Agenda: the project for the construction of a transport corridor via the Gulf of Kerch and preparations for the XI Paralympic Winter Games.
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks
Report by Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov
Transcript:
Meeting with deputy prime ministers
Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon. We’ll discuss several issues at our meeting today, but I’d like to address the most urgent problem that worries everyone – Russian-Ukrainian relations. We’re going through a difficult period now but I’ve said more than once that Ukraine has been and will be a very important trade and economic partner for us. This is exactly what the Government should be dealing with now and we are closely watching current developments.
Nevertheless, some of the decisions we’ve adopted are binding. Last December we signed a few documents that have not been amended or cancelled by anyone. This includes the project to build a transport corridor via the Gulf of Kerch.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Naturally both Russia and Ukraine are interested in a reliable and inexpensive link between the Taman Peninsula and Crimea that will help them open additional trade channels and develop joint investment projects."
This is an important issue. Naturally both Russia and Ukraine are interested in a reliable and inexpensive link between the Taman Peninsula and Crimea that will help them open additional trade channels and develop joint investment projects. So in order to continue acting in this direction I’ve signed a Government directive on transferring the functions of the customer to a joint stock company that will deal with the relevant issues. Our company Rosavtodor is now establishing it. This decision is designed to bring this work to a practical level regardless of the current political circumstances.
There is one more issue. I instructed the Minister of Finance to study the issue of granting financial aid to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea following their address. Mr Siluanov, what has been done? What is the situation today?
Anton Siluanov: Mr Medvedev, colleagues. We met at the Russian Ministry of Finance with the Minister of Finance of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. We discussed Crimea’s problematic budget, with a shortage of about 10 billion hryvnias – about 35 billion roubles. We’re discussing financial cooperation and assistance to Crimea to ensure the stability of the financial system, the payment of salaries, pensions, allowances and other social benefits, and steady work of public sector agencies. We are still holding consultations, and by the end of the day we’ll prepare specific proposals on financial aid.
Anton Siluanov: "We met at the Russian Ministry of Finance with the Minister of Finance of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. We discussed Crimea’s problematic budget, with a shortage of about 10 billion hryvnias – about 35 billion roubles. We’re discussing financial cooperation and assistance to Crimea to ensure the stability of the financial system, the payment of salaries, pensions, allowances and other social benefits, and steady work of public sector agencies."
Dmitry Medvedev: Okay. Continue your work. Report to me personally on specific parametres and all other major factors related to this issue, and we’ll make the necessary decisions.
Now let’s turn to another important issue: the Paralympic Winter Games. They will open very soon, in a few days. The Paralympic torch relay race is now taking place. Today it is somewhere in the Volga Region, if I’m correct.
The sports programme of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics has 72 sets of medals, a record for the Winter Paralympics. I hope we’ve prepared well, as we did for the Sochi 2014 Olympics. I also hope Sochi is ready to accommodate our guests according to top global standards, including all requirements for a barrier-free environment. I hope all of our guests will be comfortable regardless of the health restrictions that some of them have.
Dmitry Medvedev: "The sports programme of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics has 72 sets of medals, a record for the Winter Paralympics."
I’d like to wish our Paralympic athletes success and tell them that we’ll be cheering for them, just as we did for our Olympic athletes, and we hope that they'll make it to the top of the podium. Our Paralympians stand out for their athletic prowess and their will to win. We know this well because they have won many competitions.
Mr Kozak, is everything ready?
Dmitry Kozak: Yes, everything is ready on the whole. The entire management system is in place after the Olympic Games.
Dmitry Medvedev: So, everything is in place, nobody has taken anything away, correct?
Dmitry Kozak: Nobody has gone anywhere, so to speak. Although the Paralympics are more compact than the Olympics (the Paralympics will be held from March 7 to 16). As you’ve said, Paralympic athletes will compete for 72 sets of medals in five sports during nine days. I’d like to emphasise that we have eight sets of medals more than in Vancouver.
Paralympic teams are continuing to arrive now. In all, in accordance with the applications of national Olympic committees, 45 sports teams will take part in the Games. At present, 38 teams have already arrived. In line with the schedule, all 45 delegations should arrive in Sochi by 5 March.
Dmitry Kozak: "In all, in accordance with the applications of national Olympic committees, 45 sports teams will take part in the Games. At present, 38 teams have already arrived. In line with the schedule, all 45 delegations should arrive in Sochi by 5 March."
We are currently carrying out the plan for the transition. There is much to be done between the Olympics and Paralympics, above all changing the appearance of the city and replacing all Olympic symbols with Paralympic ones. This concerns the city in general and all sports facilities. This work is nearing completion. Under the plan it should be finished on 5 March. We are also preparing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympics. The dress rehearsal will take place in the next few days. Everything is being done in accordance with the plan and we have no problems.
A barrier-free environment was created long before the Olympics. Recently built facilities (thousands of facilities in Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa, St. Petersburg, Moscow and the Moscow-Sochi Railway) fully conform to the Paralympic standards. All existing facilities have been rebuilt to fit the requirements of a barrier-free environment.
All new facilities were designed and built in line with these requirements. I’m referring to over 800 permanent structures completed for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Dmitry Kozak: "A barrier-free environment was created long before the Olympics. Recently built facilities (thousands of facilities in Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa, St. Petersburg, Moscow and the Moscow-Sochi Railway) fully conform to the Paralympic standards."
Considering the Olympic experience and the fact that the Paralympics are more compact, albeit more complicated, we should pay more attention to disabled people, athletes above all. We are fully confident that the organisation of the Paralympics will be carried out at the highest level. As always, we are optimistic about the performance of our Paralympic team, and hope that we are right.
Dmitry Medvedev: Nonetheless, tell everyone not to relax. It's nice to hear the phrase, “considering our Olympic experience…" We have earned the right to speak like this, now but the Paralympics…
Dmitry Kozak: Yes, this is the first time.
Dmitry Medvedev: First of all, this is the first time. Second, there are some complicated aspects that you’ve just mentioned, and we should do the best we can.
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