“The government’s position remains unchanged: responsible budgetary policy and what is called living within our means. Therefore we expect that by the end of the three-year period, by 2014, we will have cut the federal budget deficit by half, to about 0.7% of GDP”.

“The idea of the Russian Popular Front is to give a fresh impetus to Russia’s political and economic life, to ensure that new ideas burgeon at the regional, municipal and federal level and unconventional solutions are found to problems facing cities, regions and Russia as a whole.”

The meeting focused on social issues, such as wage increases in education, the situation on the labour market and the provision of healthcare services, in particular in rural areas. The prime minister instructed the governor to ensure that the region’s social agencies take good care of senior citizens in need of assistance.