Transcript:
Question: Good afternoon Mr Kozak. Please explain to us the following: the Prime Minister said today that a special economic zone and a federal targeted programme can be adopted for Crimea. Let’s start with the programme. Have you made at least a tentative plan? We know that a working group on Crimea has had a meeting. How much investment is necessary in Crimea, and how much money can be allocated from the budget? Regarding the special economic zone, do you know the period for which it will be created? When will this be done, and what will the purpose of this zone be? Will there be tax concessions?
Dmitry Kozak: The answer for both issues is clear-cut. On 21 March, the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol became component parts of the Russian Federation. We started working [on the above issues] the same day. We have only developed general proposals on the federal targeted programme and the special economic zone as the instruments of governance, budget planning and economic stimulation. We understand what these instruments should be like, but we have not yet determined the specific financial and physical parameters of the federal targeted programme or the special economic zone.
This task, meaning the deadline, general provisions and also proposals on the parameters of the special economic zone, is to be fulfilled by 15 April. This is our task. The federal targeted programme must be presented in detail by 1 July. This is a very short time for taking such concrete decisions in Russia, but we will do it, and when we do it we’ll explain it to you. Today I cannot give you a single figure or name a single tax incentive.
Question: Do you worry that sanctions might apply to you now that you have been put in charge of the Crimea development commission?
Dmitry Kozak: The decision has been made, and I have accepted it, which means that I’m not worried. It is my personal assignment, because I’m responsible for the socioeconomic development of all Russian regions. From 21 March 2014, [Crimea and Sevastopol are] Russian regions.
Question: Good afternoon Mr Kozak. Interfax. The Prime Minister mentioned the issue of air transport today. Did you discuss subsidising tickets for Crimea just as flights from the Russian Far East and Kaliningrad are subsidised?
Dmitry Kozak: Yes we did. We discussed it at the Friday meeting that I chaired, and at today’s meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. We need at least a short time to analyse it thoroughly. In this case, the deadline is 5 April. We must provide our calculations and substantiation by 5 April. Decisions must be taken with regard to the special economic zone, the federal targeted programme, and the subsidising of passenger transport with due regard for the task of the accelerated socioeconomic development of this new Russian region and the need to help its social and economic sectors during and after the transition period, but also taking into account the financial opportunities of the federal budget.
Question: Power failures have been reported in Crimea. What is being done to resolve this problem? And what will be done to prevent this from happening again?
Dmitry Kozak: Power has been restored in Crimea. As for preventing this from happening again... First, we are negotiating with the leaders of Ukraine’s power supply system. Second, we are implementing a crisis management plan, and we have also drafted, approved and are implementing an emergency electricity supply plan, primarily for vital infrastructure and social facilities. It was partially enacted last night.
Question: What additional equipment are you using? Have you moved some of it from Sochi?
Dmitry Kozak: We are using diesel generators, including those that ensured a reliable electricity supply during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Question: The day before yesterday, Rustam Temirgaliyev said that two gas-fuelled power plants would be built in Crimea within three to five years, one of them in the north and the other near Kerch. Can you confirm this information?
Dmitry Kozak: No. It was a proposal by the Crimean Deputy Prime Minister, which we are analysing now. A decision will be made only after we complete the feasibility study and assess the possible consequences and variants for ensuring reliable electricity supply in Crimea. So far, no decisions have been made on this issue, even though it is critically important and brooks no delay. We must find an optimal solution in terms of cost and implementation deadlines.
Question: One more question, about Russian tourists in Crimea. It was said that Russian agencies and government-owned companies will send their employees to Crimea for recreation. It has also been said that the Culture Ministry and Sberbank would do this. Can you tell us if these organisations will send their employees to Crimea for recreation or not? What other companies are planning to do this?
Dmitry Kozak: It’s correct that we have appealed to Russian businesses, primarily those that work in the northern regions, and also to the agencies that sell vouchers to Russian health and recreation resorts to focus on Crimea. The health and recreation business is one of the key economic sectors on the peninsula, and we certainly want these travel agencies to redirect their attention from Turkey and Cyprus to Crimea, which is especially important now, during the transition period when the political situation around Crimea is so complicated. Yes, we have made the appeal, and we will continue to work on this. Also, a concrete action plan, a roadmap on the development of Crimean health and recreation resorts is to be approved by 5 April.
Question: I have two questions. First, electricity was turned off for several hours last night. The Ukrainian authorities have announced…
Dmitry Kozak: We have discussed this.
Question: Can this happen again? Are we ready for it? What will you do if Kiev decides to cut electricity in Crimea?
My second question: The Transnistrian authorities have appealed to Russia to consider the region’s incorporation into Russia. Have you discussed this issue?
Dmitry Kozak: Personally, I have not attended any meetings that included this.
As for power supply, I’d like to say that we are ready for power failure emergencies. Also, such emergencies would be bad for Ukraine’s electricity system economically and technically. I pin my hopes on their common sense. Why punish ordinary people by cutting off electricity?
Next time we’ll talk longer. Thank you.
