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Putin criticizes Ministry for Developing Far East

"The Ministry has not fulfilled its purpose," President stated
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 29 (Itar-Tass) — President Vladimir Putin criticized the work by the Ministry for Developing the Far East.

"The Ministry has not fulfilled its purpose," the head of state stated. The federal goal-oriented programs that are being implementing in eastern territories were handed over by the Regional Development Ministry to the Ministry for Developing the Far East only from November 13.

"As a result, we have erosion of responsibility and failures in work.

"We have to create a control system which would conform precisely to the purpose of accelerated development of eastern territories. Specifically, the idea of a state corporation was discussed. I know not everybody shares this approach," the president said adding that he was ready to discuss the issue again.

He also urged the government not to let it come to sanctions and fulfill on time the instructions to develop the Far East.

"The government should have worked out new substantive proposals for the state program for socio-economic development of the Far East until 2025 and submitted them by July 1.

"This instruction has not been fulfilled yet. It has to be done as soon as possible, so that we don't quarrel within our close circle, don't work under the lash, and don't resort to sanctions," Putin warned.

"I ask you to pay special attention to filling the state program with projects," he told the participants in the conference, "we should adopt it not later than the 1st quarter of 2013."

Putin also called for paying the necessary attention to the solution of social problems of Baikal-Amur railway builders. The 40th anniversary of the construction project needs a decent celebration in 2014, he said.

He offered to consider amendments to the legislation to cut the profit tax rate to zero in regions as an incentive for newly established businesses.