Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Vorobyev, we have met on the occasion of the national assembly, but this is still a good opportunity to talk about current affairs in the Moscow Region. This is a large, strong region, but it has its own problems. Not so long ago, we adopted several measures in a row on the Moscow transport hub in the broad sense of this word. This is Moscow, the Moscow Region, and even adjacent regions. We have made important decisions that require considerable expense, but we must carry them out to improve public transport and cargo traffic. I hope that the region will fulfil the instructions made and work under the adopted scenario. When we met some time ago, we also discussed social issues in the region. This populous region does not have enough kindergartens. Could you please tell me what you are doing on this score because this issue must largely be resolved by 2015? That said, everything depends on how quickly the new kindergartens will be constructed, and maybe on the transfer or the adaptation of the existing building... Let’s discuss this issue. Please go ahead.
Andrei Vorobyov: Mr Medvedev, I would like to thank you for attending this important meeting of the Ministry of Emergencies. This is vital for us. We cooperate well with rescue teams that assist people in emergencies. We need them, and we will give them our support.
You mentioned kindergartens – a very sensitive issue for the Moscow Region. Indeed, the social infrastructure lags behind our housing construction rates. We are the leader in housing construction. We are constructing a lot of housing. As for kindergartens…
Dmitry Medvedev: How much are you building per year?
Andrei Vorobyov: We build 7 million square metres per year. You said that we should build one square metre of housing per capita and we have reached this goal. That having been said, I must admit that the construction quality leaves much to be desired. We know that kindergartens are our priority. This is reflected in presidential executive orders and you raised the issue at a meeting in the Government House. We have a serious kindergarten programme, and we have allocated significant funds to this end. We plan to build 85 kindergartens per year – in 2013, 2014, and 2015. We have earmarked 20 billion roubles from the budget for this purpose. Another 15 billion roubles are from extra-budgetary sources – investors and developers that are building these micro-districts. I must admit that the waiting list for kindergartens is long.
Dmitry Medvedev: How long is it now?
Andrei Vorobyov: 43,000 children.
Dmitry Medvedev: Well, on the one hand, it is long, but, on the other hand, the Moscow Region is very large. I will not name them because I do not want to put anyone on the spot, but there are regions where the population is seven or two to three times smaller, but the waiting list is the same. So, your waiting list is not very long for the country.
Andrei Vorobyov: So, kindergartens… We will install video cameras at each construction site, so that we and our people can monitor what is happening there.
Dmitry Medvedev: When will this annual rate of 85 kindergartens allow you to do away with the waiting list?
Andrei Vorobyov: Mr Medvedev, we plan to resolve this issue within three years. We will try to do this more quickly, but the construction speed should not affect the quality. Therefore, by 2015, we…
Dmitry Medvedev: Indeed, the construction speed should not affect the quality. We will take measures to help you in any case. If you cope with this issue on your own, that is okay, but if you have problems, we will think about how to solve them together.
Andrei Vorobyov: Thank you. We could use your support. May I say a few words about roads?
Dmitry Medvedev: Yes, of course.
Andrei Vorobyov: This is a very topical issue and the last meeting… In general, we are cooperating with the Ministry of Transport and the Moscow Mayor because it is impossible to develop Moscow without the Moscow Region and vice versa. This is why such enormous funds have been allocated to develop the transport infrastructure for the first time in Russian history... In three years, we will receive about 100 billion roubles. Crossings are a priority. Today, they are frequently open 10 hours per day, mostly at night, and this is inconvenient for people.
Dmitry Medvedev: They have been impacted, of course.
Andrei Vorobyov: Yes. We will build connecting loop roads inside the Moscow Region, as I have already told you. It goes without saying that this is impossible without federal support on your behalf.
Dmitry Medvedev: We have set aside the funds for this purpose. They are not limitless, but they are fairly large. Both you and Moscow should spend them rationally.
Andrei Vorobyov: You have set this smart-designing task for us. This is what we are doing.
Dmitry Medvedev: All right. This is really a crucial task both for Moscow and for the Moscow Region. They are like intercommunicating vessesls. We understand that huge “flows” of people are migrating between Moscow and the Moscow Region daily and we will cooperate with you to resolve this issue.
Andrei Vorobyev: Thank you.
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