MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will set forward tasks for regional authorities in social and economic development. For discussion of these problems, the president will organised at the Kremlin a meeting of Russia’s State Council on Tuesday.
The Kremlin’s press service said the meeting will be the first one after Putin’s assumption of the office and the first one for the new members of the State Council. In compliance with the presidential order of July 11, 2012, along with heads of Russia’s all territories, members of the Council are also speakers of the Federation Council and the State Duma as well as leaders of the Duma factions – Andrei Vorobyov /United Russia/, Gennady Zuganov /Communist Party of the Russian Federation/, Vladimir Zhirinovsky /Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia/, Sergei Mironov /A Just Russia/.”
The press service said the main problems on the agenda on Tuesday and the tasks to provide sustainable economic development and higher living standards had been published by Putin over the presidential election campaign in a series of his programme articles, published in Russia’s major newspapers. The basic principles presented in the articles were reflected in presidential orders, like for example the order on the long-term state economic politics and others the president signed immediately after assumption of the office.
The State Council of the Russian Federation is an advisory body to the Head of State, which deals with issues of highest importance. The council was established by a decree of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on September 1, 2000. The president formed the State Council in order to harness potential of regional leaders. In doing so, he took into account requests and proposals from the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament members and the State Duma deputies. In its capacity as an advisory body, the State Council aids the president in discharging his duties to ensure concerted functioning and interaction of various governmental bodies. Chairman of the State Council is the president of Russia. The Council is made up of the leaders (governors and presidents) of Russia’s Federal Subjects. Other persons may be appointed to the Council at the president’s discretion.
The State Council considers issues of particular importance to the state, such as the development of governmental institutions, economic and social reforms and other objects affecting the nation. The sessions are the principal medium for the work of the State Council and are held four times a year without a rigid timetable. Each session focuses on a single issue. It has also become accepted practice to discuss some issues at joint sessions of the State Council’s Presidium and the Security Council, sometimes with participation of other presidential advisory bodies.
The Council’s Presidium has eight members appointed by the president, and has monthly meetings. New members are appointed every six months.
The first meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation was on November 22, 2000 at the Great Kremlin Palace. The Council discussed then the strategy of the country’s development for the period to 2010.