During the meeting, the prime minister issued a number of instructions on eliminating shortcomings that he noticed in the work of municipal utilities and power-supply services this past winter, and other instructions regarding preparations for the next heating season.

“I consider the subsequent development of the agreement and ratification procedures regarding the CIS Free Trade Zone Agreement to be a highly important condition of our integration. In the long run, this will benefit all of us. Therefore, we would like the treaty to involve as many participants as possible, and we would like other countries to join this treaty.”

Russian-Belarusian relations are currently going through very good times, in Dmitry Medvedev’s view, because “apart from political understanding on all issues, quite impressive achievements have been recorded in the economy.”

According to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries has grown by one third over the past few years. “This is due both to the overall growth in trade turnover and to the ongoing integration between the three members of the Customs Union,” he added.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that from now on, such conferences will be held on Mondays so that “we can discuss any current issues in a timely manner as well as to prepare for government meetings and Government Presidium meetings.”

The prime minister announced that he has issued a directive approving a programme of events celebrating the centenary of the union of Russia and Tyva and Kyzyl’s founding.