After the discussion, the Commission supported a proposal on extending the duty-free importation of facing material for tropical-tree furniture on a permanent basis.

“We have decided to increase financial support for citizens who have temporarily lost their jobs and who want to start their own business. This support will be almost doubled – from 30,000 roubles to 59,000 roubles. This is the annual sum of the biggest unemployment benefit.”

"We will look at a range of issues pertaining to the development and optimisation of the country's nuclear sector, including nuclear weapons. We'll discuss measures to ensure the sector's stability during the global financial and economic crisis."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Nikolai Dukhov Research Institute of Automation.

“Prime Ministers of the CIS countries are due to meet this week. I would like to talk to you today about the basic fields of partnership in the Commonwealth, and discuss matters of our common concern—mainly social and economic partnership.”

They discussed employment and farm work in the region, and the construction of perinatal and cardiology centres.

"Today, it is important to adapt our cooperation to the current financial and economic crisis. Apparently, we have definite and considerable competitive advantages."

“We are planning to combine analogue and digital television at first, so as to make the switch as easy as possible for the population.” He said the stages of the switch have already been worked out, and that it would start in the country’s Far Eastern regions.

"What matters most is that our relations are developing well. This applies to all aspects of our cooperation. The most objective indicator is the growth of trade, which set a record last year."