During his visit, the deputy prime minister saw the international terminal at Grozny Airport and inquired about its personnel, capacity and equipment.

Mr Khloponin then went to the village of Tsentoroi to lay flowers at the grave of Ahmad Kadyrov, the first Chechen president. "Ahmad Kadyrov was an iconic figure for all of Russia, a man who did much for his country," the deputy prime minister said.

During a meeting with students and faculty from the Kunta Hajji Russian Islamic University, Mr Khloponin said that young families would receive assistance in acquiring housing through the North Caucasian Federal District development programme. Such families would be offered preferential loans at 5% annual interest for a fifty-year term, monthly installments for which would be a token 700 roubles [less than $25]. "I think local young families will be able to afford this. The system has been tested in many countries in Europe and the Americas," he said.

When asked about the future of the Young Family programme, Mr Khloponin answered that Chechnya exceeded any other part of Russia in housing construction. "We share a goal with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov: we want Chechnya to grow faster, for there to be more housing developments, more industrial facilities. I want the Caucasus to be Russia's gem," he said.

Also the meeting, Mr Khloponin also discussed the planned establishment of a federal television channel for the coverage of the regional social and economic situation.

"The Caucasus is a land with a rich culture. We will set up a federal instead of a regional channel to provide information about culture, religion and traditions in the region, and the social and economic situation in the North Caucasus," he said.