“What is important to me is not being in power, but having an opportunity to resolve the problems facing the country.”

The discussion focussed on the draft fishery law – modified under the prime minister’s instructions – which abolishes the fishing card and levy of fees for recreational anglers. Andrei Krainy said the draft would be submitted to the government by the end of the week.

“We have been making progress, constantly strengthening interstate ties,” the Russian prime minister said during the meeting. He also thanked Ms Halonen for years of cooperation and her contribution to the development of Russian-Finnish relations.

“From now on inspections will be held at service stations that will be certified not by regional officials or by federal agencies or even by the State Road Traffic Safety Inspectorate, but rather by the Russian Union of Auto Insurers. This is an issue of fundamental importance.”

Orlov reported that 2011 was generally a “decent” year for his republic because they focused on the real sector of the economy. The meeting participants emphasised major projects in agriculture and the modernisation of healthcare and education. The prime minister also commented on the republic’s programme of support for families with many children.

Vladimir Putin and Natalia Komarova discussed the results of the area’s 2011 performance. They prioritised social issues, primarily the situation with the salaries of teachers and medical personnel. Moreover, the regional leader briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in the housing construction sector, including the relocation of tenants from rundown and dilapidated buildings.

The meeting focused on socio-economic development in the republic over the past year, which the prime minister assessed as adequate, especially in industry, agriculture and construction, with results exceeding the national average. The prime minister also drew Mr Khamitov’s attention to the low growth of wages in education and instructed him to address the issue.

“Your career is a special one. And regardless of how the process of delivering content to clients changes, your work proceeds from a civic stance and is based on the talent of the people implementing this project, a project of tremendous importance for any country and for any society.”