"Our task is to form the prerequisites for moving on to a qualitatively new phase in housing development. I have said that only 18% of our citizens can afford to pay for their housing themselves. We must bring that figure to at least 60%, so that 60% of our citizens could solve their housing problems, given certain government instruments, independently."
The proposal of some amendments to the Charter of the United Russia party was discussed during the talks.
Events for 16 july 2008
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met the leaders of the Federation Council
"We propose to make a list of priorities and use it to extend larger subsidies to regional budgets. The regions will have more freedom to choose how to use that funding so that Moscow officials do not tell the Governors the heads of regions how they should spend the money."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano
"Italy is a country of the European Union, a NATO country with which we have the closest and most trusting relations. We have always counted - and we were not mistaken - on your country's support for our dialogue with Europe and the North Atlantic Alliance. However, our bilateral relations are also developing successfully: trade is growing and our relations are becoming increasingly diversified."
