One of the main issues discussed at the meeting was preparations for the winter season. The Regional Development Minister said the regions have established special working groups and approved relevant financial allocations.
Mr Putin and Mr Basargin also discussed the provision of housing to World War II veterans. The minister said much is being done to implement that project and that it is progressing ahead of schedule in 60 regions. He said that 90% of the veterans registered for that benefit would receive housing in 2010.

Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Mr Basargin, this is the right time to start winter preparations. What have you done?

Viktor Basargin: We promised to hold a video conference on the start of winter preparations in July. We held it the other day and the first positive results were reported. Some regions have implemented 20% of their plans. They have set up working groups and approved financial allocations. They were instructed, first, to allocate for this purpose at least as much as last year, and second, to ensure technical maintenance of the grid system to prevent its growing disrepair. This task is being implemented, and work on these programmes in the regions is progressing ahead of schedule. Sixty regions have more comprehensive and more challenging plans than last year; they have sufficient funds for this.

In addition, we have decided that energy and resource saving will be the main source of additional funds for the housing and utilities sector, whose debts amount to as much as 700 billion roubles. I am referring to its debts to energy suppliers. Therefore, the regions should overhaul their operation.

We spotlighted last year's problems, notably closed military housing areas such as The Steppe. It is being shut down, but its problems will persist also this year. We are monitoring it now.

In addition, we are working to ensure sufficient fuel supplies jointly with the Federal Agency for State Reserves. We will save about 1.5 billion roubles. In general, the programmes are positive.

Vladimir Putin: That is good. What about my second question regarding housing for World War II veterans? We have finished the first part of the project, providing housing to those veterans who registered by March 2005. But we have promised people to provide housing to all of the veterans, including those who had not joined the waiting list by March 2005. As we have said, we will allocate considerable funds for that project, more than 80 billion roubles. But we first needed to prepare for the project to complete it as soon as possible. What are you doing to implement it?

Viktor Basargin: Mr Putin, we have been working with the regions on that project. According to available information, 119,229 war veterans were registered for housing by July 1. In the short period since May 9 this year, we have provided housing to 28,800 World War II veterans. This is more than we did before May 9. We are working very hard.

There are two problems we are monitoring. One of them is a cash gap. We have issued the second tranche of 34.5 billion roubles, which has been spent, and are waiting for the final changes to the federal budget. The Federation Council has approved them, and we will distribute the remaining more than 80 billion roubles and close the cash gap soon. So far, we have issued a letter with instructions that they use their [own] resources to prevent non-targeted...

Vladimir Putin: In the regions?

Viktor Basargin: Yes, in the regions. We had to do this. We are grateful that they accept our reasoning and that the work [on the project] has not stopped. Sixty regions are working over and above their business plans. Some regions are lagging behind their plans, but we are working with them. They have a good backlog, and we will close the gap soon. Thanks to our efforts to date, 90% of those [veterans] who have registered [for housing] will receive flats this year.

Vladimir Putin: Ninety percent?

Viktor Basargin: Yes, 90%. This is a lot.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, it is.

Viktor Basargin: This is why we think we are working to schedule.

Vladimir Putin: Good.