Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attended a lying-in-state ceremony for Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Vneshtorgbank Chairman Andrei Kostin
The two officials discussed the VTB Group’s performance, in particular lending to the defence industry, the auto industry, the airline industry, housing construction, the ferrous and nonferrous metals sector, retail trade, agricultural engineering and power generation.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Oleg Vyugin, board chairman of MDM Bank
The discussion centred on the merger between MDM Bank and URSA Bank, MDM Bank’s operation in the real economy sector, and Government decisions on mortgages, notably the decision to guarantee mortgages through the Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
"Our (Russia and Argentina) economic relations are making steady headway. In the last four years, our trade has increased five times over to reach $1.5 billion. We are developing traditional directions of cooperation, and creating new opportunities."
Mr Zubkov said in the wake of the meeting that the price and amount of Turkmen natural gas supplies for 2009 would be determined along the way, adding that Russia and Turkmenistan had a long-term agreement stipulating amounts and the price formula.
Events for 8 december 2008
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Belgorod Region Governor Yevgeny Savchenko
The two officials discussed current developments in the region, particularly in local farming, construction and mining.
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov chaired a meeting of the Commission on Export Control
Mr Ivanov said, in part, that Russia “needs a comprehensive system of support for industrial exports, primarily in such competitive areas as space, nuclear power generation, aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding.”
Events for 5 december 2008
"The death of Patriarch Alexy II is an extremely sad and tragic occurrence"
"The death of Patriarch Alexy II is an extremely sad and tragic occurrence. Alexy II was a beloved and revered Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. He was a lucid personality. This is a great loss. Not only was he the greatest person in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, but he was also an outstanding statesman. He made a substantial contribution to cooperation between various religious confessions. It won't be an exaggeration to say that he maintained good and friendly relations with the representatives of all traditional Russian confessions. He accomplished a lot for the sake of asserting a new Russian statehood."
