MOSCOW, May 21 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has set seven top-priority tasks to the country’s new government.
At a first meeting of the newly-formed cabinet of ministers on Monday, Medvedev outlined key tasks for the next six months.
The first task, according to the prime minister, is to elaborate basic programs of the country’s development. “We must finalize and adopt a basic set of state programs in key areas of socio-economic development,” he said. “At least five of these programs are to come into force from next January.” In his words, major attention is to be focused on efforts to “reach demographic goals set forth in program speeches by the country’s political leaders.”
The second task is to “submit to the parliament a three-year budget for 2013, 2014 and 2015.” “While drafting the budget it is necessary to take into account a new budgetary rule that determines the deadlines for budgetary expenditures,” he noted.
The third task is to increase wages to workers of the budget-financed sector. “It means gradual wage increase of certain categories of social sphere employees up to the levels set by the presidential decrees and other previous decisions,” Medvedev said.
The prime minister also urged to “begin the implementation of measures stipulated by roadmaps of the national entrepreneurial initiative in the areas of customs administration, issuing building licenses, and hooking up to engineering infrastructure.” “Generally speaking, it is necessary to make resolute steps to improve the investment climate,” he stressed and called it the fourth top-priority task.
The fifth task set by the prime minister is to reform public service, including through “competitions for managerial positions in federal executive bodies.” “All political vacancies have been filled in line with the law on the Russian government. All other vacancies throughout the country may be filled on a competition basis,” Medvedev said.
The sixth task is to sell government stakes in state companies. “Taking into account the situation on financial markets and the actual state of things, it is necessary to sell packages in state-controlled companies from the previously-endorsed list under a new schedule,” he stressed.
Apart from that, the prime minister called to ensure regular discussion of draft government resolutions in the “open government” format. “We must ensure regular discussion of draft government resolutions within an expert council that would soon be formed, and within public councils each minister and state power body should have,” the prime minister said.
The government’s activities however will not be confined to these seven tasks, Medvedev noted. “I would like all those present to pay top-priority attention to it,” he stressed. “The development of our state, social well-being of the people, the solution to pressing problems facing our economy and the social sphere, which in the long run influence the moods in our enormous country, depend on our coordinated and efficient effort.”