MOSCOW, June 22. /TASS/ Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the results of the work of the State Duma of the current convocation saying integration of Crimea and Sevastopol has become a historic result of the work.
"I believe the truly historic outcome of work of your convocation is the legal integration of Crimea and Sevastopol that was preceded by your sincere, hearty and moral support for the citizens of the peninsula ahead of the referendum on joining the Russian Federation," the president told the MPs.
"You supported the stance of most citizens of Russia, citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol actively and sometimes emotionally, and rather professionally when this was needed. All the factions showed unity of which your voters can be indeed proud of," he said.
The lower house of parliament "adopted more than 120 laws within the shortest possible time" that simplified the integration process and "helped people go through the difficulties of the transition period and feel that they are at home, their rights are effectively protected and new possibilities are open for them," the president said.
"Your performance and its results can certainly be regarded as decent. It is of special importance that the laws you have adopted enabled us to comply with the social obligations to our citizens, develop crucial branches of the economy and perfect the political system of the state," Putin told the legislators.
Putin believes that the lawmakers have done a ‘colossal job’ along these lines.
In his opinion "such successful activity is a result of efforts by all factions and their readiness to conduct a constructive dialog with each other, with the government and with other actors enjoying the right to legislative initiative."
Putin stated that all factions displayed unity over foreign policy matters.
"There have been attempts to make use of inter-party disagreements, but nobody has managed to split your unity, and consequently, the unity of society - your society and your voters," Putin told the legislators.
In this context the intensity of legislators’ contacts with foreign counterparts has grown, he added.
"The readiness for consolidation for the sake of the common cause, for the sake of Russia, is a distinguishing feature of this State Duma. And it is very important to ensure these traditions, including strict compliance with the rules of parliamentary ethics, should be inherited and continued by a future State Duma," Putin said.
In his opinion "of tremendous significance is the continuity of lawmaking activity," which "guarantees not only the quality of the legal basis, but the authority of entire Russian jurisdiction."
"Maintaining well-planned and systemic work and in-depth and meaningful discussion of bills is the key task of a future State Duma in organizing the lawmaking process," Putin said.
"The legislative bodies are a separate branch of power. Their work should not be hindered by somebody’s time-serving interests or the wish to formalize this or that decision. There should be no superficial approaches in considering and adopting legal acts," Putin told the outgoing State Duma.
"Planned and systemic work and in-depth, meaningful discussion of bills will be the key task of a future State Duma in organizing the lawmaking process," Putin said.
Fair elections
The president has also called for fair elections.
"I expect that your will do everything possible so that they [elections] are held fairly, openly and in the atmosphere of mutual respect. I want this to be not the struggle of mudslinging, but the struggle of ideas and fulfilling them should make our country stronger and increase the living standard of Russian citizens," Putin told the MPs.
Putin said all the political forces should understand their responsibility for maintaining social stability and "achieve not just results at the elections but in the first place the trust of citizens in the outcome of the polls." "I’m convinced that stability and trust are the basis and key factors of further successful development of the country," he stressed.
He noted the contribution of the MPs of the sixth convocation to the development of the country’s political system. The president said he is sure that the quality of a political system depends not on the number of parties but on their capacity to influence the situation in the country.
"During the upcoming election campaign you will have to again pass a test before your voters," Putin told the State Duma. After the September 18 polls, the MPs elected in one-seat constituencies will come to the parliament meaning that "the representative functions of the parliament and cohesion with the regions will be significantly increased," he said.
Elections to the 450-seat Russian State Duma will be held on September 18 under a mixed system: 225 lawmakers will be elected in one-seat constituencies and another 225 will be elected by party tickets.
Stability, trust key factors of country’s development
In his address the president has also stressed that stability and trust are the key factors of country’s development. Putin has also set the importance of economic and social issues higher than security and foreign affairs.
"Everything is important - security, foreign affairs, but the economic and social sectors are the most important," Putin said, adding that the issue particularly covers medical care, education, housing and the utility sector as well as support of motherhood and childhood. "Those are very challenging, and maybe even thorny issues, but the future of the country will depend on the ways we tackle them," he added.
Putin said that the recent years have seen "the formation of an efficient anti-corruption legal base." Particularly, regulations regarding all categories of officials have been tightened, including those implying bans on accounts and assets abroad. Also, the president noted the importance of the laws adopted by the State Duma of this convocation regarding strategic planning and industrial policy as well as on priority development areas and parliamentary control.