MOSCOW, December 12 (Itar-Tass) — Russians should be more and they should be better in order to make Russia sovereign and strong, President Vladimir Putin said.
In his annual state-of-the-nation address to the Federal Assembly, Putin said, “If the nation is unable to take care of it and reproduce and if it loses vital ideals, it does not need an external enemy. Everything itself will destroy. In order to make Russia sovereign and strong we should be more and we should be better in moral, competence and the work.”
According to the president, as of today the share of the young, active and working-age population is one of the highest rates in Russia.
At the same time, Putin stressed that in 20 years the number of this category could be reduced one-half. “If you do nothing, the tendency will continue,” the head of state noted.
“Just now we will able to open new prospects for young generations: to have a good and interesting work, do business, buy housing, create family and grow many children. Otherwise, in several decades Russia will turn into a poor, aged badly and incapable country, which cannot preserve its independence and even the territory,” Putin warned.
He said the demographic programmes, which had been adopted in the past, worked successfully. “The population of the country continues to grow,” the head of state said, adding that in January-February 2012 the population in Russia had grown up to 200,000 people.
“For the first time in contemporary history we note the rate of population increase in five months in succession. The birthrate has started to exceed the death rate,” Putin said, adding that the lifetimes reached 70 years.
At the same time, he said the death rate “is rather high, especially among men of average age.
“We should jointly get over the society’s irresponsible attitude towards healthy lifestyle,” Putin pointed out.