Those participating in the meeting considered questions related to carrying out the obligations in the federal and regional budgets on financing measures that are part of the State Programme for the Development of Agriculture and the regulation of the markets for agricultural produce, resources and production for the period 2008-2012.
More than 15 agreements have been drafted for the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said in Ankara, following the meeting of the mixed Russian-Turkish inter-governmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. Mr Sechin is on a working trip to Turkey.
At the meeting, Mr Putin and Mr Novikov discussed a Government resolution on state regulation and control of tariffs, charges, fees and natural monopoly services on rail transport.
“Today we are drafting the budget in the complicated conditions of a global economic crisis. Of course, we must take this into account. Since there are many elements of uncertainty, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to plan a three-year budget in detail. But it would be unwise to abandon the system of medium-term budget planning.”
“In 2010, we intend to improve, albeit modestly, the main macroeconomic indicators, achieve a positive growth of the GDP, industrial production, and agriculture, as well as stabilise real incomes of the population. In a word, we are planning to switch to post-crisis development.”
At the meeting, Mr Putin and Mr Merkushkin discussed a number of issues, including the housing situation, unemployment, and crop harvesting.
“Gaz de France is our long-term, reliable and stable partner, one of the biggest European energy companies. We know about the level of your competence in gas liquefaction, and are interested in cooperating with you in this and in other directions – transportation, electric power, and renewable energy sources.”
“In a few days’ time, it will be one year since the death of Alexander Solzhenitsyn. On his approaching anniversary, I would like to return to something we discussed with Alexander Solzhenitsyn some time ago. I would like to talk about publicising and studying his literary legacy.”