Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's introductory remarks:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,

I'd like to start off with today's events in the State Duma and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and thank the Russian parliament for ratifying the agreements signed by the Russian and Ukrainian presidents in Kharkov regarding our natural gas issues and the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea.

I think you will all agree that what has happened in Kiev today demonstrates at least one important point for us, or perhaps two. First, it shows that the new Ukrainian government is truly willing to build new relations with Russia.

Second, that the Ukrainian government is capable of consolidating society and the major political forces in the country. Even despite the vulgar acts of the opposition, Ukraine is on its way to political stability. This is an important sign. We hope that we'll be able to build long-term stable relations with our Ukrainian partners in other areas, including in the economy.

Incidentally, yesterday the Ukrainian prime minister asked me to resolve the issue of reciprocal trade restrictions as soon as possible. Ukraine has already adopted a resolution on chemical products, and today we'll adopt the long overdue resolution that Ukrainian pipe producers have been waiting for. And so, as requested by the Ukrainian government, this decision will allow 260,000 metric tons Ukrainian pipes to be sold on the Russian market.

This decision will benefit Gazprom and Transneft primarily.

And now let's discuss the issue that is the reason for our meeting: the development of the Customs Union's border infrastructure and our further efforts to improve Russian border infrastructure.

Right off the bat, I'd like to say that the establishment a common customs space across Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus is proceeding in strict compliance with the agreements we signed. In two months, starting on July 1, our common foreign trade regulations will come into force. We'll need to validate the Union's Customs Code, finish the transfer of border control facilities along Belarus' external border and simplify customs procedures along the border with Kazakhstan.

A year later, starting on July 1, 2011, border control functions will be transferred from the Russian-Kazakh border to the outer perimeter of the Customs Union. The upcoming changes should benefit ordinary people, creating favourable conditions and additional opportunities for law-abiding businesses.

Meanwhile, we need to guarantee the economic interests and safety of all members of the Customs Union and ensure that customs procedures work well and effectively along the external borders of our association. We need to work with our partners to speed up the process of drafting common customs regulations and standards to be enforced along the borders of the common economic space. We also need to build strong working relations between our three countries' customs and law enforcement agencies, including a mechanism for sharing last minute information and other data.

Let me remind you that we are now implementing National Borders Federal Targeted Programme. The programme began in 2003 and must be completed next year - it is in force until 2011. Work along the North Caucasian section of the border has been fully completed: seventy-two modern border checkpoints have been built there. In effect, infrastructure along this section of the border has essentially been rebuilt. Needless to say, this has helped us enhance security in the region and eliminate many channels for supporting terrorists.

Coast Guard systems have been reinforced, mostly in the Pacific, where the need to protect our economic and biological resources is most pressing. The Coast Guard received 46 ships and other vessels in 2009 alone.

In general, we are improving the system for protecting the national borders, while focusing on addressing real threats instead of creating obstacles for regular economic activity.

Therefore, we are actively introducing modern border control technology. In the last two years, we have deployed 42 mobile and 14 stationary well-equipped inspection systems that make it possible to cut inspection times considerably. In the future, these systems should be installed along all sections of the national border.

Moreover, we are working with our Belarusian partners to implement programmes to strengthen the external borders of the Union State. We are also working closely with our colleagues from Kazakhstan. Obviously, our further plans to improve border infrastructure must be based on future integration processes. Our plans must be based on accurate assessments of potential threats to our countries, such as illegal migration, cross-border crime and drugs and weapons smuggling.

We must make the most of our manpower and financial resources and concentrate them in those areas where they are most needed. In this context, I'd like to ask you to draft amendments to the National Borders Federal Targeted Programme as soon as possible, and also to adjust the framework for the new programme for 2012 through 2017.

Let's get down to business.