Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with members of Russian Antarctic Expedition
Participants in the meeting discussed the results of the 20-year research programme. During that time, Russian scientists managed to drill vertically through the entire Antarctic glacier for the first time in history and to penetrate sub-glacial Lake Vostok.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with VTB Bank President Andrei Kostin
Mr Putin and Mr Kostin discussed a project that had previously been advanced by the prime minister, stipulating the buyback of VTB Bank shares from minority shareholders. The prime minister believes that the bank will become even more attractive after this move, “keeping in mind that you are meeting people halfway, and that you are not abandoning your minority shareholders in a difficult situation.”
Mr Putin and Mr Khristenko discussed key areas of activity of the recently established Eurasian Economic Commission which, according to Viktor Khristenko, “has been fully operational since day one.” The prime minister inquired as to whether there were any difficulties in its work and whether the commission needed any assistance from the Russian government.
Events for 19 april 2012
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller
The focus of the meeting was on the completion of the underwater section of the second Nord Stream pipeline, which, according to the head of Gazprom, meets the strictest environmental standards. In turn, Vladimir Putin said that, despite the declining role of transit countries that transport Russian gas, cooperation with them should continue on a mutually advantageous basis.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a Government Presidium meeting
“We must create the most favourable conditions we can for families with children. Everything is important here, from government support, to the solution of housing problems, to the development of preschool education and labour market benefits.”
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds working meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin
The Moscow Mayor told Mr Putin that Moscow’s economy was showing signs of recovery. Investment has increased by 40%; unemployment is down significantly, and the demographic situation is improving. On the other hand, the cost of housing in Moscow remains too high. The Mayor placed special emphasis on the upgrading of the city’s transport infrastructure and on issues related to the healthcare system.
