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November 20, 2009
Friday
Dmitry Medvedev met with transport ministers from 24 countries.
The ministers were in Moscow to take part in the International Transport Forum Transport of Russia: Establishment, Development and Prospects.
Opening the meeting, the President outlined Russia’s transport development priorities, which include making road traffic safe and convenient, addressing environmental issues, and creating a barrier-free transport environment for people with disabilities. Mr Medvedev also spoke about objectives such as developing the North-South and West-East corridors and cross-polar routes, and improving criminal legislation in order to more effectively combat piracy at sea.
The President said it was essential to coordinate efforts not just to carry out international transport projects but also to address the domestic problems various countries face.
Along with transport ministers, the heads of international transport organisations also attended the meeting.
The International Transport Forum Transport of Russia: Establishment, Development and Prospects is taking place in Moscow from November 19 to 21, and is timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the founding of Russia’s transport agency.
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November 18, 2009
Wednesday
Dmitry Medvedev took part in the 24th EU-Russia summit.
The summit discussed current international political issues and Russia’s cooperation with European countries as part of broad-ranging dialogue in the political, trade, economic, and humanitarian spheres.
Major energy projects, energy cooperation issues and Europe’s energy security were also on the agenda. Normal life and activity in Europe are simply unimaginable without reaching agreement on these issues, Mr Medvedev said at the news conference following the summit.
The President noted the good progress made of late on big energy projects, in particular the Nord Stream project to build a pipeline via the Baltic Sea, which has already obtained the go-ahead from Denmark, Sweden and Finland, and also the South Stream project.
On the subject of Russian-EU relations following the Lisbon Treaty’s entry into force, Mr Medvedev said he was confident that relations would not change in any significant way and stressed that Russia and the European Union are friendly and inevitable partners. The President said that Russia not only seeks to develop the best possible relations with the EU but will also work on strengthening ties with individual European countries.
During the summit, Mr Medvedev, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt presided over the signing of a number of agreements on cooperation between border regions: Kolarctic, Karelia, Southeast Finland-Russia, Latvia-Estonia-Russia, and Lithuania-Poland-Russia.
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November 16, 2009
Monday
Dmitry Medvedev has completed his official visit to Singapore.
Following the APEC summit, the President began a two-day visit to Singapore, the first official visit by a Russian leader in the history of the two countries’ relations.
Mr Medvedev held talks with President of Singapore Sellapan Ramanathan, examining prospects for joint investment projects, exit measures from the global economic crisis, and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. The President also met with Minister Mentor of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew. Following their meeting, Mr Medvedev presented Mr Lee with the Order of Friendship, awarded to the Minister Mentor for his great contribution to developing relations between the two countries.
The second day of the visit began with the presentation of an electronic government project by the Singapore Information and Telecommunication Technologies Agency. The President saw a demonstration of an information system for providing state services.
Mr Medvedev later met with members of the two countries’ business communities and also had meetings with Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
The President’s official visit concluded with the adoption of a joint statement.
The two countries agreed to establish a high-level intergovernmental commission to organise and develop wide-ranging cooperation in various fields, including the economy, science and technology, and also political, cultural, educational and other areas.
The two countries also noted the considerable potential for developing military exchanges and security cooperation.
The joint statement gave attention to issues on the international economic and political agenda and also regional cooperation within APEC, ASEAN and other multilateral bodies.
Mr Medvedev invited Singapore’s president and prime minister, Mr Ramanathan and Mr Lee, to visit the Russian Federation. The invitations were accepted with thanks.
The President concluded his programme with a visit to the Russian missile cruiser Varyag, currently in port in Singapore. Mr Medvedev went on board the ship, learned about its history and saw a display of historical military items, following which he spent time talking with the crew in the wardroom.
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November 14, 2009
Saturday
The President instructed the Defence and Emergencies ministries to identify the causes of the accident at the arms depot in Ulyanovsk, and to check within two weeks the compliance of similar facilities with fire safety requirements and rules governing their operation.
The instruction was given in a video link-up with the Emergencies Ministry’s National Crisis Management Centre, during which the Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and First Deputy Emergencies Minister Ruslan Tsalikov briefed the President on the relief efforts being taken at the accident site.
Yesterday President Medvedev ordered the Defence and Emergencies ministries to take all necessary measures to deal with the emergency situation in Ulyanovsk.
An explosion rocked a Defence Ministry’s arms depot located in the Zavolzhsky district of Ulyanovsk at around 4 p.m. on November 13, 2009, triggering a fire in one of the depot’s sections. Several servicemen were killed fighting fire and more than 40 people required medical help.
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November 12, 2009
Thursday
Dmitry Medvedev delivered his Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.
At the beginning of his Address, President Medvedev stressed that Russia must achieve the status of global power on a fundamentally new basis. The country's prestige and national well-being, Mr Medvedev noted, cannot be determined by past achievements. At the cost of tremendous effort Russia became one of the most influential industrial powers of the 20th century – in the 21st century, Russia once again requires all-round modernisation.
President Medvedev analysed the impact of financial crisis and economic downturn, and emphasised that social support for Russian citizens remains a governmental priority. He outlined what has been done in this respect and what will be done in the future, including increases in pensions, actions in the labour market, help for single-industry cities, the agricultural sector, business and financial sectors.
The President described the economy's focus on the real needs of Russian citizens, ensuring their safety, improving their health, and access to energy and information as the country's main development factors. This is what will determine the priorities of economic modernisation and technological development.
Dmitry Medvedev enumerated further concrete steps in the five main directions of modernisation which he has already laid out and for which a Presidential Commission [for Modernisation and Technological Development of Russia's Economy] has been established. They are the introduction of the latest medical, energy and information technologies, the development of space and telecommunications systems, and dramatically improving energy efficiency.
At the same time, President Medvedev stressed that the Government Cabinet should actively pursue development programmes in other sectors of the economy as well. Dmitry Medvedev outlined concrete steps to implement Russia's overall development strategy. They relate to optimising the budgetary sector, supporting science, the transition to innovative economic development, and improving the tax system.
He paid special attention to the development of civil society, improving the quality of education, work in cultural spheres (especially in remote areas), as well as strengthening the political system. The President underlined the need to improve democratic institutions and electoral system, as well as the quality of popular representation in government.
A separate part of the Address was devoted to fighting corruption, improving the quality of the judicial system and law enforcement.
In reference to the situation in the North Caucasus, President Medvedev stressed that the uncompromising struggle against international terrorism will continue. At the same time, he pointed out that it is necessary to combat the roots of crime in the region that are associated with its specific socio-economic situation. Programmes and projects designed to facilitate the development of the region's economy are already functioning but additional measures are required. Mr Medvedev believes that there should be a special official that holds personal responsibility for the situation in the North Caucasus.
In the section of the Address devoted to the Armed Forces immediate development goals were laid out, including new types of weapons, modern automatic command centres and information complexes, as well as personnel training and social support for servicemen.
With regards to foreign policy, President Medvedev confirmed that Russia's priority remains multipolarity, a concept which is becoming increasingly widespread throughout the world, strengthening the UN, and promoting a new European security treaty. Mr Medvedev gave instructions to develop clear criteria for evaluating the results of foreign policy activities and the programme for effective use of foreign policy elements for long-term national development. The President stressed that the effectiveness of these activities should be judged by a simple criterion: whether or not they contribute to improving living standards in Russia.
The Annual Address contains direct instructions to the Cabinet with regards to, inter alia, improving the financial system, optimising the public sector, the accelerated technological modernisation of the electoral system, and the regime governing the dispensation and procurement of medical drugs.
In conclusion, the President recalled next year's forthcoming 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We must remember and respect the past, Dmitry Medvedev said, and work hard for a decent future.
In his Address the President repeatedly referred to the feedback and suggestions he received from Russian citizens following the publication of his article Go Russia!
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November 10, 2009
Tuesday
Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Russia's outstanding gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov on his 90th birthday and awarded him the Gold Star Medal of the Hero of Russia.
At a reception held in the Kremlin in honour of the legendary inventor, the President of Russia referred to Mikhail Kalashnikov's life as an example of service to the Fatherland, stating also that today – as Russia's economy is being modernised – the country needs such great inventions in all fields.
About 150 different kinds of small arms have been designed under the leadership of Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the world-famous AK-47 assault rifle.
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November 9, 2009
Monday
Dmitry Medvedev took part in celebrations marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In his speech the Russian President stressed that Germany's peaceful reunification would have been impossible had Russia had not adopted a position propitious for peace 20 years ago.
Dmitry Medvedev also pointed out the Soviet Union's crucial role in defeating Nazism and, 44 years later, in the process of Germany's peaceful reunification.
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