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Medvedev to chair govt meeting on migration, customs, fire safety

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov stressed the need to increase the number of firefighting planes

MOSCOW, August 9 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian government will convene for a weekly meeting on Thursday, August 9, to discuss, among other things, migration policy, customs regulation, fire safety, and road safety.

The Federal Migration Service will present an action plan for implementing the state migration policy concept up to 2025. “It covers the first stage from 2012 to 2015. During this period, regulatory acts will have to be drafted and adopted to ensure the achievement of the main migration policy objectives,” the Federal Migration Service said.

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov will speak about the federal target programme “Fire Safety up to 2017”, which aims to lower fire risks, reduce fire casualties and the number of fires,” the ministry said.

“It is important for the programme not only to take into account the current situation but also to offer measures to be used in the years to come to prevent fires and deal with their consequences,” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting in Tomsk earlier this week.

He stressed the need to increase the number of firefighting planes. Six more Be-200 amphibious planes will join them shortly. The current firefighting fleet consists of about 100 aircraft.

The next item on the meeting agenda is amendments to the Law “On Customs Regulation”. “Amendments make it impossible for organisations and enterprises controlled by or dependent on the Federal Customs Service to engage in entrepreneurial activities”, which should help improve the quality and availability of services in this field, the government said.

Another set of amendments aims to improve road safety. They require car owners to undergo a medical checkup every five years and professional drivers at least every two years. Those who fail till be penalised.

The Transport Ministry has drafted a law on regular interregional bus passenger transportation. The draft law should help boost the market of passenger transportation services on regional routes, legalise these services and develop transport infrastructure.

Amendments to the regulations on the Federal Road Agency and the Federal Agency for Air Transportation will also be discussed at the meeting.

Additionally, the government will consider abolishing the commission on high technologies and innovations in connection with the creation of the presidential Council on Economic Modernisation and Technological Development.

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

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