Thursday, June 17, 2021
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Ordem Executiva:Metas de desenvolvimento nacional da Rússia até 2030
Ordem Executiva:
Metas de desenvolvimento nacional da Rússia até 2030
21/7/2020, Kremlin Website
Tradução de trabalho, não oficial, não revista, para finalidades acadêmicas
Vladimir Putin assinou a seguinte Ordem Executiva “Metas de desenvolvimento nacional da Rússia até 2030”.
21 de julho, 2020
11:25
Para assegurar o desenvolvimento de ponta da Rússia, aumentar a população, melhorar os padrões de vida do povo e criar condições confortáveis de vida, assim como para ajudar as pessoas a libertar os próprios talentos, o Presidente estabeleceu as seguintes metas de desenvolvimento nacional até 2030:
Preservar/promover
a. a população, a saúde e o bem-estar do povo;
b. condições de autorrealização e para libertar talentos;
c. meio ambiente confortável e seguro;
d. postos de trabalho decentes e efetivos e a empresa bem-sucedida;
e. a transformação digital.
A Ordem Executiva fixa os seguintes parâmetros para avaliar se as metas nacionais foram alcançadas até 2030:
a. no quadro da meta nacional de preservar/promover a população, a saúde e o bem-estar do povo:
– garantir o crescimento sustentável da população da Federação Russa;
– aumentar a expectativa de vida, para 78 anos;
– reduzir à metade, em relação a 2017, a taxa de pobreza;
– aumentar para 70% a porcentagem dos que se exercitam e fazem esportes regularmente;
b. no quadro da meta nacional de criar condições para a autorrealização e a libertação do talento:
– alcançar posição entre os primeiros 10 países de mais alta qualidade no campo da educação;
– criar sistema efetivo, baseado nos princípios da justiça e igualdade, da universalidade, da autodeterminação e da orientação para escolha de carreiras, para identificar, apoiar e ajudar crianças e jovens para que libertem seus talentos;
– alcançar posição entre os primeiros 10 países no volume de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, inclusive mediante a criação de sistema efetivo de educação de nível superior;
– criar condições para promover a formação de pessoas harmoniosamente desenvolvidas e socialmente responsáveis, considerados os valores espirituais e morais dos povos da Federação Russa e suas tradições históricas, nacionais e culturais;
– aumentar para 15% a quantidade de pessoas engajadas em atividades voluntárias ou que participem em organizações voluntárias;
– triplicar, em relação a 2019, o número de cidadãos que participam em eventos culturais;
с) no quadro da meta nacional de alcançar ambiente confortável e seguro:
– melhorar as condições de moradia para pelo menos 5 milhões de famílias ao ano; e aumentar a construção de moradia para pelo menos 120 milhões de metros quadrados ao ano;
– melhorar pelo menos em 1 vez e meia o índice de qualidade do ambiente urbano;
– garantir que pelo menos 85% da rede de estradas nas grandes áreas metropolitanas atenda às exigências de lei;
– criar um sistema sustentável para gestão do lixo doméstico e garantir que 100% do lixo seja classificado, ao mesmo tempo em que se reduzam à metade os lixões de superfície;
– reduzir à metade as emissões de poluentes perigosos que tenham o efeito mais negativo sobre o ambiente e a saúde humana;
– eliminar as instalações mais perigosas que causam dano ambiental acumulado, e promover a recuperação ambiental de corpos d’água, incluindo o Rio Volga e os lados Baikal e Teletskoye;
d) no quadro da meta nacional de promover postos de trabalho decentes e efetivos e a empresa bem-sucedida:
– garantir que o PIB cresça acima da média global, mantendo-se a estabilidade macroeconômica;
– garantir crescimento estável da renda das famílias e aposentadorias, nunca menor que a taxa de inflação;
– aumentar em pelo menos 70% comparado a 2020 o investimento de real fixed capital;
– alcançar crescimento real em pelo menos 70% comparado a 2020, nas exportações de bens não intensivos em recursos e em energia;
– aumentar para 25 milhões de pessoas o número de empregos em empresas de pequeno e médio porte, incluindo empreendedores individuais e autoempregados;
e) no quadro da meta nacional da transformação digital:
– alcançar “maturidade digital” em setores chaves da economia e em serviços sociais, incluindo educação e atenção à saúde, além da governança pública;
– aumentar para 95% a proporção de serviços sociais essenciais disponíveis online;
– aumentar para 97% a proporção de lares com acesso à internet de banda larga;
– quadruplicar, em comparação a 2019, o investimento em soluções russas de tecnologia de informação.
O Governo da Federação Russa distribuiu instruções para que assim se faça.
Essa Ordem Executiva entra em vigência na data de sua publicação oficial. [Fim do texto]*************
Traduzido por Amigos do Brasil
Thursday, March 26, 2020
At the helm: 20 years ago, Putin was elected as Russia’s president for first time
26 MAR, 03:55
Keeping a broad range of issues under strict control has become Putin’s
way of life
Russian President Vladimir Putin
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS
MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russia’s four-time President Vladimir Putin
marks a political anniversary on March 26: 20 years ago, he was elected for his
first term as the head of Russia. However, the president will apparently have
neither free time nor the desire to celebrate: Putin is reluctant to marking
personal dates, and, under present conditions, he will simply have no chance to
take a pause in his hectic work schedule.
Work schedule
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on Thursday the president would
meet with a group of entrepreneurs from Russian regions. Another important
event on Putin’s agenda today will be G20 summit, to be held in the format of a
video linkup to discuss the novel coronavirus pandemic and ways to mitigate its
impact on the global economy.
In charge of everything
Keeping a broad range of issues under strict control has become Putin’s
way of life. Each of his 20 years at the helm of the Russian state (15 years as
president and five as the prime minister) was turbulent in its own way, posing
new questions and problems: international conflicts and terrorism, economic
troubles and natural disasters were only the tip of the iceberg of problems
that required a prompt and weighted response.
However, those turbulent periods failed to stop Russia’s steady
development, including changes in the vertical power structure, political party
system reforms and measures to boost Russia’s defense. In his TASS interview
for the project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin", the head
of state asserted that a tsar merely issues orders, while the president works
every day. "A tsar is one who just sits there, looks down from above and
says: ‘They will do as I order’, while he just tries on a cap and looks at
himself in the mirror," he said.
Putin’s hectic schedule, which he compared to the work of a galley slave
after the first two terms in office, is widely known both in Russia and abroad.
For more than two decades, he has been keeping both his friends and enemies
surprised at how one person can handle it all. In an interview with TASS, Putin
confessed that the idea of having a body double was floated for the sake of
ensuring the safety of the head of state in the early 2000s, but the idea was
rejected once and for all.
Creating trends
Although his post envisages maximum publicity, Putin prefers to keep
personal things, including those related to his family, out of the public eye.
His official biography only mentions two adult daughters, and the president
spoke of having grandchildren, too. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained
that putting everything on a display is ruled out as far as the head of the
Russian state is concerned.
Putin is very upbeat on scientific and engineering progress, but still
prefers the special hotline phone to any of the modern gadgets. The reason is
simple. "It is far easier for me to use a special phone line to be
connected to any number," the president explained in an interview with
TASS.
Following modern trends is not Putin’s style. He prefers to create them
on his own, be it healthy lifestyle (which encouraged thousands of Russian boys
to practice judo and sambo wrestling) or the choice of a remote location in
taiga for his two-day vacation (after which tourists flocked to Russia’s Tuva
region).
The same applies to the Russian leader’s foreign policy as well.
Opposing the start of the war in Iraq in 2003, Putin managed to win the support
of powerful allies, such as then French President Jacques Chirac and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroder. In 2007, Putin made his famous Munich speech,
speaking out loud about Russia’s position on the international arena and
expressing ideas that were ahead of their time. Almost a decade and a half
later, other states started to refer to the same notions in their international
affairs. A strong and confident Russia, which is no longer trying to catch up
with others, has reclaimed the global recognition of a key player on the global
arena, whether others like it or not.
Putin, who has always called for a diplomatic solution of any conflict,
says firmly and unambiguously that Russia is not going to fight against anyone
and it is laying the groundwork so that other countries, too, will not have the
slightest urge to unleash an armed conflict with Moscow.
Serious work ahead
Putin has accumulated vast experience of a state leader, which has
surpassed that of his incumbent counterparts from other major world powers,
including Chinese President Xi Jinping (in office since 2013) and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel (since 2005). As far as the ex-Soviet space is
concerned, Putin’s time at the helm is second only to Belarusian President
Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for almost 26 years.
In an interview to TASS, Putin confessed it had never occurred to him
that his stay at the helm of power would last so long.
"It never crossed my mind. I never thought that I would wind up
here. That never would have occurred to me," he said.
About the possibility of dropping out of the race at some point, Putin
said he felt "responsible for what is going on, and for what will happen
in the future."
He added that in 2008, he did not have the slightest idea that in four
years’ time he would occupy the presidential office again, although he did not
exclude that possibility altogether.
However, Putin believes that it is too early to raise the question of
his status when his term expires in 2024.
When leaving Kremlin on December 31, 1999, and appointing Putin as his
successor, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin told Russians: "I wish you
to be happy. You deserve happiness. You deserve happiness and
tranquility."
During the March 26, 2000 presidential elections, in which 11 candidates
took part, the most Russians cast their ballots for Putin, and have since
confirmed their choice thrice.
On March 27, 2000, the day after being elected as the president of
Russia for the first time, Putin said: "There is a lot of serious work
ahead. A lot remains to be explained. Many things that might cause disputes are
still to be done. But I have the idea of what should be done next."
The world and the country changed drastically since then, but those
words still remain true today. Putin chooses to focus on what remains to be
done rather than on what was done. This is what he sees as his main motivation
in steering the country.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
President of Russia Vladimir Putin -- Address to the Nation
March 25, 2020
16:30
Address
to the Nation.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, friends,
I am reaching out
to you on an issue that has become a matter of concern
for all of us.
We are witnessing
an acute escalation of the coronavirus epidemic
on a global scale. The number of new cases continues
to grow in many countries. The global economy
as a whole is at risk, and is already expected
to shrink.
By taking precautionary
measures, we have been largely able to prevent the infection from
rapidly spreading and limit the incidence rate. However, we have
to understand that Russia cannot insulate itself from this threat, simply
considering its geography. There are countries along our borders that have
already been seriously affected by the epidemic, which means that
in all objectivity it is impossible to stop it from spilling over
into Russia.
That said, being
professional, well organised and proactive is what we can do and are
already doing. The lives and health of our citizens is our top
priority.
We have mobilised all
the capabilities and resources for deploying a system
of timely prevention and treatment. I would like
to specially address doctors, paramedics, nurses, staff at hospitals,
outpatient clinics, rural paramedic centres, ambulance services,
and researchers: you are at the forefront of dealing with
this situation. My heartfelt gratitude to you for your dedicated
efforts.
I would like
to ask Russian citizens to listen very carefully
to the advice coming from doctors and the authorities. This
could make a very big difference at this point in time. This is
especially true for the most vulnerable categories of citizens:
the elderly and people who have chronic illnesses. Minimising the risks
should be a priority for them and all people in general.
There is also
the question of the national vote on the amendments
to the Constitution, which has been tentatively scheduled
for April 22. You know that this is a very serious matter
to me. Of course, I will ask you to go
to the polling stations to express your opinion on this
issue of fundamental and crucial importance to the country
and society.
However, as I said
before, our absolute priority is the health, life and safety
of the people. This is why I believe the vote should be
postponed.
We will look
at the situation in the regions and throughout
the country, and we will rely on the professional opinion
and recommendations of doctors and specialists when setting
a new date for this vote.
Next, the immediate
priority is to prevent the quick spread of this diseases.
Therefore, I declare
next week to be an official non-work period while maintaining wages.
In other words, the days off will last from Saturday March 28
to Sunday April 5.
Of course, all public
infrastructure facilities, including medical facilities, pharmacies, stores,
institutions responsible for banking and financial settlements,
as well as transport, and ministries and agencies
at all levels, will continue working.
As I said, the extended
days off are being declared to reduce the speed
of the virus spreading.
I am addressing all our
citizens. Let us not rely on chance as we tend to do
in Russia. Do not think, as we usually do, that this cannot happen
to you. It can happen to anyone. And then we will very quickly
see what is now happening in many western countries, in Europe
and across the ocean, happen here in Russia. We must strictly
comply with all the recommendations. We must protect ourselves, our
families and friends, and we must adopt a more disciplined
and responsible approach. Trust me: the best thing to do now is
stay home.
I will now specifically
focus on the current socioeconomic situation. Here, we also need
to take additional steps, primarily to ensure the social protection
of our people, their incomes and jobs, as well as support
for small and medium-sized businesses, which employ millions
of people.
In this regard,
the following priority measures will be implemented.
First, all social protection
benefits that our citizens are entitled to, should be renewed automatically
over the next six months, with no additional certificates or visits
to the authorities needed. For example, if a family is
entitled to subsidised housing and utility payments, they will not
need to regularly confirm their per capita income to continue
receiving this state support.
Please note that all
payments to war veterans and home-front workers timed
to the 75th anniversary of the Great
Victory, 75,000 and 50,000 rubles, respectively, should be made before
the May holidays, earlier than usual, in April.
Second, it is essential
to support families with children. In the next three months,
starting in April, I propose paying all families that are eligible
to maternity capital, an additional 5,000 rubles a month
for each child up to three years of age.
This support is especially
important for families with children who are not attending day-care
nurseries or kindergartens, and for parents who are on sick
leave or on maternity leave.
Regarding our new support
package, I mean benefits for children aged 3 to 7, I now
instruct the Government to expedite all organisational arrangements
so that eligible families can start receiving these payments not in July,
as planned, but a month earlier, in June. I also ask
the governors to expedite the transfer
of the necessary information from the regional civil registry
offices to the tax service. Colleagues, it is fundamentally important
to start making these payments. Pay attention to this.
Third, we need
to support those on sick leave and people who have lost their
jobs. Today, all sick leave payments are calculated based on employees’
period of work and salary. As a result, employees,
primarily young people, can receive very low sick leave payments. This is,
of course, not fair. I suggest the following provision: Sick
leave payments should be calculated based on the amount
of at least one minimum wage a month. This provision will be in force
until the end of the year, and from there we will decide
how to proceed depending on the situation.
Just like other countries’
economies, the Russian economy is experiencing substantial headwinds due
to the effects of the epidemic. And, as I have already
said, we need to support those who may lose their jobs.
Today, with
the exception of some categories of individuals, maximum monthly
unemployment benefit is 8,000 rubles. I suggest increasing it
to the minimum wage amount or 12,130 rubles per month.
Fourth, loans taken out
by individuals present another risk. Naturally, it is difficult if not
downright impossible to completely repay debts when incomes are plunging.
I suggest declaring
consumer loan and mortgage holidays. If a person faces
a difficult situation, meaning their monthly income declined
significantly, by over 30 percent, then they should have the right
to temporarily stop debt servicing and reschedule it. It goes without
saying that any penalties are out of the question.
I am asking the Bank
of Russia to set up a similar loan rescheduling mechanism
for self-employed people, too.
If people are unable
to repay their debt for objective reasons, they should not be left
without options and they should not fall hostage to creditors’
claims. We need a bankruptcy process that is fair and not burdensome.
I am asking the Government and the parliament
to expedite approval of the necessary regulatory changes.
Fifth. Small
and medium-sized businesses and micro businesses, especially
in the services sector, are now facing objective difficulties due
to declining orders and revenue.
These businesses need help
to stay open, which means retaining their employees. I would like
to address all employers right now: once again, our most crucial task is
to ensure stability in the labour market
and to prevent a surge in unemployment.
Government assistance will
be provided to businesses to deal with this problem.
I propose
the following measures to support the enterprises
and industries most affected by the current difficult situation.
I believe it is
necessary to defer all taxes on small and medium-sized
businesses, except for VAT, for the next six months.
In addition, micro businesses should also be granted a deferral
on their contributions to social insurance funds.
Bank loans held
by struggling SMEs and micro businesses must also be deferred
for the next six months.
Generally speaking,
I am asking the Government and the Central Bank
to propose and take additional action to ensure stable lending
to the real economy, including through state guarantees
and subsidies.
Next. Companies experiencing
hardship must be protected from bankruptcy. In this connection, I am
proposing a six-month moratorium on bankruptcy claims
by creditors against companies and on the recovery
of debts and penalties.
Once again, these measures
will apply to companies operating in the sectors most affected
by the current difficult situation. At the same time,
I am instructing the Government to constantly monitor developments
and, if necessary, expand and review the list
of the industries requiring support.
Sixth. Right now, we must do
everything we can to support the incomes of our citizens –
especially those employed by small and medium-sized businesses.
In order for these
businesses to get additional resources to support their employees,
I am proposing to cut their insurance contributions in half,
from 30 to 15 percent. This reduced rate will apply to any salary
above minimum wage. For those making minimum wage or less
for some reason, the rate will remain 30 percent.
I would like
to stress that the reduced rate is being introduced not just
for several months, not only as an anti-crisis measure, but
for the long run. This way we are creating a long-term incentive
for employers to increase wages.
Finally, there are two more
measures I would like to suggest. Allow me to elaborate.
First, all interest
and dividend income that flows from Russia and is transferred abroad
into offshore jurisdictions must be taxed properly.
Today, two thirds
of these funds, and basically we are talking here about incomes
of specific individuals, are taxed at the rate of only 2
percent, thanks to so-called optimization strategies of all kinds.
At the same time, people with modest salaries pay an income tax
of 13 percent. This is unfair, to say the least.
For this reason,
I suggest that those expatriating their income as dividends
to foreign accounts should pay a 15 percent tax on these
dividends. Of course, we will need to amend Russia’s double taxation
treaties with some countries. I ask the Government to work this
out. If our foreign partners do not accept our proposal, Russia will
unilaterally withdraw from these treaties. We will begin with countries that
attract substantial resources from Russia, which is a very sensitive issue
for our country.
Second, many countries levy
income tax on interest earned by individuals from their bank deposits
and investments in securities, while Russia does not tax this income
at all.
I propose that people
with over 1 million rubles in bank deposits and debt securities pay
a 13 percent tax on this income. I would like to reiterate
that this is not about taxing the deposits themselves but only applying
income tax to the interest individuals earn from these investments.
I would like
to emphasise that only about one percent of deposit holders will be
affected by this initiative. At the same time, Russian banks
will still offer attractive deposits with some of the highest returns
in the world.
The solutions I am
proposing are far from simple. Still, I would like to ask you
to treat them with understanding. Let me add that I propose using
the budget revenue from these two measures to fund initiatives
to support families with children and help people who are unemployed
or on sick leave.
People of Russia,
All the measures that
are about to be adopted or will be taken in the future will
work and will produce results only if we are in it together
and recognise the complexity of the current situation. We
need the state, society and the people to work together,
and we all have to do everything each and every one of us
can do.
We have to be mindful
that we bear personal responsibility for our close ones, for those
who live near us, and who need our help and support.
By and large, it is this sense of solidarity that underpins
the resilience of our society, as well
as an unwavering commitment to mutual assistance
and the effectiveness of the response we come up with
to overcome the challenge we are facing.
Thank you for your
attention.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Ukraine (Interview to TASS News Agency)
The second
part of Vladimir Putin's interview to TASS News Agency has been
published.
The 20 Questions with Vladimir Putin project
is an interview with the President of Russia
on the most topical subjects of social and political life
in Russia and the world. Total recording time is 3.5 hours.
February
21, 2020
15:00
Ukraine
(Interview to TASS News Agency)
Andrei
Vandenko: The next subject is Ukraine.
Have
you seen the ”Servant of the People“ series?
Vladimir
Putin: No.
Andrei
Vandenko: Even the segment when president Goloborodko is choosing
a wristwatch like Putin's?
Vladimir
Putin: I haven't seen it. I don't know either Goloborodko
or who is choosing what there. I haven't seen it.
Andrei
Vandenko: Ok. Though a very interesting pair forms: a galley
slave and a servant of the people.
Vladimir
Putin: As you know, whatever goes around comes around. Ultimately,
it’s not how you call yourself, it’s what you do and how you do it.
Andrei
Vandenko: Is there a chance that you come to terms with
Zelensky?
Vladimir Putin: What about?
Andrei
Vandenko: About peace, about friendship.
Vladimir Putin: Hope is the last thing to die. Yes, there is
a chance. But unfortunately, after his return from Paris he started talking
about the necessity to revise the Minsk Agreements. This begs
the question.
Nevertheless,
we managed to agree on the exchange of detained persons
and we now managed to agree on gas.
Andrei
Vandenko: Does the fact that today we are not friends with Ukraine
represent a loss for us?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, of course, but as I have repeatedly said
I believe that we are one and the same people.
Andrei
Vandenko: The Ukrainians don't like it very much either.
Vladimir Putin: I don't know whether they like this or not but if you
look at the reality that is true. You see, we had no difference
in our languages until the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.
And only
as a result of Polonization, the part
of the Ukrainians who lived in the territory under
the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, only around the 16th century
the first language differences appeared. In general,
the Ukrainians [with an accent on the first a] were
called the people who lived …
Andrei
Vandenko: Ukrainians [with an accent on the first i].
Vladimir Putin: Ukrainians [with an accent on the first a] were
the people who lived on the frontiers of the Russian
state. There were Ukrainians in Pskov; Ukrainians were the people who
defended the southern frontiers from attacks by the Crimean
khan. Ukrainians were in the Urals. Ukrainians were everywhere. We
had no language differences.
Moreover,
around the same time, before the 14th and 15th centuries,
even those people, the east Slavs, who lived in the territory
of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – both in Muscovy
and in Poland – were called Russians. The first language
differences appeared much later…
Andrei
Vandenko: History is history, but now we are talking about the present
day.
Vladimir Putin:To talk about today or tomorrow we need to know
history, need to know who we are, where do we come from, what unites us.
What
unites us is…
Andrei
Vandenko: Now many things divide us.
Vladimir Putin:Many things divide us. But we should not forget about things that
unite us. And should not destroy what we have. For example,
the Church. Why did one need to destroy the unity
of the Russian Orthodox Church?
You
know that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow
Patriarchate is in fact fully autonomous; it has been fully autonomous
before, including in terms of the election of hierarchs
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow
Patriarchate. The Moscow Patriarchate has never had any influence
on the election of hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In fact,
it has always been independent, completely. There has been only spiritual unity
and mentioning. The Patriarch of Moscow has been mentioned,
recalled all the time in churches. That's it! It has been
the only thing uniting the Russian Orthodox Church
and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow
Patriarchate. But they needed to cut the cords that bind. Why?
You
say people do not understand. They simply do not know it. If they know, they
will understand better. They should be told that. Why should one be
embarrassed? Is it insulting for people?
Some
time passed. As a result of people sharing the border with
the Catholic world, with Europe, a community of people feeling
to some extent independent from the Russian State began
to emerge. How should we feel about that? I have already said: we
should respect that. But we should not forget about our shared community.
Moreover,
in the modern world our joint efforts give us huge competitive
advantages. And, vice versa, division
makes us weaker.
The Ukrainian
factor was specifically played out on the eve of World War
I by the Austrian special service. Why? It is well-known –
to divide and rule. Absolutely clear.
Nevertheless,
if it happened this way, and a big part of the Ukrainian population
got a sense of their own national identity and so on, we should
respect that. We should proceed from the reality but not forget who we are
and where we come from.
By the way,
the fathers of the Ukrainian nationalism, they never spoke about
the urgent need to break up with Russia. Strange as it may seem,
but their major works of the 19th century say that
Ukraine is: a) multinational and should be a federal state,
and b) should build good relations with Russia.
Today’s
nationalists seem to have forgotten that. I will tell you why they
have forgotten that. You know why? Because the interests
of the Ukrainian people are not the main issue on their
agenda.
How
can it be the interest of the Ukrainian people if
the break-up with Russia has led to loss of space engineering,
shipbuilding, aircraft engineering and engine manufacturing; it is
virtually the deindustrialization of the country that is
happening. How can it be among interests?
The World
Bank demands to stop cross-subsidizing. What's good in it? Or, they
make them export round wood from the Carpathians. Soon
the Carpathians will turn bald.
Why
do this if, by joining efforts, we increase our competitive advantages
manifold? Why lose it? Why throw everything away, what for?
Because
the Ukrainian leaders or those who got power pursued their
self-interests. And what were they? It was not even to earn more
by robbing the Ukrainian people but to retain what has been
plundered before. This was the main objective.
So,
where is the ‘dough’? Pardon my French. Where is the money?
In foreign banks. What do they need to do for this? Show that
they serve those who have this money.
Hence,
the only thing they sell is Russophobia. Because some like dividing
Ukraine and Russia, they believe it's a very important mission.
Because any integration of Russia and Ukraine, along with their
capacities and competitive advantages, would lead
to the emergence of a rival, a global rival
for Europe and the world. No one wants it. That's why they'll do
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On the tasks of the new Government (Interview to TASS News Agency)
The first part
of Vladimir Putin's interview to TASS News Agency has been published.
The 20 Questions with
Vladimir Putin project is an interview with the President
of Russia on the most topical subjects of social
and political life in Russia and the world. Total recording
time is 3.5 hours.
February 20, 2020
17:00
On the tasks
of the new Government (Interview to TASS News Agency)
Andrei Vandenko: How
are you doing?
Vladimir Putin: Honestly?
Andrei Vandenko: Honestly.
Vladimir Putin: I am
doing very well.
Andrei Vandenko: I am
happy for you.
I will ask questions,
and you will hopefully answer.
Vladimir Putin: I will
try. Depends on the questions.
Andrei Vandenko: We are
facing a non-trivial task today. There are actually 20 topics. There are
20 because you have been in office, at the helm for 20
years. Now, the year is 2020 and that is quite symbolic.
Vladimir Putin: Let us
not forget that I was Prime Minister for four years, not President.
Andrei Vandenko: The resignation
of the Government. There are a lot of jokes
and witticisms on this subject on the Internet.
The first was probably as follows: because of the unusually
warm weather in Russia, its Government has melted away like the snow.
Vladimir Putin: That is
funny.
Andrei Vandenko: Here
is what it looks like. (Showing a photo collage)
Vladimir Putin: Ok, but
why exactly did it melt away in parliament, I do not understand.
Andrei Vandenko: Well,
I suppose they just found this picture.
Vladimir Putin: You
know, the Internet is an interesting tool, but at times
inaccurate.
Andrei Vandenko: True.
And now, all kidding aside, in fact, Medvedev’s government, his
cabinet, underwent a reshuffle not that long ago, just in 2018, after
the election. Some left – Dvorkovich, Shuvalov, Men’, Abyzov, though
let us not even go there in the latter's case; so they started
to work. What happened over this year and a half
to provoke…
Vladimir Putin: First,
more might have happened in a year and a half, or two
years. Secondly, the previous cabinet has really done a lot
in terms of preparing the main phase
of the implementation of national projects. They had
to identify national development goals. And this only seems easy
at first glance. In fact, it is an enormous effort.
Then, tools needed
to be developed on which to rely in order to achieve
these national goals. The Government did that as well. But then,
I felt some inner certainty that this is when new people should come
in to pursue work in new areas of crucial importance;
people with modern training and commitment to achieving
the overarching goal on key development elements.
I would like
to draw your attention to the fact that the core has
remained. Some people from the Executive Office, including those directly
involved in the work on national projects, have moved
to the Government. This is of paramount importance,
I believe. I will tell you why. If they were behind
the development of these national projects and the goals we
are expected to achieve in terms of national development, it
stands to logic that they should be tasked with putting into practice
exactly what they have suggested as these goals and tools
to achieve them. Therefore, some people from the Executive Office
have come to the Government to do it because that is where it is
done.
Andrei Vandenko: And some
from the Government have moved on to the Executive Office…
Vladimir Putin: Yes,
yes, let them work here.
Andrei Vandenko: So
changing the order of the addends does change the sum?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, it
does, for sure. That is why there is nothing unusual or unexpected
here. You can of course ask me, I did say there would be no change,
no plans for that. Yes, I did. If I had said that I was
going to change the Government tomorrow, all work would have just
stopped the day after tomorrow. As the saying goes, call it
a day and hit the hay.
Andrei Vandenko: That
is why we call it a “special operation”.
Vladimir Putin: It is
not.
Andrei Vandenko: No one
knew. Did anyone know?
Vladimir Putin: I did.
Andrei Vandenko: Anybody
else?
Vladimir Putin: Is that
not enough?
Andrei Vandenko: When
did you make the decision?
Vladimir Putin: I will
not say.
Andrei Vandenko: When
did you tell Medvedev?
Vladimir Putin: That is
between the two of us.
Andrei Vandenko: But we
should know, shouldn’t we?
Vladimir Putin: We have
enjoyed very frank, collegial, friendly relations with Mr Medvedev
for many years. We have no secrets from one another. Therefore, we
discussed this issue with him.
Andrei Vandenko: You
mean earlier? Or did you just confront him with the fact?
Vladimir Putin:We
discussed it earlier and he knew what was going on.
Andrei Vandenko: He has
been given a position invented for him specifically, which never
existed. You even had to hastily adopt a law to provide
for this post.
Vladimir Putin: Why
hastily? The law was adopted.
Andrei Vandenko: The appointment
came first, and the law followed…
Vladimir Putin: There
is nothing out of the ordinary here. If there is something
in the legislation that needs adjustment, the President
in accordance with the Fundamental Law has the right
to fill in this gap in the legislation by issuing
an executive order, which will be followed by the adoption
of a relevant law. This is normal practice. Nothing unusual.
Andrei Vandenko: There
is a certain feeling of hastiness. As if you needed some
solution…
Vladimir Putin: Your
feeling is not exactly the same as reality. You may have all sorts
of feelings. You may feel that you are running a high temperature
judging by your senses, but this might not be the case. You need
a thermometer to know whether you have a fever or not. So,
we have nothing out of the ordinary here. I will say it again.
The legal practice is as follows: if there is a gap
in the legislation, a President issues an executive order,
and the provision is later implemented through a law. Just wait
a second. This is number one.
Number two is
the question: why should we wait to decide on such issues? What
will that achieve? According to those who do not have a clear
understanding of what is going on or are critical about it,
would it be better to spend another six months after the resignation
of the Government in order to form a new one? Can you
imagine what a mess the country would be in? There should never be
a gap in power. Never.
Everything should be
discussed and thought through in advance, in a calm
and business-like manner, each step should be prepared, and then
the decision should be taken and implemented. We cannot afford
to muddle along here. Russia is not Belgium that can stay a whole
year without any government.
Andrei Vandenko: The new
Government is yet another topic. And I would like to get back
to the old one. Zhirinovskiy suggested that the Security Council
deputy Chairman be referred to as vice-president. Is it so,
at face value?
Vladimir Putin: No.
Because a vice-president is the one to step
in for the President assuming all his or her rights
and responsibilities. We have introduced the post of deputy
Chairman of the Security Council. The President is Chairman
of the Security Council. And now I have a deputy
on this particular track.
Andrei Vandenko: Another
joke on the Internet: the duo has fallen out of sync.
Vladimir Putin: Nothing
is out of sync.
Andrei Vandenko: The tandem…
Vladimir Putin: We are
working with Mr Medvedev as we used to. He has switched to another
track in his career. That is true. And natural, too.
Andrei Vandenko: As for the choice
you made of the new Prime Minister. Who was on the short
list? They mentioned Mishustin, Sobyanin… You had two executive orders
for signing on the table, and you were hesitating till
the last moment.
Vladimir Putin: No one
mentioned Mishustin except me. I can tell you that there were three
candidates.
Andrei Vandenko: Three?
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
Three, or maybe even four candidates were submitted. But Mishustin was not
on the list.
Andrei Vandenko: So
this was your…
Vladimir Putin: Mine.
Andrei Vandenko: What
was your reasoning?
Vladimir Putin: I took
into account Mr Mishustin’s personal traits and professional skills.
Andrei Vandenko: And the result
of the digitalization he carried out at the institution he
headed, did you take it into account?
Vladimir Putin: I did.
Not so much the fact that he carried it out, but the fact that he
really became an expert in this area. A man of practice,
who understands very well what needs to be done and who knows how
to do it; and he is doing it and achieving concrete results.
Andrei Vandenko: But
what about the fact that he is a tax collector by trade,
in other words, he is accustomed to taking, while this position is
more about giving?
Vladimir Putin: This is
a very primitive understanding of the work of the tax
service.
Yes, of course, it is
one of the main bodies bringing funds to the state
treasury; however, to think that a tax collector walks around with
a club, squeezing money out of people is very primitive. No, it is
quite the opposite. His mission was to ease the situation
for taxpayers, to make the procedure more transparent
and clear and less burdensome for citizens.
An honest man who knows
he properly pays all due taxes has the right to expect that
the state will use the money wisely.
But the first thing
to do is not to simply extract money from people – it is
to organize the system in such a way that both
the state and the tax payers could comfortably work with each
other and it would be clear how things are arranged, and everybody
could pay taxes without impediment, without unnecessary hassle and stress,
and without running the risk of doing something that
the state may interpret as illegal.
Andrei Vandenko: When
this team was formed, some noticed, first of all, that you had broken,
or at least it was perceived that way, certain rules that you had
used to stick to, such as ”not to turn your back on your
old mates“, to avoid dismissals of those criticized and not
to pay heed to critics on the Internet, to public
opinion. This time, the most toxic figures, who had been most fiercely
criticized in the media or social networks, walked away
to be replaced by ‘no-names’ – that is, people you had
to ‘google’ or ‘yandex’.
Vladimir Putin: You
know, the criterion was not lack of knowledge about those people, it
was their professional qualifications. I know, and Mikhail Mishustin
knows these people as competent professionals. And I was
to a considerable extent guided specifically by his opinion
in this regard. There were a number of candidates whom
I had doubts about, but Mr Mishustin would prove to me that this
or that person was best fit for the job. I agreed with him
because, at the end of the day, he was forming his own team
and the final concrete result it achieves will depend
on the efficiency of its work.
Andrei Vandenko: What
window of time do they have? I mean, when will you evaluate their
professional efficiency?
Vladimir Putin:There
is no window of time. All of these people are, I will say it
again, competent, they all are well informed and know their job. Many
of them worked, one way or another, on the national
projects and national development targets, so they are totally
in the know. Thus, there can be no window, no time for warming
up.
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