Vladimir Putin delivered
the Annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.
The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin’s St
George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people.
December
3, 2015
13:00
The Kremlin,
Moscow
1 of 12
Presidential Address
to the Federal Assembly.
Those present for the Address
included members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies,
members of the Government, heads of the Constitutional
and Supreme Courts, regional governors, heads of regional legislative
assemblies, heads of Russia’s traditional religious faiths, public
figures, including heads of regional public chambers,
and the heads of Russia’s biggest media outlets.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir
Putin:
Citizens of Russia, members of the Federation Council,
State Duma deputies,
I would like to begin
my Address with words of gratitude to the Russian
servicemen who are fighting international terrorism.
Today here in the St
George’s Hall, a historic hall of Russian military glory, we have
combat pilots and representatives of the Armed Forces who are
taking part in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria.
Gelena Peshkova and Irina
Pozynich, who lost their husbands in the war against terror, have
joined us too. My deepest respect to you and the parents
of our heroes.
I would like us all
to honour the memory of the soldiers who gave their lives
while doing their duty, and the memory of all Russian citizens
who fell at the hands of terrorists.
(Moment of silence)
Colleagues,
Russia has long been
at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. This is
a fight for freedom, truth and justice, for the lives
of people and the future of the entire civilization.
We know what aggression
of international terrorism is. Russia faced it back
in the mid-1990s, when our country, our civilian population suffered
from cruel attacks. We will never forget the hostage crises
in Budennovsk, Beslan and Moscow, the merciless explosions
in residential buildings, the Nevsky Express train derailment,
the blasts in the Moscow metro and Domodedovo Airport.
These tragedies took thousands
of lives. We still grieve for them and will always grieve, along
with the victims’ loved ones.
It took us nearly a decade
to finally break the backbone of those militants. We almost
succeeded in expelling terrorists from Russia, but are still fighting
the remaining terrorist underground. This evil is still out there. Two
years ago, two attacks were committed in Volgograd. A civilian
Russian plane was recently blown up over Sinai.
International terrorism will never
be defeated by just one country, especially in a situation when
the borders are practically open, and the world is going through
another resettlement of peoples, while terrorists are getting regular
financial support.
Terrorism is a growing threat
today. The Afghanistan problem has not been resolved. The situation
there is alarming and gives us no optimism, while some
of the relatively peaceful and stable countries
in the Middle East and North Africa – Iraq, Libya
and Syria – have now plunged into chaos and anarchy that pose
a threat to the whole world.
We all know why that happened. We
know who decided to oust the unwanted regimes and brutally
impose their own rules. Where has this led them? They stirred up trouble,
destroyed the countries’ statehood, set people against each other,
and then “washed their hands”, as we say in Russia, thus opening
the way to radical activists, extremists and terrorists.
The militants in Syria
pose a particularly high threat for Russia. Many of them are
citizens of Russia and the CIS countries. They get money
and weapons and build up their strength. If they get sufficiently
strong to win there, they will return to their home countries
to sow fear and hatred, to blow up, kill and torture people.
We must fight and eliminate them there, away from home.
This is why it has been decided
to launch a military operation there based on an official
request from the legitimate Syrian authorities. Our military personnel are
fighting in Syria for Russia, for the security
of Russian citizens.
The Russian Army and Navy
have convincingly demonstrated their combat readiness and their increased
capabilities. Modern Russian weapons have proved to be effective,
and the invaluable practice of using them in combat conditions
is being analysed and will be used to further improve our
weapons and military equipment. We are grateful to our engineers,
workers and all other personnel of our defense companies.
Russia has demonstrated immense
responsibility and leadership in the fight against terrorism.
Russian people have supported these resolute actions. The firm stance
taken by our people stems from a thorough understanding
of the absolute danger of terrorism, from patriotism, high moral
qualities and their firm belief that we must defend our national
interests, history, traditions and values.
The international community
should have learned from the past lessons. The historical parallels
in this case are undeniable.
Unwillingness to join forces
against Nazism in the 20th century cost us millions
of lives in the bloodiest world war in human history.
Today we have again come face
to face with a destructive and barbarous ideology, and we
must not allow these modern-day dark forces to attain their goals.
We must stop our debates
and forget our differences to build a common anti-terrorist
front that will act in line with international law and under
the UN aegis.
Every civilized country must
contribute to the fight against terrorism, reaffirming their
solidarity, not in word but in deed.
This means that the terrorists
must not be given refuge anywhere. There must be no double standards. No
contacts with terrorist organizations. No attempts to use them
for self-seeking goals. No criminal business with terrorists.
We know who are stuffing pockets
in Turkey and letting terrorists prosper from the sale
of oil they stole in Syria. The terrorists are using these
receipts to recruit mercenaries, buy weapons and plan inhuman
terrorist attacks against Russian citizens and against people in France,
Lebanon, Mali and other states. We remember that the militants who
operated in the North Caucasus in the 1990s and 2000s
found refuge and received moral and material assistance
in Turkey. We still find them there.
Meanwhile, the Turkish people
are kind, hardworking and talented. We have many good and reliable
friends in Turkey. Allow me to emphasize that they should know that
we do not equate them with the certain part of the current
ruling establishment that is directly responsible for the deaths of our
servicemen in Syria.
We will never forget their
collusion with terrorists. We have always deemed betrayal the worst
and most shameful thing to do, and that will never change.
I would like them to remember this – those in Turkey who
shot our pilots in the back, those hypocrites who tried to justify
their actions and cover up for terrorists.
I don’t even understand why
they did it. Any issues they might have had, any problems, any disagreements we
knew nothing about could have been settled in a different way. Plus,
we were ready to cooperate with Turkey on all the most sensitive
issues it had; we were willing to go further, where its allies refused
to go. Allah only knows, I suppose, why they did it.
And probably, Allah has decided to punish the ruling clique
in Turkey by taking their mind and reason.
But, if they expected
a nervous or hysterical reaction from us, if they wanted to see
us become a danger to ourselves as much
as to the world, they won’t get it. They won’t get any response
meant for show or even for immediate political gain. They won’t
get it.
Our actions will always be guided
primarily by responsibility – to ourselves, to our country,
to our people. We are not going to rattle the sabre. But, if
someone thinks they can commit a heinous war crime, kill our people
and get away with it, suffering nothing but a ban on tomato
imports, or a few restrictions in construction or other
industries, they’re delusional. We’ll remind them of what they did, more
than once. They’ll regret it. We know what to do.
We have mobilised our Armed Forces,
security services and law enforcement agencies to repel
the terrorist threat. Everyone must be aware of their responsibility,
including the authorities, political parties, civil society organizations
and the media.
Russia’s strength lies
in the free development of all its peoples, its diversity,
the harmony of cultures, languages and traditions, mutual
respect for and dialogue between all faiths, including Christians,
Muslims, Judaists and Buddhists.
We must firmly resist any
manifestation of extremism and xenophobia while defending our ethnic
and religious accord, which is the historical foundation of our
society and the Russian statehood.
In 2016 we will hold
elections to the State Duma. I would like to remind party
leaders, all participants of the upcoming election campaign
and all the social and political forces about the following
words of our famous historian, Nikolai Karamzin: “Those who have no
respect for themselves cannot hope to be respected by others.
That does not mean that love for our homeland must blind us into saying
that we are better than all others in everything we do. But Russians must
know their value.”
Yes, we can debate ways
to solve this or that issue. But we must remain united and remember
what is most important for us: Russia.
The election campaign must be
honest and transparent and respect the law
and the electorate. At the same time, it must be conducted
so as to win public trust in the election results
and legitimacy.
Colleagues, I expect that
a considerable part of the parliamentary candidates’ election
programmes will be devoted to the issue of corruption, which is
a major concern for society. Corruption is hindering Russia’s development.
Officials, judges, law enforcement
officers and deputies at all levels are obliged to submit their
income and expense declarations and declare their property
and assets, including outside Russia.
From now on, state
and municipal officials will also have to disclose information about
the contracts they plan to sign with the companies of their
relatives and friends. Situations with a possible conflict
of interest will be closely monitored by the regulatory
and law enforcement authorities, as well as civil society.
Just recently participants in the Russian
Popular Front’s project For Fair Public Procurement told me about
the instances of abuse and blatant violations they have
uncovered. I ask the Prosecutor General’s Office
and the law enforcement authorities to promptly react
to this information.
The law must be hard
on those who are guilty of premeditated crimes against human lives
and the interests of society and the state. But
the law must be lenient to those who have slipped up.
Today, nearly half
of the criminal cases brought to court concern petty crimes
or misdemeanours, but those who committed them, including very young
people, go to prison for them.
A prison term and even
a prison record usually have a highly negative impact on these
people’s lives, often creating a situation in which they commit new
crimes.
I ask the State Duma
to approve the Supreme Court’s proposal that some offences
in the Criminal Code are decriminalised and that misdemeanour is
reclassified as an administrative offence, with an important
reservation: a repeated offence must be classified as a criminal
act.
We must also work to enhance
the independence and objectivity of our courts. In light
of this, I suggest strengthening the role of juries
and expanding the list of crimes that can be submitted to them.
It’s not always easy to find 12 jurors, and although I know
the position of human rights organizations, which insist
on 12-member juries, forming such juries is not easy and it is also
expensive. Therefore, I suggest cutting the number of jury
members from 12 to 5–7, on the condition that they take their
decisions autonomously and independently.
Colleagues, last year we faced some
serious economic challenges. Oil and other products we traditionally offer
for export fell in price. The access of Russian financial
institutions and companies to global financial markets was
restricted.
I know that many people are
experiencing hardships today. These economic issues are affecting incomes
and the general quality of life. I understand very well
that people are wondering when we are going to overcome these hardships
and what needs to be done in order to accomplish this.
The current situation is
complicated but, as I have said before, not critical. In fact,
we can already see some positive trends. Industrial production
and the national currency are generally steady. There is
a slight decline in inflation. We can see a significantly lower
capital flight as compared to 2014.
However, this doesn’t mean that we
just calm down and wait for everything to miraculously change,
or that we can just sit quietly in expectation of rising oil
prices. Essentially, such an approach would be unacceptable.
We must be prepared for low
commodity prices and external restrictions to last much longer.
By changing nothing, we will simply run out of reserves and the economic
growth rates will linger around zero.
This is not the only issue
to consider. Busy with the immediate tasks, we must not overlook
general global development trends. The global economy is rapidly changing
shape. New trade associations are forming. We are experiencing a period
of radical change in the sphere of technology.
This is a crucial moment when
countries need to compete to secure their roles
in the global division of labour for decades ahead. We can
and must become one of the leaders.
Russia has no right to be
vulnerable. We must have a strong economy, excel in technology
and advance our professional skills. We must fully use our current
advantages, as there are no guarantees that we will have them tomorrow.
Clearly, the authorities must
hear the public out and explain the nature
of the problems people face and the reasons behind
the government’s actions, treating civil society and business
as equal partners.
What areas should we focus on?
First, competitive manufacturing is
still concentrated mostly in the commodities and mining sector.
We’ll only be able to achieve our ambitious goals in security
and social development, to create modern jobs and improve
the living standards of millions of our people if we change
the structure of our economy.
Importantly, we do have effective
industrial and agricultural operations, as well as small
and medium-sized businesses. Our goal is to have the number
of these kinds of companies grow fast in all sectors. Our programmes
for import substitution and export support, manufacturing
retrofitting and professional training should be geared to achieving
this goal.
Second, we need to bear
in mind that a number of industries are now at risk,
including primarily the construction, automotive, and light
industries, as well as railway engineering. To address this,
the Government will need to come up with special support programmes.
Financial resources for this purpose have been set aside.
Third. It is imperative
to support low-income households and socially vulnerable groups
of citizens, and finally adopt fair principles of providing
social assistance that is made available to those who really need it.
In particular, it is necessary to take into account
the individual needs of people with disabilities, and focus
on their training and employment.
We have done a lot
to improve demography, education, and healthcare. The key
benchmarks in these areas were outlined in the corresponding
executive orders of May 2012. Of course, life is ever changing, and,
given current complications, our responsibility for people’s welfare only
increases, so I’d like to ask you to take these executive orders
seriously. We must strive to fulfil them.
Fourth, it is imperative
to achieve a balanced budget. This, of course, is not
an end in itself, but a critical prerequisite
for macroeconomic stability and our financial independence.
As you may recall, by the end of the 2016 federal
budget year, the deficit should not exceed 3 percent, even if revenue is
lower than expected. Please take a note of this, colleagues, members
of the State Duma and the Federation Council,
the Federal Assembly in general. This is important. I just
mentioned that financial stability and the independence of our
country are completely interrelated. Please keep these basic considerations
in mind.
Budget planning, in fact,
planning each budget cycle must begin with a clear identification
of priorities. We must make government programmes play the decisive
role in this process again. It is essential that we tighten our control
over public funds, including federal and regional subsidies
to industrial and agricultural enterprises. I believe that they
should be transferred to the end user only through treasury accounts.
Government revenue must be used strictly as planned. ”Grey“ schemes used
in paying customs duties, excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco,
and fuels and lubricants siphon off hundreds of billions of rubles
from the budget annually. This is outright theft.
I propose forming
a single system for administering tax, customs and other fiscal
payments. There are a variety of options to go about this,
and we have discussed them on many occasions. I expect the Government
to submit specific proposals. Here again, I would like
to emphasise that the tax environment for business should remain
unchanged in the coming years.
Fifth. We need to further
strengthen trust between the Government and business, to improve
the business climate in Russia.
This year we have mostly completed
the plans outlined in the national entrepreneurial initiative.
The dynamics are good, but we certainly shouldn’t stop yet.
The Government, together with
the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and leading business
associations, should continue their systematic work to improve
the conditions for doing business, constantly monitoring how laws are
carried out locally.
I believe free enterprise
to be the most important aspect of economic and social
well-being. Entrepreneurial freedom is something we need to expand
to respond to all attempts to impose restrictions on us.
That is why we have given such
a broad authority to the newly created Federal Corporation
for the Development of Small and Medium Business.
I would like to ask all ministries, departments, governors, heads
of all Russian regions, state-owned companies and banks
to provide all the necessary assistance to it.
Polls show that businesses see no
qualitative progress in the regulators’ work. Yet, all
the necessary instructions for this have been issued, even more than
once. We repeat ourselves and our attempts to reduce their powers. We
reduce them in one area – they simply grow again in another.
A whole army of inspectors continues to hinder
the operation of good businesses. I am not saying that control
is not necessary. Business does require regulation. But I ask
the Government Commission for Administrative Reform to work out,
together with business associations, proposals on eliminating redundant
and overlapping functions of regulatory agencies, and submit
them by July 1, 2016.
I would like to cite some
figures supplied by one of our business associations. During 2014,
the investigative authorities opened nearly 200,000 cases
on so-called economic crimes. But only 46,000 of 200,000 cases were
actually taken to court, and 15,000 cases were thrown out during
the hearings. Simple math suggests that only 15 percent of all cases
ended with a conviction. At the same time, the vast majority,
over 80 percent, or specifically, 83 percent of entrepreneurs who
faced criminal charges fully or partially lost their business – they
got harassed, intimidated, robbed and then released. This certainly isn’t
what we need in terms of a business climate. This is actually
the opposite, the direct destruction of the business
climate. I ask the investigative authorities
and the prosecutor’s office to pay special attention
to this.
I would like to emphasize
that prosecutors should make greater use of the tools available
to check the quality of investigations. I know that
discussions have been going on for a long time about
the prosecutor office’s needs. As you know, we have separated
the investigative authorities and the prosecutor's office
in order to ensure independent investigations are carried out; it was
a conscious decision. Today, I remind you, the prosecutor’s
office has the authority to cancel a decision to institute
criminal proceedings, or waive the indictment, or even refuse
to support the case in court. We must learn to use what is
available; only then we will be able to analyse what is happening
in practice.
In addition, I believe
that suspects in economic cases should be detained only
as a last resort measure; for the most part investigators
should opt for release on bail, travel restrictions or house
arrest. The role of law enforcement and the judicial system
is to protect the economy and community from fraud
and criminals, and to protect the rights, property
and dignity of all those who obey the law and conduct their
business honestly.
There is one more point I’d like
to make. Last year we announced the so-called capital amnesty
to return financial assets to Russia. Yet, businesses seem in no
hurry to take advantage of that opportunity, which suggests that
the procedure proposed is too complicated, while guarantees it provides
are still insufficient. I follow the public discussions
on the issue. The word is, that what we have already done
and the decisions we made previously are slightly better than the solutions
we’ve offered in years past, but it is definitely not enough today.
I ask the Government to organize consultations, including
further consultations with the business community, with the Supreme
Court, with law enforcement agencies, and in short order make
the appropriate adjustments. I also suggest extending
the capital amnesty itself for another six months.
Colleagues, the state will
fund the necessary assistance to those who are ready to go
forward and become leaders. We are building such a system in our
dialogue with the business community based on its requirements
and the tasks facing our country.
The Industry Development Fund
is already supporting import substitution programmes. These programmes are
needed by entrepreneurs. I suggest increasing its authorized capital
by another 20 billion roubles.
We are also guaranteeing stable tax
rates and other basic terms for investors who are ready
to finance import substitution projects. This is included
in mechanisms such as the special investment contract.
I suggest granting the regions the right to reduce profit
tax to zero under such contracts. Some governors directly request this
to allow investors to cover their capital outlays on developing
new production lines.
Obviously, we are aware
of the regional governors’ concerns. The regions should be
motivated to consolidate their economic base, so an increase
in regional profits from implementing these projects should not lead
to a reduction in federal subsidies.
We are ready to guarantee
the demand for the goods produced under these programmes
and projects. I propose giving the Government the right
to purchase on a non-competitive basis up to 30 percent
of the products manufactured under special investment contracts.
Whatever remains should go to the free markets, including those
abroad, to motivate these companies, to monitor the quality
of their products and reduce overheads.
As you know, when other
countries carried out these kinds of programmes, the terms
for state support were even tougher: it was mandatory
for a certain percentage of goods produced to be sold
abroad. What for? To motivate producers to manufacture quality
products.
We’re saying that we will guarantee
demand in our own market. Our terms are somewhat different from those
in other countries with tougher terms. That said, we must assume that
these products will be highly competitive on the international
market. Let me emphasise again that we will support expressly competitive
domestic production lines. No one should be working under the illusion
that under the guise of import substitution it’s possible
to build a substandard, out of date product and pawn it off
to the state or to our people and make them pay
a premium price for it. Russia needs companies that are capable not
only of providing the country with quality products but also
of taking on foreign markets. The Russian Export Centre was
established to help those who are ready for this effort.
In addition, I suggest
making the growth of non-energy exports one of the key
indicators of the performance of industry-related agencies
and the Government as a whole.
I think it would be
appropriate to implement the business community’s initiative
and create a technological development agency to help companies
acquire domestic and foreign patents and licenses for engineering
services. Access to foreign markets and the expansion
of Russian manufacturing should become a natural strategy
for the development of the nation’s business sector
and the entire Russian economy. We should put stereotypes aside
and believe in our own capabilities. If we work with this attitude,
we are certain to see a result.
Our agriculture sector is
a positive example. Just a decade ago we imported almost half
of our food products and critically depended on imports, whereas
now Russia has joined the exporters’ club. Last year Russia’s agricultural
exports totalled almost $20 billion. This is a quarter more than our
proceeds from arms sales or about one third of our profits from gas
exports. Our agriculture has made this leap in a short but productive
period. Many thanks to our rural residents.
I believe we should set
a national goal — fully provide the internal market with
domestically produced foods by 2020. We are capable of feeding
ourselves from our own land, and importantly, we have the water
resources. Russia can become one of the world’s largest suppliers
of healthy, ecologically clean quality foods that some Western companies
have stopped producing long ago, all the more so since global demand
for such products continues to grow.
To fulfil these ambitious goals,
we need to concentrate our resources on primary support
for highly efficient farms. This approach should underlie
the programme for the development
of the agro-industrial complex. This includes large, medium and small
companies – all of them must be efficient. I would like
the Agriculture Ministry to pay special attention to this.
It is necessary to put
to use millions of hectares of arable land that is now idle.
They belong to large land owners, many of whom show little interest
in farming. How many years have we been talking about this? Yet things are
not moving forward. I suggest withdrawing misused agricultural land from
questionable owners and selling it at an auction to those
who can and want to cultivate the land.
I would like to ask
the Government to prepare specific proposals, including draft
regulations and standards by June 1, 2016. I would also
like to ask the State Duma deputies and all members
of the Federal Assembly to make amendments
to the related laws over the next year and adopt laws to make
this possible at the next autumn session.
We also need our own technology
for the production, storage and processing of agricultural
produce, our own seed and pedigree stock. This is a very important
goal. We are still vulnerable in these areas. I ask you to get
leading research centres, the Russian Academy of Sciences
and businesses which are successfully putting advanced technology into
practice involved in this process.
In my previous Address,
I announced the launch of the National Technology
Initiative, spanning 15–20 years, but practical work is already underway. It
shows that we have plenty of strong teams capable of offering and following
through on innovative ideas. In areas such as neutron
technology, robotics in aviation and the transport sector
in general, energy storage and distribution systems, Russia has every
chance of breaking through to global markets in the near
future, within the next few years.
Development institutions should be
geared towards achieving priority goals, primarily those related
to technological modernization. We have over two dozen of them.
Unfortunately, many of them, to put it bluntly, have turned into
dumping grounds for bad debts. It is essential to streamline them
and optimize the structure and mechanisms of this work.
I know that both the Government and the Central Bank are
actively working on this.
We should make a more active
use of the investment potential of domestic savings
for economic modernization. I ask the Central Bank
and the Government to submit proposals
on the development of the corporate bond market, something
we have discussed many times. It is essential to simplify the procedure
for the issue and acquisition of corporate bonds.
To make it worthwhile for investors, individuals to invest
in the development of the domestic real sector,
I propose exempting the coupon income on these bonds from
taxation, including from income tax for individuals.
Dozens of major projects are
being implemented or are about to be launched in industry,
agriculture, transport and housing construction. They should have
a positive impact not only on separate sectors but also stimulate
the comprehensive development of entire territories. These are primarily
private projects.
To expedite their effective
implementation it is important to make pinpoint amendments to laws,
lift administrative barriers and assist the development
of infrastructure and the process of entering foreign markets.
These issues often extend beyond the scope of just one government
agency, so I propose putting in place a mechanism
to support the most important projects. A special agency can be
established for this. I ask Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
to submit proposals on the work of this agency.
Incidentally, one such project
could be the creation of major private Russian companies that
specialise in online trade so that Russian goods are delivered via
the Internet to all countries in the world. We do have a great
deal to deliver.
Colleagues, we are interested
in broad business cooperation with our foreign partners, and we
welcome investors who focus on long-term work on the Russian
market, even though the current circumstances they face aren’t always favourable.
We highly appreciate their positive attitude to our country,
and the fact that they see advantages for growing their
respective businesses in our country. Russia is involved
in integration processes designed to open additional avenues for expanding
economic ties with other countries.
We have reached the next level
of cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union by creating
a common space, with free movement of capital, goods and labour.
We have reached a basic agreement on combining Eurasian integration
with the Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt. A free trade zone with
Vietnam was established. Next year, we will host the Russia-ASEAN summit
in Sochi, and I am sure we will be able to work out
a mutually beneficial agenda for cooperation.
I propose holding
consultations, in conjunction with our colleagues from the Eurasian
Economic Union, with the SCO and ASEAN members, as well
as with the states that are about to join the SCO, with
the view of potentially forming an economic partnership.
Together, our states make up nearly a third of the global
economy in terms of purchasing power parity. Such a partnership
could initially focus on protecting investments, streamlining procedures
for the cross-border movement of goods, joint development
of technical standards for next-generation technology products,
and the mutual provision of access to markets for both
services and capital. Of course, this partnership should be based
on principles of equality and mutual interest.
For Russia, this partnership
will open new possibilities for increasing exports of food
and energy, as well as offering services in engineering,
education, healthcare, and tourism to the Asia-Pacific Region,
allowing us to play the leading role in forming new technology
markets, and re-orienting major global trade flows to Russia.
We will continue to upgrade
our transport infrastructure and expand major logistic centres, such
as the Azov-Black Sea and the Murmansk transport hubs,
modern ports in the Baltic Sea and the Russian Far East. We
will consolidate the system of inter-regional air transport,
including in northern and Arctic regions. We will review
in detail the situation with inland waterways and river routes
during a forthcoming State Council meeting.
The Northern Sea Route should
become a link between Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region.
To enhance its competitiveness, we will extend the preferential
regime of the free port of Vladivostok to key Far Eastern
harbours, as requested by the entrepreneurs who operate
in this strategically important Russian region.
The socioeconomic development
of this region is a major national priority. Investors have shown
great practical interest in the new methods of operation we have
proposed, including priority development areas.
I instruct the Government
to expedite decisions on levelling off energy rates
for the Far Eastern regions where they are considerably above average
national rates, and I urge the Parliament to promptly hear
the draft law on the free allocation of land plots to people
in the Far East.
Over the past few years, major
investments have been made in the development of Khabarovsk
and Vladivostok, and people there have noticed the improvements.
Komsomolsk-on-Amur must become one more rapidly developing centre
in the Far East. It is a city with a rich history
and modern high-tech industries, which turn out civilian products that
enjoy high demand and also work fruitfully for the defense
sector. But this city’s urban and social infrastructure has been
neglected.
I’m referring
to the city’s face and its sports, culture, healthcare
and education facilities, none of which are consistent with
the potential of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This is why it is difficult
to attract talented young professionals there, which the regional
companies badly need. I believe that we can use resources under
the ongoing programmes to address the problems
of Komsomolsk-on-Amur without delay. Of course, we can’t do this
overnight, but we at least must understand what we need to accomplish
and how fast work must proceed.
Colleagues, we have
a long-term agenda that must be independent of election cycles
and the prevailing situation. These strategic goals include
preserving the nation, bringing up our children and helping them
develop their talents, which constitutes the basis of the power
and future of any country, including Russia.
I’d like to begin with
demography. We’ve registered a natural increase in population
for the past three years. It has been modest, but present
nevertheless. What I would like to highlight is that, according
to forecasts, we should have seen a demographic collapse due
to the demographic echo of the 1990s [when Russia
experienced its severest drop in birth rates], which demographers have
predicted, including at the UN. But this hasn’t come to pass,
primarily because half of the new-borns today are second
or third children. Russian families want to have children, they
believe in their future and in their country, and they are
confident that the state will help them.
The maternity capital
programme ends next year. Over 6.5 million families have enjoyed its benefits,
including in Crimea and Sevastopol. But we know that our efforts
in this sphere have not been sufficient to close the demographic
wound of the past.
Of course, we know that this
will be hard on the budget, that the programme needs major
funding. We said in the past that we need to analyse
the figures to see if we can shoulder this burden,
as the financiers say, if we can guarantee the payment
of these allocations. Yes, we can do this, despite the current
challenges. I believe that we must extend the maternity capital
programme for at least two years.
A major demographic policy
measure is the development of preschool education. Over the past
three years, additional accommodation was provided at kindergartens
for 800,000 children. Practically in all parts of Russia, such
institutions are available for children between the ages
of three and seven. I know that the prime minister has paid
special, personal attention to this. Thank you, Mr Medvedev.
However, so far, individual
families – many families – continue to encounter problems
placing children in kindergartens. As long as these problems
exist we cannot say that the issue has been closed. I ask both
the government and regional authorities to pay special attention
to this.
Now, healthcare. The main
achievement of our entire policy in this sphere is that we are seeing
an increase in average life expectancy. Over the past decade, it
has increased by more than five years and this year, according
to preliminary estimates, should exceed 71 years. Nevertheless, there are
still quite a few problems that have to be dealt with.
Next year, the Russian
healthcare system will transition completely to an insurance-based
system. It is the direct responsibility of insurance companies
operating in the compulsory medical insurance system to uphold
patients’ rights, including in situations where they are refused free
medical care without a reason. If an insurance company does not do
this, it should be held accountable, including being banned from working
in the compulsory medical insurance system. I request
the government to ensure stringent oversight in this regard.
Next. We have significantly
expanded the scope of high-tech medical care. It may be recalled that
in 2005, 60,000 high-tech operations were performed in Russia
compared to 715,000 in 2014. For the first time
in the country’s history, a significant part of such
operations are carried out without there being a waiting list,
and this is indeed a major achievement.
However, it is important to understand
that certain operations are expensive. As a general rule, they are
performed at leading federal medical centres and clinics.
To finance such operations, I propose establishing within
the compulsory medical insurance system… We have often thought about
this – or we should provide additional funding
to the system. The deputies, government ministers
and governors know what happens in reality. The compulsory
medical insurance system is a territorial system and it supports
primarily territorial healthcare institutions. Naturally, underfinancing is
a matter of concern for the heads of major federal
clinics where the majority of high-tech operations are in fact
performed. So, to finance these centres and perform such operations,
I propose instituting a special federal component within
the compulsory medical insurance system. I request that
the relevant amendments to the law be adopted during
the spring session.
Even so, this is not enough because
while we make these decisions people must not suffer. It is necessary
to ensure continuous financing of high-tech medical care, including
with direct support from the federal budget until this decision is made.
As you also know, the EMS
service has been significantly modernised as part
of the Healthcare national project. We have procured a large
number of modern EMS vehicles and other equipment. Naturally,
as times goes on the auto fleet needs maintenance
and renovation. Ten years have passed. This is the responsibility of Federation
members and they are duty bound to fulfill this task, find
the necessary reserves.
When we did this 10 years ago,
I remember well, we agreed that we will make an initial injection
of federal funding, and then the regions will take over
the responsibility and keep financing at a certain level.
But this never happened, which is unfortunate. I understand that there may
be issues, but like I said many times before, it is imperative to set
our priorities right. It was the wrong thing to do to wait
for everything to fall apart, and then expect to be bailed
out again with the money from the federal budget. The way things
are now, it looks like we will have to do it again, though. But that's not
what we agreed upon. In any case, I ask the Government
and the regional authorities to get back to this issue
and resolve it jointly.
People are complaining that they
often cannot understand why certain hospitals, schools, cultural or social
centres and institutions are being closed or merged. We keep talking
about the need to restructure the network, which is,
in some cases, oversized. Yes, that’s the way it is. But we must
proceed very carefully, and be fully aware of the fact that
in order for us to be able to reach certain indicators,
closing rural medical centres is not always the best option.
Unfortunately, such things happen. People then have to travel 100
kilometres to get medical attention. This is outrageous! Please make sure
that things are done right. I ask the Government to draft
and adopt a methodology for the most efficient distribution
of social institutions by March 1, 2016. It should be mandatory
for use in the regions. We must find a legally valid
formula that will allow us to do so.
In matters such
as providing assistance to the elderly or people with
disabilities, or supporting families and children, it is imperative
to show more trust in civil society and nonprofit organizations.
Often, they work more effectively and efficiently, showing genuine concern
for the people. Also, there’s less red tape in their work.
I would like to propose
a number of concrete solutions based on the results
of the Community civil forum, which took place in November.
First, we will launch
a special programme of presidential grants to support NGOs
working in small towns and villages.
Second, the NGOs that have
established themselves as reliable partners of the state will
receive the legal status of a ”non-profit organization –
provider of socially useful services,“ and a number
of incentives and preferences. Finally, I believe that making up
to 10 percent of the regional and municipal social
programmes’ funding available to nonprofit organizations is the right
thing to do. That way, NGOs will be able to participate
in providing social services that are financed from the budget. We
believe we know well the current legislation, and we are not imposing
anything on anyone, but I’d like to ask heads
of the regions and municipalities to bear this in mind
in their work.
Colleagues, as you may recall,
there was a meeting with children in Sochi at the Sirius
Centre for Gifted Children on September 1. Our children
and young adults are really interesting and goal-oriented people. We
must do our best to make sure that today's students get an excellent
education, have opportunities to be creative, choose a profession
to their liking, and are able to self-actualize regardless
of their geographical location or level of their parents’
income. All children must have equal opportunities for a successful
start in life.
Every year, schools have more
and more students. There will be 3.5 million more of them over
the next 10 years. It's great, it's very good, but it is also important
to make sure that this increase does not affect the quality
of education and learning conditions, and that the current
level continues to improve. Schools need more space for students.
I asked the Government to put together, in conjunction with
the regions, a specific plan of action in this regard.
A decision was made to release up to 50 billion roubles from
the federal budget next year to repair, renovate and build new
schools.
I suggest we take
a broader look at these issues. Comfortable buildings are not enough
to get a good education. We need professional and motivated
teachers, groundbreaking educational programmes and, of course,
opportunities for the children to engage in creative
activities, sports and extracurricular activities. Of course, we
should use the best of what former Palaces of Pioneers
and young technicians' clubs had to offer. We must build our work
on an innovative and up-to-date foundation with the participation
of businesses, higher education institutions and universities.
I will now note
a positive fact, such as the growing interest of young
people in engineering jobs and blue-collar occupations,
the vocations of the future. Competition for enrolment
in engineering universities has almost doubled in the past two
years. The WorldSkills International (WSI) will take place in Kazan
in 2019. By the way, Russia was the first to hold such
contests for teenagers 10–17 years of age. It is important
to make sure that such tournaments become a road map for school
children, for those who are just choosing their trades. We must establish
a whole system of national competitions for blue-collar workers.
I suggest we call this system “The Young Professionals.” This is a very
important task.
In a nutshell, Russian
schools, additional and professional education, and support
for children’s creative work should be aligned with the country’s
future, the requirements of people, young people in this case,
and the demands of the economy in the context
of its prospects. These guys will have to resolve even more
complicated tasks and should be ready to be the best. They
should become not only successful in their careers but also simply decent
people with a firm moral and ethical background.
Dear colleagues. We have repeatedly
faced a historical choice of which road to take to further
development. We crossed another milestone in 2014 when Crimea
and Sevastopol were reunified with Russia. Russia declared a voce
piena its status as a strong state with a millennium-long history
and great traditions, as a nation consolidated by common
values and common goals.
We are acting with the same
confidence now, at a time when Russia is waging an expressly
open, direct struggle against international terrorism. We are making
and implementing decisions, knowing that only we can cope with
the tasks facing us, but only if we act together.
I will cite a quotation
that seemed stunning even to me. These words were said by a man
who was far removed from politics, Dmitry Mendeleyev, who expressed these
thoughts more than a hundred years ago: “We will be immediately destroyed
if we are divided. Our strength lies in our unity, our warriors, our
benign domesticity that multiplies the numbers of our people; our
strength lies in the natural growth of our intrinsic wealth
and love of peace.” These are wonderful words that are pertinent
to us today.
At the same time Russia
is a part of a global world that is changing rapidly. We
understand well the complexity and scale of existing
problems –both foreign and domestic. There are always difficulties
and obstacles on the path to progress and development.
We will respond to all challenges; we will be creative
and productive; we will work for the common good and for the sake
of Russia. We will move forward in unity and working together we
will achieve success.
Thank you.
(Anthem of the Russian
Federation.)
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