"Our meeting today is a continuation in a series of consultations with the State Duma parties on our current interaction in the framework of the budgetary process and the initiatives in the economic and social spheres put forward by the Government and, of course, by the State Duma deputies."

"Many lives were saved thanks to your professional training and the competent performance of the rescue teams and doctors. We have every reason to be proud of you."

Among the main topics addressed by Vladimir Putin at today’s meeting of the Government was the forthcoming centenary of the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, the Olympic construction programme, the development of the transport system and the situation with the unbalanced spending of budgetary money.