Prime Minister Putin's introductory remarks:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

When we meet with friends, we almost always talk about the weather. Not because there's nothing else to talk about, but because it concerns everyone. We need to know what the weather will be like not only to decide what to wear but because it might have a serious impact on our mood and sometimes even our health, life, and wellbeing.

Today we will discuss a number of issues related to forecasting natural phenomena, and we will also look at how well the federal agencies and the regions are prepared for the forthcoming season of spring floods. Naturally, we can't avoid revisiting the problems we faced during the wildfire season last year. Unfortunately, statistics show that the frequency of natural disasters is increasing. Sometimes I tend to think that it is because we have become better informed – because more information has become available to us, but that is not so. According to the statistics, the frequency of adverse weather conditions in Russia grows by 6–8% annually. This poses a great risk to people's lives and health, and may inflict considerable financial and economic damage.

I'd like to remind you that last year the federal government had to allocate 11 billion roubles to wildfire relief efforts and the construction of housing for those whose homes were destroyed by the fires. We set out to aid those who found themselves in need and lost their homes and property. And we did so.

In addition, we are allocating substantial funds – some 50 billion roubles in total – to the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, the Federal Agency for Forestry, and local authorities so that they can purchase special firefighting vehicles, equipment, and aircraft for ensuring fire safety. And we certainly need an effective system of pre-emptive measures against natural catastrophes and emergencies since an accurate and timely forecast can help minimise losses and protect people's lives and health.

The main responsibility lies with the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring and its branches. This service monitors the state of the environment and background radiation levels, as well as tracks and forecasts the weather.

In 2010, the federal government adopted a long-term strategy for hydrometeorology up to 2030 in order to create a modern and effective hydrometeorological service capable of providing accurate information to people, enterprises, utilities, transport services, aviation, rescue services, the Army, and the Navy.

Overall, we plan to allocate some 14 billion roubles to the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring between 2011 and 2013. First and foremost, we will need to revamp the entire network of hydrometeorological stations. In 2011, a total of 1,600 ground-based hydrometeorological stations will be modernised and another 300 stations will be built. Above all, they will be positioned in areas with a high risk of natural disasters.

We need to pay particular attention to the further development of the State Integrated Automated Radiation Monitoring System. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who work within this system for their professionalism during the nuclear crisis in Japan. I know that the environmental conditions in Russia’s Far East and other regions are being monitored daily. I would like to ask those responsible to report on the latest monitoring data. I believe that we need to keep monitoring its potential affects. As we all know, the situation in Japan is far from improving, so we need to make sure that the corresponding data for our regions is fully unbiased.

I would also like to add that we completed the integrated programme to modernise tsunami and earthquake early warning systems in Russia’s Far East in 2010. We managed to identify what needed to be done and execute it. Fifty new seismic and sea monitoring stations were commissioned. A tsunami monitoring centre was established in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. And this system proved efficient during the recent earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011. A tsunami warning was transmitted within ten minutes. Residents of the Kuril Islands and of the entire region were warned in advance and many evacuated the more dangerous areas.

As part of its renewal, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring will be purchasing large quantities of equipment. This should be truly state-of-the-art equipment that meets the highest standards. Russian industry is ready to manufacture equipment like this. Not far from here we took a look at an experimental model of weather surveillance radar designed by the Almaz Antey company. It is currently being tested in Valdai.

In the future, a network of weather radars like this across the entire country will become an integrated system spanning from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.

We discussed this today with the head of the enterprise. The area covered by the system will account for 90% of Russia’s population. Another pleasing fact is that our country is a leader in the field. The United States is using a system like this, Europe and China are still working on it, and now Russia will join the club. Particularly pleasing is that this system will be based on Russian-made equipment and produced solely by Russian companies. It meets the highest requirements of the industry, and I hope that it will prove efficient. Let’s wait and see the results of the tests.

Let me also say a few words about preparedness of our emergency services for spring floods and measures to prevent wildfires. I would like to request the heads of the Emergencies Ministry and regional administrations to provide a detailed account of the situation. I would like to point out that we need to ensure coordinated action between various agencies. We need to deploy the necessary machines in advance, organise the work to destroy ice jams, protect bridges and dams, and provide evacuation equipment if necessary.

All wildfire prone areas need to be inspected; possible hazards need to be identified. All fire protection facilities, including firebreaks and fire protection openings need to be checked. The monitoring of forests and areas near residential communities and infrastructural facilities needs to be stepped up.

We need to continue carrying out the peat bog watering programme, particularly in the Moscow Region. We have recently discussed this issue with Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov. The region has already received about 1 billion roubles for this purpose. I would like to ask Mr Gromov to brief us on its progress. Let’s commence our meeting. I give the floor to Alexander Frolov, head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.

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Vladimir Putin: When we are not able to withstand forces of nature by virtue of objective impossibility, that’s one thing, but when the relevant agencies are not prepared to stand against disaster, that is another story.

Last year’s tragedies forced us to undertake stern measures in these fields; and I would like to have the full attention of all those concerned: all problems and all issues in this field need to be resolved and eliminated at once, without any hesitation. Without any delays! I will ask Mr Shoigu to monitor once again, and as early as possible, whether the relevant services and regions are prepared for wildfire season and report it back to the government. Mr Shoigu, how long will it take?

Sergei Shoigu: Mr Putin, we will have the data for the entire country by April 15. We will be ready to submit a report on all constituent entities of the Russian Federation on April 15.

Vladimir Putin: Good, thank you. Esteemed colleagues, I would like to warn you: this is not about threats, but you are grown-up, responsible people who have been working in the field for many years. There are things that the government and the community cannot tolerate. We cannot pretend we haven’t noticed inertia and inefficient work. This is not a threat, but you must understand the significance of the problems we are facing. 

After last year’s accidents, we can no longer pretend that we have overlooked something. I ask you to mobilise our administrative, financial, and organisational resources and do everything necessary to avert fires and floods. I would like to reiterate that there are objective and uncontrollable factors, but we can identify the factors that are beyond our control and mishaps that are the result of negligence.

Mr Shoigu, I ask you to report back on the issues we have been discussing to the government in early April. I can see that today's meeting was not in vain.

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Vladimir Putin’s closing remarks:

Let’s end our discussion at this point. We will draft the relevant document, with account of the minutes of today’s meeting, with all the necessary adjustments in line with the remarks made during our discussion. We’ll certainly do this. But I’d like you to be very serious in reference to the issues we discussed today.

I’d like to say that, without any exaggeration, we cannot allow the tragedies of the past year to repeat themselves. It is clear – and I’d like to emphasise this once again – that there are certain conditions beyond human control, but we should do everything that is within our power.

Good luck with everything! Thank you.