Health and Fitness

4 Annual Big Press Conference Part 5 June 20, 2003 President of Russia V.Putin The Kremlin,Moscow Now regarding the acquisition by Rosneft of the well-known asset of the company I do not remember its exact name is it Baikal Investment Company? Essentially, Rosneft, a 100% state owned company, has bought the well-known asset Yuganskneftegaz. That is the story. In my view, everything was done according to the best market rules. As I have said, I think it was at a press conference in Germany, a state-owned company or, rather companies with 100% state capital, just as any other market players, have the right to do so and, as it emerged, exercised it. Now what would I like to say in this context? You all know only too well how the privatisation drive was carried out in this country in the early 90s and, how, using all sorts of stratagems, some of them in breach even of the then current legislation, many market players received state property worth many billions. Today, the state, resorting to absolutely legal market mechanisms, is looking after its own interests. I consider this to be quite logical. E.ORLOVA (Volga television company, Nizhny Novgorod): Next year Russia will mark for the first time the Day of National Unity to commemorate the liberation of Moscow by Nizhny Novgorod militias. Are you not going to visit Nizhny Novgorod to celebrate the holiday with its population? And another small question. You have already touched upon the subject of administrative reform. But a number of State Duma deputies are proposing their own procedure for appointing officials, including the mayors of large cities, for example, Nizhny Novgorod. What do you think about this initiative? Thank you. VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you for your invitation to visit Nizhny Novgorod. It would give me great pleasure to visit this city on the holiday and on ordinary days. Nizhny Novgorod is one of the largest cities in Russia. It is a major metropolis where many industrial facilities are concentrated, and it is an extremely interesting and beautiful city in general. I have been there and would love to go there again. As to appointing city mayors, first, I believe we must remain within the framework of current legislation. Second, we must be careful not to break the balance between peoples political activity and the states role and power in this sphere. Current legislation ensures this possibility. As to municipal authorities. If people living in a certain area believe they should organise their local government bodies and municipal authorities to ensure better interaction with the governor and thereby a better approach to addressing social issues, we believe they can seek extra assistance from, for example, the regional budget to resolve education, health care and social security issues. In that event they can hold a referendum and choose a different approach to forming municipal bodies. For example, they can opt for arrangements similar to the gubernatorial ones, direct appointment arrangements or some others. However, the current system must not be amended without the relevant decision from the people living in the area in question. This is the first point. Second, the governors do talk about the need to have greater influence on capital cities, or rather large regional centres. However, they do not seek, and they have never asked me about this, jurisdiction over all municipal bodies. They do not need this, as this will overload the regional government level, which is something nobody wants to see happen. A. PASMURTSEV (Suvorovsky Natisk newspaper issued in the Far Eastern Military District, Khabarovsk): Vladimir Vladimirovich, you have emphasised many times that a highly professional army alone is capable of ensuring national security in the 21st century, including countering terrorism in the North Caucasus and, probably, in other regions. However, the job of the professional military, both soldiers and officers, particularly those who carry out their military duty in Russias remote areas, must be appreciated appropriately in terms of remuneration and social guarantees. What do you think must be done, probably in the near term, to resolve these pressing issues? VLADIMIR PUTIN: Of course wages should be raised! And we must settle the housing problem as well. These are two major problems. First, we shall continue work to create a professional army. I should say, and this is no secret, that we are not seeking to have a completely professional army. However, combat ready units must be professional. The chief objective in the first phase is to stop sending conscripts to serve in hot spots, including, and above all, in this country. I mean the North Caucasus, Chechnya.

Author: niknikolay
Keywords: Annual Big Press Conference Part Ежегодная большая пресс-конференция Ð'ладимир Путин Vladimir Putin Kremlin Moscow седьмая пресса президент Россия President Russia журналисты встреча вопросы Conferences Meetings with Statements Journalists meeting questions ежегодная Российской Федерации Путина российских иностранных журналистов
Added: December 24, 2008