, by pooling our efforts we will combat modern threats more successfully.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55924
__________________
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 October 29th, 2017 #656
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Greetings to 10th Young Talents of Russia National Cadet Festival



Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants of the 10th Young Talents of Russia National Cadet Festival.



October 24, 2017 - 16:00



The message reads, in part:

“Your annual festival brings together participants from military colleges, cadet corps and the legendary Suvorov and Nakhimov military schools from across Russia. These establishments take pride in their high educational standards, dedicated military and patriotic training and the creative development of young people. The 10th festival is evidence of all of this. We appreciate the festival organisers’ serious and highly important contribution, as well as their sincere concern for our children and their efforts to instil in our young people unfading spiritual and moral values and respect for Russia’s historical and cultural traditions.”

The 10th Young Talents of Russia National Cadet Festival takes place in Moscow on October 24–25, 2017.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55913






Presentation of officers appointed to senior command posts



A ceremony was held in the Kremlin to present officers appointed to senior command posts and awarded higher military (special) titles and ranks.



October 26, 2017 - 14:00 - The Kremlin, Moscow







Vladimir Putin congratulated the officers on their new appointments and outlined the tasks before the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, as well as intelligence and security services.

The President of Russia also expressed gratitude to Russian military personnel taking part in the counterterrorism operation in Syria for their courage, professionalism and heroism.





President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Comrades,

Congratulations on your appointment to senior command posts and the bestowment of military and special titles and ranks. I wish you every success in serving Russia and its people.

You are now entering a new and important stage in your careers. I strongly believe that you will do your best to meet expectations, and that you will serve with honour, dignity and in earnest.

The tasks you are facing are extremely demanding, complex and instrumental in terms of ensuring the steady development of the country, protecting national interests and the safety of our citizens.

I would like to thank the Russian service personnel who are taking part in the counter-terrorist operation in Syria. It is their courage, concise and professional action and valour that helped turn the tide in Syria.

More than 90 percent of Syrian territory has been liberated from terrorists. De-escalation zones are being created in close cooperation with the Syrian authorities and our Western partners, and a political settlement and civil reconciliation are progressing.

Let me emphasise that the terrorists are not just some poorly organised groups, but rather units that are well equipped, trained, and are generously financed and highly motivated. The combat action against them demonstrated the enhanced capability of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, Land Forces and Navy. We need to further strengthen this capacity, implement new, promising weapons systems, and enhance the efficiency of combat training.

More than 2,500 military exercises were held in 2017, including the large strategic exercise Zapad 2017, during which training ranges in Russia and Belarus were used to practice combat action planning and troop coordination in countering terrorist attacks.

Terrorism remains one of the main threats for Russia and the world. In 2017, officers from the Federal Security Service prevented 43 terrorism-related incidents. Dozens of terrorists were killed, about 800 members of armed groups detained, and 66 terrorist and extremist cells were destroyed.

There were also substantial results in counterintelligence. In the first six months of 2017, our agencies precluded the activities of 30 foreign intelligence operatives and more than 200 people suspected of colluding with foreign intelligence services.

In order to ensure effective protection of our national interests, the Foreign Intelligence Service needs to engage in systemic and extensive efforts, to extract and analyse existing and new information, and to forecast developments in various regions of the world, especially those close to the Russian border, with consideration for all the factors and risks related to the threats Russia might face.

The Federal Guard Service makes a major contribution to national security. I am confident that its officers will continue their reliable and exemplary efforts as they work on a wide range of special objectives, data collection and analysis, and special communications.

The Special Facilities Service has a unique role in mobilising and training government bodies. I hope that its staff will be able to ensure stable public governance and military coordination even under the most challenging conditions.

People expect interior agencies to undertake proactive and effective action to fight crime, corruption, extremism, drug and arms trafficking, and migration control.

The Interior Ministry as a whole, both its central and regional departments, must focus on protecting Russian nationals, their lives, health, property, rights, and legitimate interests. This requires effective cooperation with civil society and government agencies at all levels.

The Federal Service of the National Guard should also work in close coordination with the Interior Ministry and other agencies. These joint concerted efforts will help the National Guard deliver on its duties, ensure a high level of public safety, including during major public events.

The Russian Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief had to intervene on a number of occasions this year. Rescue teams and firefighters fought fires in the Siberian Federal District, Volgograd Region and Rostov-on-Don, provided relief following floods in Tyumen Region, Stavropol and Primorye territories and Adygeya, took part in a number of rescue operations, and delivered humanitarian aid abroad.

This diverse experience in multiple areas should be used to improve the training of the current and new employees of the Emergencies Ministry.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation focuses on fighting crime, submits evidence to courts and helps convict offenders.

The work of the Prosecutor’s Office is essential for the whole system. In fact, the prosecutor’s oversight is one of the main instruments for enforcing budget and tax discipline, protecting the business and investment climate, and legality in general.

I would like to lay special emphasis on preventive action by prosecutors, which consists of identifying the causes that may lead to violations and demanding that they be addressed, be it in military procurement, education, healthcare or labour rights.

The Federal Penitentiary Service ensures compliance with legal norms and requirements, including with regard to convicted persons. Let me emphasise once again that a harsh sentence should not lead to harsh treatment.

One of the key tasks for this service is to prevent crime so that people who are convicted and pay their debt to society can return to normal life.

Comrades, once again, congratulations to all of you on your appointment to senior command posts and the bestowment of titles and ranks.

I wish you every success in your service, good health to you and your families, and all the best. Thank you for your service and please accept my best wishes.


<…>


Comrades,

To conclude today's ceremony, I would like to draw your attention to the following. On a practical level, positive interaction has developed in recent years between various uniformed services, such as the Defence Ministry in general and individual units of the Federal Security Service and Foreign Intelligence Service.

This is having a very good effect on our country, ensures its security, and improves the overall quality and effectiveness of work. I want you to focus on precisely this kind of interaction going forward.

I wish you success.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55923






Vladimir Putin took part in Strategic Nuclear Forces’ training



Training on the management of Russia’s Strategic Nuclear Forces was held the previous evening.



October 27, 2017 - 10:00



The exercise focused on practicing the coordination between Russian Strategic Missile Troops, nuclear submarines of the Northern and Pacific fleets, and strategic aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Commander-in-Chief oversaw test launches of four ballistic missiles.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55929
__________________
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 October 29th, 2017 #657
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Congratulations to President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev



Vladimir Putin congratulated President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states.



October 22, 2017 - 10:00



The message reads in part:

”In the last 25 years, while relying on good traditions of friendship and mutual respect which connect the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan, we managed to propel bilateral relations to a high level of strategic partnership and alliance.

Russian-Kazakhstani political dialogue, fruitful cooperation in the trade, economic, research and development, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres are developing rapidly. The coordination of efforts of our countries as part of the Eurasian Economic Union facilitates the strengthening of regional stability and security.

I am sure that acting together we will ensure the further extension of the entire complex of relations between Russia and Kazakhstan, constructive cooperation in resolving relevant issues on the international agenda. This definitely serves the vital interests of peoples of our countries.“

The President of Russia wished Mr Nazarbayev good health, success and all the very best.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55893






Russia-Cyprus talks



Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, who is in Russia on a working visit at the invitation of the Russian President.



October 24, 2017 - 18:15 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The two leaders discussed current matters related to Russian-Cypriot cooperation, primarily trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and exchanged views on the key international issues, including the Cyprus settlement.








































The talks were followed by the signing of a number of bilateral documents. They include a joint declaration of the two governments on cooperation in economic modernisation, intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in communications and information technologies, international road service and maritime transport, and the Joint Programme of Action for 2018–2020.

Mr Putin and Mr Anastasiades also made press statements.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55910






Beginning of meeting with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades



October 24, 2017 - 16:30 - The Kremlin, Moscow









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, friends. Let me welcome you in Moscow.

Our meetings are always meaningful and constructive. This is not surprising considering our relations, which have developed over a long period of time.

Let me recall that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognise independent Cyprus. The way our relations are developing today is very positive.

I am sure we will discuss the entire range of our relations, including international issues and the domestic settlement of the Cypriot problem. You know that Russia has always supported a fair settlement.

I am very glad to see you. Welcome, Mr President.



President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades (retranslated):

My dear friend, Mr President. This is my third visit to Moscow as President and my second top level meeting with you at your kind invitation. This is surely evidence of the close relations that exist between our countries. Not only our good-natured relations but also the cultural, religious and historical affinity that exists between our countries and peoples.

I have no doubt that despite our already good relations, this meeting will give us another opportunity to consider how to deepen and expand them.

We will have to discuss the Cypriot problem, relations between the European Union and Russia, as well as regional and bilateral issues. We will have to deal with these issues and I am particularly grateful to you for this.

I would like to thank you personally and on behalf of the Cypriot people for Russia’s unwavering, principled support for us on the Cypriot issue, for finding a solution to this long-standing problem.

Let me thank you once again for your invitation, your warm hospitality and the prerequisites that you are creating for even closer and friendlier relations of cooperation between our countries and peoples.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55911






Press statements following Russia-Cyprus talks



October 24, 2017 - 18:10 - The Kremlin, Moscow









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, colleagues,

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and I have just concluded extensive and substantive talks. There was a detailed exchange of views across the entire range of Russia-Cyprus relations and important international and regional problems. We have outlined ways to further develop our mutually beneficial partnership across various areas.

Our countries are historically linked by close and friendly relations, and Cyprus has become our important and promising partner. We appreciate the aspirations of our Cypriot friends and President Anastasiades, and we appreciate his desire to strengthen our close and multifaceted cooperation.

This cooperation is marked by high intensity at all levels. Russia and Cyprus have signed over 40 intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements. A number of new important documents were signed today. Among them I will, of course, highlight the Joint Programme of Action for 2018–2020, which outlines a variety of steps to further build up bilateral ties.

We paid particular attention today to the economic aspects of Russia-Cyprus interaction. The unfavourable international situation and external constraints caused by political factors have been marring the trade dynamics in the past three years. However, thanks to our joint efforts, bilateral trade was up 36 percent during the first eight months of this year.

We agreed to promote cooperation in the field of innovation, energy efficiency, medicine and pharmaceuticals, and discussed possible supplies of Russian aircraft and shipbuilding products.

We attach great importance to direct contacts between members of our business community. The island of Cyprus is home to branches of major Russian banks such as VTB, Promsvyazbank, and Gazprombank. Together they perform the full range of investment and financial transactions.

Prospects in the sphere of defence industry cooperation are good as well.

Cultural and humanitarian contacts are traditionally a priority area in Russia-Cyprus relations. The President and I have talked about expanding this cooperation.

I know that Cyprus has always attached great importance to study of the Russian language. I hope that our friends will continue to foster school and college students’ interest in studying Russian in Cyprus.

Cyprus is one of our most popular tourist destinations. Last year, over 800,000 Russian citizens visited the island and in the first nine months of this year, this number already exceeded 700,000.

Naturally, topical issues on the European and global agenda were also addressed during the meeting.

I reaffirmed to the President Russia’s principled position in favour of a comprehensive and just settlement in Cyprus based on UN Security Council resolutions and the agreements between the Cyprus parties. We consider it important that the final decision be made by the Cypriots themselves, without outside interference and the imposition of ready-made prescriptions.

Cyprus is close to the Middle East. I brought the President up to date on our efforts in fighting terrorism in Syria.

We talked about the need to restore the Christian presence in this part of the world. We also discussed the need to restore communities and normal dialogue between them.

I also briefed the President on the situation that is developing within the framework of the Minsk process to achieve a settlement in southeastern Ukraine.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to you, Mr President, and to all our Cypriot friends for today’s substantive and constructive dialogue.

Thank you.







President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades (re-translated):

I would like to express my special satisfaction with the constructive nature of today's meeting and note that this is my third visit to Moscow and the second meeting at the top level since I have become president. I would like to express special gratitude for the invitation and hospitality extended personally to me and members of my delegation.

Just like last time, in 2015, our discussions today were very constructive and creative. We would like to note that the current contacts prove the importance of Cyprus for Russia and the importance of deepening and expanding our relations across all areas.

There is no need to repeat that Cyprus and Russia are connected by many years of relations based on cooperation and affinity in the cultural and political spheres. Common cultural, religious, spiritual, and civilisational values strengthen our dialogue both in the economy, politics, and trade.

The issues that we discussed today during our candid dialogue included both the Cyprus issue and bilateral relations in their entirety, the relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation, a number of regional and international matters, including Ukraine and the role of the European Union in this matter, as well as a serious issue such as the crisis on the Korean Peninsula and in Syria.

With regard to the Cyprus issue, we have once again expressed the gratitude of the people of Cyprus and the Cypriot leadership for the continued and principled position of support from the Russian Federation, including within the UN Security Council, in favour of reaching a solution to the Cyprus issue. These principles are based on the principles of international law, as well as relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on the Cyprus issue.

Regarding the Cyprus problem. We noted that we are ready for dialogue on the domestic aspects of this problem. As for guarantees, I pointed out that this requires thorough preparations for relevant meetings both with the participation of the UN Secretary-General and within the framework of the UN Security Council with the participation of all five permanent members of the Security Council. I therefore updated the President on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

The signing of five new documents, agreements related to various spheres of our cooperation, will help expand and deepen this cooperation in all these spheres. For your information, I would like to add that 67 various agreements have been signed between our countries, including 19 that were drafted and signed in the past five years.

As stated earlier, the President and I discussed the relations between the European Union and Russia, noting that it is necessary to normalise and advance them for the common good. I would like to stress that in our conversations and discussions with our partners in Brussels, we have always called for a pragmatic approach toward our relations, which is necessary to deal with serious problems such as fighting terrorism, as well as various regional issues.







Regarding international issues, we talked about the need to implement the Minsk agreements and the Normandy format and also addressed such serious problems as Syria, North Korea and denuclearisation, noting that these problems can only be dealt with through dialogue. We also talked about the role of Cyprus and the role that Cyprus can play in the region, taking advantage of its position given the situation prevailing now.

I would like to say that I am particularly pleased with the atmosphere and warmth of the dialogue with President Putin, as well as the understanding that we achieved in addressing various problems. Therefore, Mr President, I would like once again to express my very warm gratitude for the invitation to come to Moscow and for the hospitality that has been accorded to me, my wife and the entire delegation.

I hope that I will have an opportunity to return your hospitality and show warmth on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire people of Cyprus, hosting you in my country, Cyprus.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/55912






Greetings to President of China Xi Jinping



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping on his re-election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.



October 25, 2017 - 12:20



The President of Russia writes in his message that the election results have confirmed the political standing of Xi Jinping, the broad public support for his policy towards the accelerated socioeconomic development of China, as well as the strengthening of China’s international standing.

Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the decisions of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was an event of truly historical significance, would help strengthen the relations of comprehensive and trust-based partnership between Russia and China.

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s interest in continued cooperation with China to boost all aspects of bilateral relations and their constructive cooperation in dealing with current regional and international matters. He added that he is looking forward to meeting with Xi Jinping at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang, Vietnam.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55915
__________________
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 October 29th, 2017 #658
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Talks with President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier



Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.



October 25, 2017 - 18:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow







The presidents discussed further prospects of bilateral relations.

Attending the talks on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov. The German delegation consisted of State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Stephan Steinlein, and German Ambassador to Russia Rudiger von Fritsch.

Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in Moscow on a working visit at the invitation of the Russian President.

Following the talks, Vladimir Putin and Frank-Walter Steinmeier made statements for the press.









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, colleagues,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Moscow, to the Kremlin.

We met in Moscow 18 months ago, sometime in the spring of 2016. We are very pleased that the dialogue with the Federal Republic continues.







Mr President, you are very deeply involved in all the processes of bilateral relations. Over the years, you headed the corresponding departments in the government and then were Foreign Minister for a long time, and Vice-Chancellor. You are aware of all our issues.

We continue our contacts with the Federal Chancellor, Ms Merkel. It is a pleasure to receive the President of the Federal Republic. Let me express my hope that your visit will be a good impetus to developing bilateral relations and serve to strengthen our interstate relations.

(Speaks German.) Herzlich willkommen. [Welcome.]



Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier (retranslated):

Thank you.

Mr President,

As you are aware, this is not my first visit to Moscow, but my first visit as Federal President. I am very pleased to be here today.

Now, at the very beginning of our meeting, I would like to cordially thank you for the opportunity that I have today to participate in the ceremony of transferring the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia.

I am also very happy that a solution was found to the situation surrounding the German-Russian House in Kaliningrad. I believe it is necessary to use our capabilities as presidents to continue the dialogue and to try to determine how to improve relations, with which we cannot be satisfied right now.







In any case, I am convinced that we need to overcome the alienation that has set in between our countries in the past years. To do so, it is necessary to continue our dialogue. There must be long-term attempts on both sides to find solutions to overcoming crises.

In short, I would like to contribute to improving relations between Russia and Germany in my new role as Federal President. I hope that our conversation today and similar conversations in the future will help me to accomplish this.

I would like to thank you for the invitation.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55920






Press statements following talks with Federal President of Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier



October 25, 2017 - 19:15 - The Kremlin, Moscow









President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,

We are pleased to receive President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Steinmeier, who is visiting Russia for the first time as President of the Federal Republic of Germany. He is an experienced diplomat and statesman. We have known each other for a long time. He has visited our country often, and we met many times, but we are receiving him for the first time in this capacity.

During the talks, we discussed in detail various aspects of bilateral cooperation, and exchanged views on important international and regional matters. It was noted that despite the well-known political difficulties, Russian-German relations are not treading water, and we are willing to work together to further develop them.

Even in the face of various restrictions of a political nature and the decline in bilateral trade, which largely stems from that, Germany remains one of our leading foreign economic partners and a key investor in the Russian economy.

We noted with satisfaction that trade has started to grow this year again. While in 2016 bilateral trade declined by 11 percent, it was up as much as 25 percent in January-July 2017. The inflow of direct investments from Germany has also increased. In the first quarter of this year alone, they reached $312 million, significantly exceeding the 2016 total of $225 million.







There are over 5,500 enterprises with German capital successfully operating in Russia. Their total revenue exceeds $50 billion. I should also add that German business is set to expand its operations on the Russian market. As you may know, this was discussed, in particular, at a meeting with senior members of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and top executives of leading German companies in Sochi on October 12. The event was also attended by President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

During the talks with Mr Steinmeier, we also addressed a traditional sphere of bilateral relations – energy. We spoke in favour of fostering industrial cooperation. I would like to point out that since the start of the year, several new plants built with German business participation have opened in Moscow and Samara regions.

In addition, in June, on the sidelines of the St Petersburg Economic Forum, a contract was signed with the German company Linde to launch a new large-scale petrochemical facility in Tatarstan with a total investment of $10 billion.

Scientific contacts are forging ahead. The world’s largest X-ray laser was built with advanced Russian technology within the framework of the XFEL project in Hamburg. This will make it possible for scientists to address tasks that were once deemed technologically impossible.

Regarding cultural cooperation, first of all, I would like to mention the German President’s participation in today’s ceremony of handing over the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Moscow to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia. The event was timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation – a religious and socio-political movement that, as is known, originated in Germany.

We agreed to facilitate the further expansion of interregional cooperation and contacts, including through non-governmental organisations. The bilateral Year of Municipal Partnerships was launched in June. Delegates from 90 Russian and 46 German cities attended its opening. Plenary meetings of the Petersburg Dialogue Forum and the second Potsdam Meetings youth forum are planned for November.

We naturally covered important issues of the international agenda and thoroughly discussed the situation in Syria. We share the opinion that it is necessary to achieve the complete and final elimination of terrorists in that country, and to step up efforts to promote a political settlement.

Of course, we also touched upon the state of affairs in Ukraine. The President is fully aware of all the intricacies involved in this subject. As you may be aware, when he was foreign minister, he proposed a number of solutions, which bear his name. I hope that they will be seen to completion in the course of future work.

The President and I once again noted that unfaltering compliance with the Minsk agreements is the basis for a sustainable and comprehensive settlement in southeastern Ukraine. In this context, we discussed the Russian initiative to establish a UN mission to ensure the security of OSCE observers in the conflict zone.

We also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear programme and the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

In general, the talks were very useful and took place in a constructive and very businesslike atmosphere. I would like to express my gratitude to the President for that. I am confident that this visit will be beneficial for promoting bilateral relations between the Federal Republic and the Russian Federation.

Thank you for your attention.



Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Thank you very much, Mr President.

I am very pleased to be in Moscow, and, as you mentioned, not for the first time, but this is my first time as Federal President.

I am very grateful to you for the important and very generous gesture you made today, which is to return the St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in Moscow to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Not only was it a respectful ceremony, I am confident that this gesture was received here in Moscow and in Germany as an important message for the Evangelical Lutheran community in Moscow and Germany, which celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year. A grand ceremony will soon take place in Wittenberg.







I came here and used this meeting as an opportunity to have a very detailed conversation about the state of relations between our countries. I think we are united in the opinion that we cannot and should not be satisfied with the current state of affairs. We are still far from enjoying normal relations; there are still open wounds and unresolved issues, primarily, with regard to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which continue to burden our relations. In addition, we have also spoken about recent arrests here in Moscow.

I do not think that a single meeting or a single conversation can help overcome the situation that has taken shape over the past few years. Nonetheless, I am convinced that we need such meetings as today’s, and we should have more meetings like today's – not only abstractly between our countries, but absolutely concretely between high-ranking representatives of our states.

Today I would like to see if there are ways out of the negative spiral that you have observed during the past few years. The loss of trust, mutual recriminations and misunderstanding – can we overcome all this? The Russian President told us today what he thinks about the future of relations between Germany and Russia.

I believe we cannot erase the alienation of the past, but we should aim to counteract the significant discord of recent years with more predictability and the restoration of some minimal level of confidence. Our mutual relations (I am referring not only to those who are responsible for them in the Government, but also to people in Russia and Germany) are too important for us to have no dialogue, considering that we can clearly convey our ideas to each other.

Russia and Germany are linked by a history that goes back more than a millennium, and this history is too diverse to be viewed in black and white. This is why it is so important for me to resist the alienation of the past few years and to keep saying that we live in Europe together. It is our duty to our nations to always continue looking for what we have in common despite all the disagreements and conflicts. We spoke about this today during the lunch with representatives of the Russian leadership.







I think in addition to the subjects mentioned by your President, Russia is highly interested in cultural and scientific exchanges and in making them more intensive than they were in the past few years.

I believe we are realistic enough to say that something may be achieved in the course of one conversation. But we will make our joint efforts our homework, with the goal of not only strengthening our relations but also improving them.

Thank you very much.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55921






Telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.



October 26, 2017 - 17:00



Vladimir Putin cordially congratulated Xi Jinping on his reelection to the post of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and on the successful 19th party congress.

It was affirmed that the President of Russia and the CPC leaders elected at the congress will continue to work together to further develop friendly Russian-Chinese relations. These relations, as was stressed, have reached an unprecedented level.

The leaders agreed to meet in person in the first half of November at the APEC Summit in Vietnam.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55925






Congratulations to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Independence Day



Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the country’s national holiday, Independence Day.



October 27, 2017 - 10:00



The Russian President noted Turkmenistan’s remarkable progress in the economy, social issues, science and technology, and the country’s well-deserved authority internationally.

Vladimir Putin highly praised the development of Russian-Turkmenistani relations which have advanced to the level of strategic partnership, and expressed confidence that the agreements reached during recent talks with the President of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat would contribute to the further improvement of productive bilateral cooperation in all areas to the benefit of the peoples of Russia and Turkmenistan, and with the aim of strengthening regional security and stability.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55928






Greetings to the Eighth Russia-Abkhazia Business Forum



Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the Eighth Russia-Abkhazia Business Forum.



October 27, 2017 - 12:00



The message reads, in part:

“Over the past years, the forum has earned a reputation of a respected venue for open, constructive dialogue of government officials, business and expert communities of the two countries on current issues pertaining to the development of strategic partnership between Russia and Abkhazia.

The current meeting’s agenda includes issues of stepping up our cooperation in such important and mutually advantageous areas as trade, agriculture and tourism, and support of meaningful contacts in science, education and culture.

I hope that the solutions worked out by the forum will be applied in practice and will contribute to the effective fulfilment of the large potential of our cooperation.”





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55938






Telephone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan



Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



October 28, 2017 - 23:25



The Russian President congratulated Mr Erdogan on Turkey's national holiday – Republic Day – marked on October 29.

The two presidents had a thorough exchange of views on various aspects of successful bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of major joint energy projects.

Ahead of the seventh international meeting on Syria to be held in Astana on October 30–31, the two sides stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to ensure the functioning of de-escalation zones, fighting terrorism and promoting the political settlement in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The two leaders agreed to maintain personal contacts.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/55940
__________________
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 November 2nd, 2017 #659
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Let us return to the past:



Previous texts about the past - https://vnnforum.com/showpost.php?p=...&postcount=603 - and so on.






Joint News Conference with German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder



November 12, 2002 - 00:02 - Oslo





Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

Today Mr Federal Chancellor and I continued our exchange of opinions on the key international and bilateral issues.

It was an unscheduled meeting, and I am glad that we had a chance to meet here in Oslo and discuss the whole range of issues that are of concern to us.

I would like once again to thank the Federal Chancellor and the German people for the solidarity they displayed with Russia during the terrorist attack, during the tragedy that Moscow and Russia faced just recently, on October 24.

Naturally, we could not but discuss interaction in the fight against international terror. For my part I briefed the Chancellor on the efforts Russia is exerting to settle the situation in Chechnya. The relations between Russia and Germany have developed very dynamically in recent years. I am referring above all to economic interaction: our agenda includes a whole range of investment projects that are interesting and important for both sides.

The Year of Russian Culture begins in Germany in February next year and we would like it to be a major event in terms of its scope and content. I think it would be proper if we hold a reciprocal event in Russia in 2004. 2004 will be a Year of German Culture in the Russian Federation. As regards the opening of the Year of Russian Culture in Germany, I would be glad to take part in the opening ceremony in Berlin. I thank the Federal Chancellor for the invitation.

We have agreed other joint measures for the near term. Our dialogue will be very full and it will deal not only with our bilateral contacts – key ministers and representatives of the business community will take part in it.

As you know, I arrived here yesterday after a meeting in Brussels and today I briefed the Chancellor on the results of the Russia-European Commission work. I know that the German Government and Mr Chancellor took a very constructive position on one of the key issues of interaction with the European Union, currently a very sensitive issue for us, and that is the life support of the Kaliningrad Region in the light of the coming enlargement of the European Union. And I would like to thank the Federal Chancellor for this.

I think Mr Chancellor and I will have a chance to further discuss the problem of interaction in the development of Kaliningrad, the development of cooperation in that part of Europe, and I am sure it would be good for the united Europe, for Russia and for Germany.

Of course we discussed a wide range of international problems, in the first place, the problem of Iraq on which the Russian and German positions are practically the same. We exchanged opinions on the situation that exists there at present. I would like to stress that Germany’s opinion is very important for us and we will remain in contact on this and many other issues on the international agenda.



Gerhard Schroeder (translated from Russian):

I have a lot of things to add. It is true that our relations are developing successfully not only in the economic but also in the cultural sphere. We are glad that Mr President will take part in inaugurating the Russian Culture Year in Germany in 2003.

Russian-German interaction is multifarious. Cooperation in the energy sphere is a strategic area for both countries. We have also discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the aviation field.

Of course we are very glad that at the Russia-EU summit yesterday the two sides came to an agreement during the course of the negotiations in which the Russian President personally took part. It opens up new vistas for the European Union and Russia. I agree that now we must work together to develop the Kaliningrad Region.

We have always expressed and are expressing today our solidarity with Russia and its President on the issue of the fight against terrorism. I follow with great interest and I support the political process in Chechnya, both the way it is organised and the methods used. I am referring in particular to the constitutional process. It marks a good beginning that deserves every support.

As regards Iraq, we welcome the constructive role Russia plays in this process in the framework of the UN Security Council. We believe that the resolution that has been passed gives the Iraqi leadership a chance to solve the existing problem by peaceful means. We hope that scrupulous adherence to the UN resolution will make that possible.

And of course we look forward to seeing the Russian President in Germany in February.



Question:

Mr President, do you expect concrete assistance from the EU or Germany and the German Chancellor personally in dealing with the problem of Chechnya?



Vladimir Putin:

You know, that problem is so complicated that it is unlikely that anyone could give an all-embracing recommendation on how to solve it. The problem has its pre-history and there is its current state. Just the day before yesterday I met with the representatives of the Chechen public and the clergy. I think it is an internal problem of Russia, which Russia must solve independently together with the Chechen people in the interests of the Chechen people and the whole of the Russian Federation.

Of course we are not indifferent to the opinion of our colleagues in Europe, the opinion of the Federal Chancellor. We are interested in the experience of other countries. There are some good examples of the resolution of disputes in Europe. True, there are also instances of conflicts which have dragged on for hundreds of years and have still not been resolved.

I would like to say that we are not going to be arrogant and say that we don’t care about your opinion and we will do as we like. Of course we will heed your opinion and react to all the friendly advice from all those who really want to help us to resolve that situation.

But we are not going to palm that problem off on anyone, it is a problem for the Russian Federation, we must solve it and I am sure that we will do it.



Question:

Mr Chancellor, a German TV channel recently broadcast an interview with a former citizen of Grozny [Subar Magomedova] who admitted to killing three Russian soldiers and a Chechen policeman. Under the rules of German justice can such a person be free and have the status of a political refugee in Germany?



Gerhard Schroeder:

I cannot give you a legal assessment just now. I haven’t seen that broadcast. But I proceed on the basis that the German authorities should look at these statements and look at these words to see if they correspond to the German Constitution and German legislation. If a person admits to having committed murder, then of course consequences must ensue. There will be a corresponding assessment and a corresponding reaction. As soon as I am back in Berlin today I will call the Justice Minister and draw her attention to this fact.



Question:

What is your assessment of the UN Security Council resolution? Do you have direct contacts with Baghdad? Do you know what Hussein’s answer is? What could be the consequences of a negative answer?



Vladimir Putin:

As regards contacts, we have such contacts; we are explaining our position to the Iraqi side. Our position is known: the adoption of a resolution, in our opinion, is a good way to avoid war. It is tougher than the previous one and we assume that Baghdad will take this chance in order to avoid a showdown.

As to what decision the Iraqi leadership and Hussein will take, only he knows. We have the impression that there are different points of view on the issue in the Iraqi society, but on the whole, we feel that there has been a positive response to the UN Security Council resolution.

We hope that the Arab countries will express their point of view on the issue, will influence the position of Iraq considering that the interests of the Arab countries at the Security Council were represented by Syria, which also voted for the resolution.

I must add that in the process of work on the Iraq resolution we were in permanent contact with the German Government, with Mr Chancellor; and it is to a large extent the result of the work not only of the group of countries that are members of the Security Council, but it is the result of a broader effort. So we are highly satisfied with our joint work with Germany on this matter. I think the leadership of Iraq is aware of it and it must take it into account.



Gerhard Schroeder:

First, we have no official contacts with Iraq. Secondly, I made it very clear that we hope and expect that the UN Security Council resolution will be implemented in full. And full compliance with the Security Council resolution is precisely the task that faces the Iraqi leadership. Allowing international inspectors into the country and allowing them to act in the framework of the resolution would permit the conflict to be settled by peaceful means. This is the position of the German Government.



Question:

What is the current state of energy cooperation between the two countries?



Vladimir Putin:

Yes, we have discussed these issues. Broadly, we spoke about the implementation of the earlier agreement. I have briefed Mr Chancellor on other possible energy projects. We have agreed that we will not only continue this work at the inter-governmental level, but will involve businesses in it.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21775






President Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at the memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers



November 12, 2002 - 13:50 - Oslo







A granite stele was installed in the Vestre Gravlund cemetery in 1947 above the common grave of 347 Soviet POWs, 167 of them unidentified, who died in Nazi concentration camps in Oslo and its environs in 1941–1945. The stele is inscribed, “Norway thanks you.”

A granite memorial slab was unveiled near the stele on May 9, 2000.

All told, there were 100,000 Soviet POWs and internees in Norway during World War Two. According to Norwegian statistics, 10,000 of them died in concentration camps and 2,400 in coastline battles as Norway was liberated from the Nazi invaders.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27688






A Russian-Norwegian summit was held in Oslo



November 12, 2002 - 15:00







His Majesty Harald V and Queen Sonja received Mr Putin in the morning, after which he met with Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik.

Mr Putin and Mr Bondevik exchanged opinions on relevant European and global political problems, and discussed developments concerning Iraq and Afghanistan, and opportunities to increase joint efforts against international terrorism. Mr Putin thanked Norway for its solidarity and support during the recent tragedy in the Moscow theatre on Dubrovka Street.







The negotiators analysed various aspects of bilateral relations and plans for joint exploitation of Arctic natural resources. They approved the idea of a Russian-Norwegian Economic Forum, which should complement the work of the acting inter-governmental commission for economic cooperation.







Mr Putin and Mr Bondevik concluded the talks by signing a joint statement. The document determined the basic parameters of work to finally settle bilateral border problems and conclude an agreement on Barents Sea delineation. The parties vouched to use a comprehensive approach, which should comprise all aspects of Russian-Norwegian partnership, including fishing, energy resource prospecting and development, and defence interests.

The document reflected the problem of nuclear waste disposal in the Russian north. Russia and Norway stressed the importance of further work on the practical arrangements of notification about major accidents and of search and rescue.







The delegations signed four joint documents in the presence of Mr Putin and Mr Bondevik—on common border guarding, combating against economic crime, and partnership in information and sports.

Mr Putin and Mr Bondevik concluded the summit with press statements and a joint news conference.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27689






Statement for the Press and Answers to Questions at a Joint Press Conference with the Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik



November 12, 2002 - 00:04 - Oslo





Vladimir Putin:

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all I would like to thank the Norwegian side, His Majesty King Harald V and the Prime Minister for the invitation. We were very happy to see that our relations are not only developing in a very positive way, but that our Norwegian colleagues are committed to continued work along these lines in the future. In recent years our political dialogue has become much more intensive.

The calendar of events in Russia and Norway includes annual top-level and high-level visits. We know that the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has declared 2002 to be the Russia Year in Norwegian diplomacy. Russia and Norway intend to actively promote cooperation at all levels. The joint political statement we adopted today, while recognizing the success achieved in bilateral interaction, also identifies our strategic priorities for the future.

One of the central problems we discussed was deepening our business partnership. I am convinced that the documents we have signed today will take us closer to achieving that goal. These documents that have to do with the postal services, electronic communications, information technologies, control of tax and other economic crimes as well as regulation and joint work of the border agencies.

We have made considerable progress in preparing an agreement on a multilateral nuclear environmental programme in the Russian Federation. We paid much attention to the management of our shared natural resources, which are the heritage of both our countries. Above all, I am referring to the fish resources. And we have confirmed that we will do everything to enable Russia and Norway to solve the problems that sometimes arise in this area on the basis of compromise, in the spirit of respect and the good-neighbourly relations that we have enjoyed recently.

Our countries are major European producers and exporters of energy. And we value the opinion of our Norwegian partners on the entire range of these problems, including the issues of pricing. Joint work between Norway and Russia in that sphere is an important element in the ongoing European dialogue.

Contacts between the regions of the Russian Federation and Norway have been developing successfully. We have seen the growing involvement of Norwegian business in Russia, especially in large energy projects. We have discussed our interaction in the Barents/Euro-Arctic Council and other international organizations.

Anticipating some of your questions, let me say that we have also discussed the demarcation of the Barents Sea. It is not an easy problem. As the Prime Minister said during the discussion, it arose when we were still children, and we have expressed the hope that we will solve it before we go into retirement. But I must say that all the decisions should be thoroughly considered and oriented strictly towards achieving a sustainable balance of interests.

During our talks we exchanged opinions on the main issues in European and international politics. They had to do with concrete regions of the world and more general issues such as the fight against international terrorism.

We touched upon the issues connected with Afghanistan and Iraq. We have full understanding with Norway there. We have worked on these issues together. I am sure that we will build our interaction in the future in the same context.

I am pleased to say that Russian-Norwegian relations have a solid basis and a very good future. Thank you.



Question:

From Russia’s point of view, who is to blame for the lack of agreement on the border in the North of the Barents Sea, and what is necessary for a solution to be found?



Vladimir Putin:

I think that if we want to negotiate successfully we must rule out putting the “blame” on any parties to the negotiating process. It is a very complicated issue and the main condition for its successful solution is respect for the interests of both negotiating parties.

I have the impression that our colleagues want to solve that problem. For our part we will try to sustain this regime of joint work.



Question:

Can you speak about the prospects of Russian-Norwegian cooperation on Spitsbergen.



Vladimir Putin (adding to Kjell Bondevik’s answer):

I agree with the Prime Minister. The problems of the environment protection are issues about which we must think constantly and jointly. We proceed from what has been said today. The Prime Minister has just reiterated my position, the Norwegian side has confirmed that it is committed to abiding by the international law and the established practice in this sphere. We are satisfied with that clarification and we are ready to work together.



Question:

My question is about the fight against international terrorism. What concrete assistance can Norway offer in the fight against extremism and do you feel that Norway and Russia have narrowed their differences after the talks today?



Vladimir Putin:

We discussed these problems at length today. The problem of terrorism is global in character. If you look at the statements and propaganda of the ideological leaders of international terror you will see the following. These people have in fact set themselves the global task of creating what they call a “world caliphate”. That is very redolent of the world communist revolution, only in its extremist-Islamic edition. In other words, their goals are global. I would like to stress that it should not be confused with Islam in general. Islam has nothing to do with extremism and terrorism. But that is not the only trend whose representatives try to achieve their political goals by terrorist methods. There are others as well. All these groups are structured as networks. There is no visible enemy, no frontline. Small forces can deliver major blows, as we have seen in the United States on September 11, last year.

In that sense the efforts of each country are important in the fight against terrorism. Because we can counter the international terrorist networking only by our own active systemic work coordinated at the international level.

We never had any doubts that Norway was our partner in this joint work. And today’s meeting has consolidated that sense of partnership. I briefed Mr Bondevik about the talk I had with the NATO Secretary General. You know that we are also pursuing this work with the Russia-NATO Council.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/24677






President Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at the memorial to Norwegians fallen during World War Two



November 12, 2002 - 18:05 - Norway



The National Monument, by sculptor Gunnar Janson, was built in 1975 in Akershus Castle. The composition stands against the background of an overturned boat, which symbolises Norway under Nazi occupation. The woman in the centre, an allegory of life and hope, encourages a man to fight.

Standing on a rock north of Oslo, Akershus Castle was founded seven centuries ago. Besieged nine times, it never surrendered. The fortress lost strategic importance in the late 18th century. During World War Two it was turned into a prison, in which many Resistance fighters were executed by firing squad. Akershus presently houses Norway’s Resistance Museum. The Liberty Bell tolls here three times a year—on New Year’s Eve, Constitution Day of May 17 and Independence Day, June 7.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27690






President Vladimir Putin and King Harald V of Norway visited the Russian anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Chabanenko



November 12, 2002 - 19:10 - Oslo










Mr Putin and King Harald V inspected a Russian anti-submarine warfare ship, which had arrived in Norway on a goodwill visit, and talked to her crew.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27691






President Vladimir Putin met with spokesmen of Norwegian business circles



November 12, 2002 - 20:20 - Oslo







Mr Putin told the Norwegian entrepreneurs about Russian Government work to enhance Russia’s attraction to investment and improve the business climate.

He called on Norwegian partners to join the development of the fabulously rich gas condensate field on the Barents Sea shelf. As Mr Putin said, the total cost of the project was estimated at $15–20 billion. Its implementation would satisfy the demands for gas of almost all European importers of Russian hydrocarbons.

Mr Putin highlighted fishing, shipbuilding, transport, telecommunications and information technologies among others, as fields of Russian-Norwegian partnership that retained a considerable potential.

The leaders of the Russian companies VimpelCom and Alfa Group and of the Norwegian Telenor signed an agreement to establish a telecommunications company in the presence of Mr Putin and Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. The joint venture promised reliable cell telephone communication in many parts of Russia.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27692






Speech at the Signing of a Three-Way Agreement between Vympelcom (Russia), Alpha Group (Russia) and Telenor (Norway)



November 12, 2002 - 23:50 - Oslo





Vladimir Putin:

Mr Prime Minister, Mr President, colleagues and friends,

First of all I would like to thank you for the opportunity to say a few words about our vision of Russian-Norwegian cooperation in the economic sphere, and to exchange opinions in an informal atmosphere on what we should do together for cooperation to become still more effective.

We know the pragmatism, common sense, balanced approach and correctness of the Norwegian business circles, and we value these business qualities and believe that business contacts will draw on the entire previous positive experience of our cooperation and will develop in an upward spiral.

Cooperation with Norway is important for Russia. The Prime Minister today repeatedly referred to the different economic potentials and size of our countries. I must say that we feel quite relaxed about it. In fact, Norway is an important partner for us, especially in the north. For us the north-west of the Russian Federation is one of the key regions where a large potential is concentrated: scientific-technical and human resources, and highly skilled human resources at that. Ever new possibilities for developing natural resources and riches are opening up in northern Russia, as they are in northern Norway. And we have a lot in common and much common ground there. I think in the old days Norwegians used to say that the road to the north meant the road to death, that is, sending somebody to the north meant sending somebody to his death. Today it is the other way around: business is moving northward in Russia and business is moving northward in Norway as many opportunities arise. It is the road to the wealth of resources and to the prosperity of our countries.

The successfully established Norwegian corridor to the north has opened the gates to the future. And it is continued in Russia to the east. Both our country and Norway are embarking on that road with ever greater assurance and confidence.

Life has shown that both countries stand to gain from cooperation.

Our common economic interests include offshore hydrocarbon deposits – and we have discussed all this with the Minister – they include marine navigation, shipbuilding and fishing. All that creates objective prerequisites for production cooperation. The priorities are the joint development of oil and gas, introduction of modern technologies in the process of converting Russian shipbuilding facilities from military to civilian use, in the production of mineral fertilisers and wood processing, modernisation of the fishing industry and port management. We would welcome expanded cooperation in such areas as transport, telecommunications and information technologies, medicine and agriculture.

The Prime Minister has already noted that trade between our countries amounted to about a billion dollars last year and it is now even a little more. That is a substantial growth, but in general it could be greater. According to my data, trade increased by 3% on last year. Our exports to Norway amount to $800 million and imports are approaching $300 million. As for investments, we are making only the first steps: we have just 120 registered enterprises with Norwegian participation, mainly in the north-western regions of Russia.

Russia is certainly interested in increased investments from Norway. Today’s signing of the agreement between the Russian company Vympelcom and the Norwegian company Telenor on additional major Telenor investments in the development of mobile communications in Russian regions marks a positive development in this sphere. It is a promising and very fast-growing market in Russia. I think the pace and volume of growth will increase as people’s incomes grow. The trends are encouraging.

We welcome the participation of Norwegian firms in the joint development of gas condensate fields. The company Norsk Hydro is involved in the development of the Kharyaginskoye oil field. It is a partner in a production sharing agreement.

We invite you to cooperate in the development of the Shtokman gas condensate field. It could become the major Russian source of gas for the European region. A total of $15–20 billion are to be invested in its development.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21777
__________________
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

Last edited by Alex Him; November 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 AM.
 
Old November 2nd, 2017 #660
Alex Him
Senior Member
 
Alex Him's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,834
Blog Entries: 219
Post

Opening Remarks at a Meeting with the Leaders of Parties and Deputies in the State Duma



November 14, 2002 - 00:06 - The Kremlin, Moscow









Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

We met with you not long ago in connection with the tragic events in Moscow. Today we are holding a working meeting on which we had agreed previously. It is very important for the country because today we will discuss a conceptual issue connected with state building.

You know that a year and a half ago, in July, I think, I signed a decree and a commission was created to work on delimitation of the powers between the municipalities, regional and federal governments. All these problems had come to a head. And before introducing them at the State Duma, I would like to hear your opinions on these problems and know your vision of the proposals contained in the draft law. It has been discussed by the broad public, in the media and at the State Council. I am aware that hearings on the issue have been held in Parliament. In short, a major national debate on these problems has taken place in the country.

On the basis of such a profound and all-round discussion the commission has prepared corresponding bills. I must say that the commission has done a huge amount of work and analysed more than 250 laws. That work was conducted jointly with the regions, representatives of the regional authorities and municipalities. And anticipating our conversation I would like to dwell on the key provisions of the bills.

The most important thing is that the bills would significantly decentralise power where it is necessary, on the issues which cannot be effectively solved from Moscow or even from the level of regional governments. It is necessary to put in place reliable legal mechanisms that ensure the independence and responsibility of the regional and local authorities.

Independence and responsibility within clearly circumscribed powers. On the one hand, we should draw a line between the obligations of the regions and local government to the citizens and the state. On the other hand, we must ensure a uniform approach to the settlement of relations between the regional and local authorities and between them and the federal government.

I think it is a fundamental and fair requirement that the rules of relations between regional and local governments be based on the same principles as the relations between the federal centre and the regional government.

The core of these bills is to seal the rules and mechanisms that determine the rights, duties and responsibilities of the federal centre, the regional and local governments.

The rules boil down to the following. The so-called autonomous powers of the regional and local authorities will be determined exclusively by the Constitution and the two bills that are before you. These powers must be financed exclusively from regional and local budgets.

In order to fulfil their mandates, the regional and local budgets must envisage corresponding sources of revenue. That would probably require additions to the Tax and Budget codes. I know that the State Duma deputies have their own ideas and fears about this lest these changes in the Tax and Budget codes come too late. And they would like to synchronise work on these documents as regards the delimitation of powers and financial support of the exercise of the rights and performance of obligations.

The second problem is the delegation of responsibilities. Those who have worked in the regions know what it is. I know from my own experience when, during the course of the year while implementing the budget, problems start being palmed off on you from above, and regional governments or local governments are saddled with tasks they had not suspected would fall to them, with nothing being said about how the fulfilment of these tasks will be funded.

The bills that are before you establish that delegated responsibilities must be funded only by targeted subventions from the higher-level budget. If the higher level of government has encumbered the lower level with some problems, it should make sure to finance the solution of these problems.

Now a few words about the development of local government. In spite of the constitutional provisions there are still regions where local government is absent as an institution. In some it proceeds against the law. Some regions have already established genuinely positive models, positive models of local government. Such examples can be cited.

In order not to repeat mistakes we had to take into account both the positive and the negative experiences and minimise the conflicts that flare up all the time and that harm people. The authorities that are closest to the people are local authorities. The municipalities bear the brunt of many difficult social and economic problems.

I believe that the overall principles of territorial organisation of municipal government must be established by the federal law. Determining the boundaries of municipalities, merging or separating concrete municipal entities must be the prerogative of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the citizens who live in the cities and communities. Likewise, it is up to regional governments to take into account regional features, historical traditions and cultural features.

These are some of the issues I wanted to touch upon. I am sure that many more issues will be raised during the discussion today.

The question we are to discuss today is extremely important for the nation. It is in fact about the building of the state. You, the people elected directly in the regions often visit your regions and surely know these problems. The solution of these issues ultimately rests with you. And, as in the case of the package of laws on judicial reform, I would like to hear your opinions and take them into account, and if you have any remarks I would like to hear them before the bills are introduced to the State Duma.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21779






Opening Remarks at a Meeting of the State Council Presidium



November 21, 2002 - 00:00 - The Kremlin, Moscow









Vladimir Putin:

Today we are revisiting the issue of relations within the Federation in light of the wide discussion of this problem just held by the State Council and in the regions. The Government discussed this theme today. As you remember at the recent meeting of the State Council which discussed the prospects of local government, the heads of regions reopened the issue of amendments to the Federal Law On the General Principles of Organization of Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of Power in the Constituent Parts of the Russian Federation.

At its meeting today the Government also analyzed the economic and financial basis of the relations between the different levels of government.

Besides, last week I had a meeting with the heads of the State Duma parliamentary parties and groups of deputies where these issues were also raised. It was a constructive conversation, we discussed the basic concepts of the draft laws submitted.

As far as I know all this has been discussed in the regions: we received information and some kind of response to these issues from practically every region. There are many remarks, additions and clarifications. Let me mention only the absolutely fundamental things.

First. A renewed legal framework is needed to make both regional and local authorities more independent and responsible. Most importantly to delimit the powers of all these levels of government more clearly.

Second. It is our position that every government function and the exercise of power costs money. So, finances should be distributed rationally and spent effectively.

Third. The proposed changes do not only open up new opportunities for the regional power bodies, but devolve additional responsibilities between them.

This is universally understood that it is necessary to make all these decisions with the full awareness of what we are doing.

In conclusion I would like to say that even at the discussion stage we must think about how to implement these laws. The federal laws must be followed up by legislative and organizational measures at all the levels of government.

I am aware that the heads of regions have some concerns about how this process will develop, how it will translate itself into real life, what follow-up legislation could be passed and by whom. These are not empty questions. I agree with you that we must think about it and, to use a fashionable phrase, agree on everything while we are still on shore. Perhaps it should be explicitly stated in the text of the law, and the procedure of bringing into effect these key items of legislation should be solved in advance. I agree with those who believe that it should be synchronized with the introduction of other laws, in particular those that describe the financial aspect of the implementation of these laws.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21783






President Vladimir Putin met with representatives of the media and State Duma deputies



November 25, 2002 - 18:45 - The Kremlin, Moscow







During the meeting, the head of state said he had vetoed amendments to the law regulating the activities of the media in emergency situations.

Earlier, on November 20, the leaders of the media community had requested the President to veto the amendments that were adopted by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council. The journalists promised to define rules of conduct in emergency situations that could lay the basis for a new version of the law on the media.

Mr Putin said he sent letters to Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov and State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov in which he suggested setting up a conciliatory commission for developing amendments to the law on the media. The President said the legislators had to specify uniform rules of conduct in emergency situations for journalists.







The head of state thanked the media representatives for their civic stance and professionalism. At the same time, he called upon journalists to restrain from turning a terrorist attack into a public spectacle.

The President pointed to the need to settle the problem of the current laws on the media and terrorism. He said the law on terrorism specified the persons who were responsible for delivering information to journalists. Nevertheless, Mr Putin said, some journalists broke the law. Broadcasting the activities of the special forces several minutes prior to the hostage-release operation at the Dubrovka Theatre was a deliberate neglect of the agreements signed with the Press Ministry and instructions by the chiefs of the operations staff.

The participants in the meeting were Press Minister Mikhail Lesin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Alexander Surkov, Presidential Press Secretary Alexei Gromov, Federation Council First Deputy Speaker Valery Goreglyad, the leader of Regions of Russia parliamentary group, Oleg Morozov, Channel One director-general Konstantin Ernst, and VGTRK CEO Oleg Dobrodeyev, as well as editors of newspapers and other media.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/27753






Speech at a Meeting with the Media and State Duma Deputies



November 25, 2002 - 00:02 - The Kremlin, Moscow





Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

I have read your appeal and I have asked you to meet me today in this connection. Let me say right off that I do not subscribe to everything in your appeal. Let us take a look at it. You write: “We agree that some actions of journalists and the media during the last terrorist act in Moscow were wrong, but these were mistakes and not a deliberate neglect of the danger such actions carried.” I cannot agree with that. Let us be honest, let us not be disingenuous.

The TV picture on a national channel on the day of the storming, several minutes before the storming, showed the movements of the special forces and spoke about what was happening inside the building, and that could have caused a huge tragedy. The people who did this could not but be aware of it. That was a deliberate breach of the agreement with the Press Ministry, deliberate flouting of the instructions of the head of the special operation headquarters, who proceeded in strict accordance with the law in the fight against terrorism. Why was this done? It is clear why, and you know it full well. To boost the channel’s rating, to raise its capitalisation and ultimately to earn money. You know my position. I have repeatedly said and I can say it again: I think that the independence of the media will only be achieved when the media become economically independent. And in this context one has to be grateful to God that somebody manages to earn some money. But it can’t be done at any price and at the expense of our citizens if, of course, those who do it identify themselves with our citizens.

At the same time one cannot but note some of the things that are undoubtedly fair. You write: “We respect the position of the Federal Assembly and we support the move to ensure the stability and security of society. At the same time the amendments passed do not address that task. Their adoption will be counterproductive, will debar some media outlets from objective coverage of events as well as the coverage of key problems of our country from a responsible civic angle.”

I think we should heed that part of the message. I agree that it would be useful to pass legislation to clarify and specify the rules of how journalists should behave in emergency situations. I believe that uniform rules of coverage and clear-cut forms of joint work with the government, the security structures and the media in extreme situations are needed. I think that we could discuss these ideas and some other proposals in an informal atmosphere.

I would like to note that the main weapon of the terrorists is not bullets or machine guns or grenades, it is blackmail of the state and its citizens, and the best means of blackmail is to turn a terrorist act into a public spectacle. To use the humiliated and constrained position of the hostages and their close ones to achieve their goals. Don’t help them in that.

You remember that during the days of the hostage crisis I repeatedly asked politicians to display the maximum of restraint and responsibility. Every careless word could result in a catastrophe.

But the price of a journalist’s word is equally important in such situations. Journalists’ awareness of the degree of the public threat is equally important. I would like to take this opportunity, notwithstanding my critical remarks made at the beginning, to thank the Russian media for their civic stand, for displaying their competence and the necessary restraint in the extremely difficult conditions of those days – with very few exceptions.

I would like to stress the special significance of your trade and your work in the fight against the ideology of terrorism. Among the instruments at the disposal of the civil society in Russia the media is one of the most effective and important. And of course no democratic government can exist without the publicity and openness provided by the media.

That is why it is so important to find a balance between the restrictions connected with the conduct of a specific special operation at a concrete time and in a concrete place in order to rescue people and secure the interests of the state, on the one hand, and keeping society properly informed about the actions of the state on the other so that the state does not come to regard itself as infallible.

I hope to hear from you about every aspect of modernising the media laws and not just about regulating media work in extreme situations. Finally, I believe that the media community, as you write in your appeal, would do well to work out its own corporate norms of behaviour in extreme situations. I am convinced that if the authorities and the media community meet each other half-way, they will be able to find the golden mean, the balance I referred to earlier. That is all I wanted to say by way of opening the discussion.

Brief intervention during the discussion

I don’t think you should waste your time persuading me to veto these laws. I have already done so. Before this meeting I signed two letters to both houses addressed to [Speaker of the Federation Council] Mironov and [Speaker of the State Duma] Seleznyov. I ask the heads of the two chambers to set up a conciliation commission and agree the texts with the media representatives. At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to what you said about some improprieties in the activities of the law enforcement bodies. I agree with these remarks. As regards the law enforcement bodies, we will have a separate discussion and a review of all the aspects, although I must say that on previous occasions we lost more hostages. We lost more than 170 hostages and let all the militants escape in Budyonnovsk. And that created conditions for them to come back.

But today we are not discussing the law enforcement bodies, the point at issue is how to best organise the work of the media without restricting media freedom and citizens’ access to information. You said that you would like to know who heads up the headquarters, and how its activities are regulated and so on. I would like to remind all those present that the law on combating terrorism has everything and in the event, in spite of some slip-ups in the work of the law enforcement bodies – which cannot be denied – the location of the headquarters and who was its head were known. The headquarters made known to the media its requirements under the law. The example I have cited shows that some members of your profession knowingly violated these rules, ignored the law and put the lives of many people in danger. They did so in order to boost their rating, their capitalisation and ultimately to earn more money.

By the way, that is inadmissible in the frame of reference of your profession because it involves the use of special privileges to gain an edge on the competition. That is what you have said.

And secondly, we should have a clear idea of the role and the meaning of the activities of the mass media and who should be doing what in our country. When I hear some of our colleagues say: our actions have saved five lives, six lives… that is not right. Special services should save people and the mass media should inform society about the events, the activities of the government bodies without any embellishments and honestly present the information and report the truth.

The state should not get the idea that it is infallible in its actions. In this, the media have the key role to play. What to do about the laws that have already been passed and that are often broken both by the state and by all the other parties involved in the process? The topic we are discussing is extremely important and acute for any country, but especially for our country.

In this country everything is still in flux and I am grateful to the journalists who give objective views. It does help the authorities to sort out their own miscalculations and stimulate them to work more effectively. But, to repeat, every man must be doing his job. It is not the business of journalists to save hostages. Nothing good will happen if the secret services start informing the public about their activities and the journalists start to rescue people. That is what happened in Budyonnovsk and you know the outcome. I repeat: there is no need to persuade me to veto these laws because I have already done so. Let us discuss the essence of the bills that have aroused your concern or questions. Let us discuss the substance of these bills.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21788






Speech at a Meeting of the Armed Forces Command



November 26, 2002 - 00:00 - The Defence Ministry, Moscow









Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

In keeping with tradition, today we are reviewing the results of the year. It has been an eventful year. And it has demonstrated that reappraising the modern threats and taking them into account while modernising the entire state military organisation have been timely.

International terrorism is increasingly becoming a factor of global policy. If we are to combat it effectively, we need not only adjust our doctrinal documents but to optimise the actual structure of the armed forces and to have better interaction between the army and the law enforcement and other security agencies.

An adjusted Concept of National Security must provide the basis for and be a first step in this work. But the country needs its armed forces today, and they must be able to guarantee its security.

Permanent combat readiness units require the most serious attention. The army should be adapted to solve all these tasks within the framework of the Basic Principles of Government Policy in Military Development to 2010. It is one of the fundamental documents.

That approach applies equally to the government’s programme of armaments. Let me stress from the beginning that despite our efforts in fighting terrorism, if our troops do not have what the leading military powers in the world pride themselves on, that would nullify all our efforts in the most important area in the fight against terror.

Regarding the achievements during the current year, I would like to note the following.

First. Next year’s budget for the first time has a declassified item that includes most of the national defence spending. I think you will agree with me that it has been done above all for the benefit of the army itself. The money allocated for salaries, the payment for utility and transportation services must be put under public control.

I hope that this policy of openness will contribute to the modernisation of the armed forces.

Second. You know that the social problems of servicemen were discussed by the Government at its meeting on November 21. This year saw an improvement of the financial and social status of servicemen and veterans of the armed forces. The payment for military rank has more than doubled and the salaries of servicemen have increased by 60–80%.

Of course the increases are not sufficient to warrant claims that the social position of servicemen is excellent. But movement in the right direction is evident. We will continue to take steps in that direction to improve the social status of servicemen and address the problems that have piled up.

Therefore the task of the Defence Ministry and its local bodies is to monitor the way the allocated money is spent. It is within your powers to rule out abuses and make the spending process transparent.

Third. The experiment aimed at changing the principles of recruitment and forming a voluntary army launched in September this year is moving forward, albeit with difficulty. Some results of the pilot project in the Pskov Airborne Division have enabled us to correct our initial approaches.

Fourth. A few words about the personnel policy. I have already twice shared my views on that issue with this audience. My remarks address the issues of selection, placement and enhancement of the responsibility of the top-level and senior officers. And we have said critically that some top-level officers have exceeded their retirement age, and that there is no rotation between the central Staff of the Defence Ministry and the military units on the ground.

The Defence Ministry has drawn the necessary conclusions from that discussion.

I am aware that some serious measures have been taken in recent months to strengthen discipline in the armed forces and eradicate non-regulation relations. In connection with this, I urge you to pay special attention to preventing and stopping crime in the army, especially crime involving the use of arms. I expect that early measures will be taken to strengthen discipline and improve personnel management in the armed forces.

I would also like to mention the decisions taken by the Government on the initiative of the Defence Ministry to improve the work of military schools and their management. That effort must continue.

I have mentioned just the main areas of your work. I believe that during the course of this conference we will be able to discuss some other matters as well. The main thing is that our discussion should help to solve the tasks currently facing the Armed Forces of Russia.

Thank you for your attention.





The source of information - http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/21789
__________________
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
 
Reply

Tags
putin, putin speech, vladimir putin

Share


Thread
Display Modes


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:50 AM.
Page generated in 2.41404 seconds.