Mr Putin and Mr Miller discussed the protocol for monitoring the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.

At the meeting Prime Minister Putin and Governor Gayevsky discussed the socio-economic situation in the Stavropol Territory, in particular, in agriculture.

"The Government points out other opportunities to the public. Persons entitled to grants and soft taxation are welcome to use their benefits, while employers should retain corporate social programmes whenever possible and so not merely help their employees in these lean years but also to invest in the future by creating a basis for post-crisis development."

"We have followed your instructions to make not only long-term forecasts up to 2025, of which I have told before, but also short-term recommendations on R&D priorities for the next two to three years taking into account all related factors and influences. First, Russia should not squander its past educational and scientific achievements. Second, we have highlighted current top priorities to focus efforts on crucial social problems and ensure economic progress within this short time."

"Everyone should be clear that there are two problems here. One concerns Russia's sales of gas to Ukraine, while the other concerns Russian gas transit to European users via Ukraine. European consumers should not be made hostage to Russian-Ukrainian economic relations."

"I am glad to say that today's discussion has led us to the coordination of practically all nuances of monitoring Russian natural gas exports to our European clients via Ukraine."

"We feared that bureaucratic difficulties would not allow European agencies to promptly interfere with this issue. However, your prompt reaction to the current developments, and your visits to Kiev and Moscow suggest that we will be able to reach the necessary agreement."