PRESS RELEASE *

The Government Presidium at its meeting on April 14, 2011 adopted the following decisions on the agenda items:

1. Concerning the state of the Russian coal industry and its development prospects

The Government approved the main provisions of a draft long-term programme for the development of the Russian coal industry up to 2030.

The Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Education and Science were instructed to upgrade the above draft programme in cooperation with other concerned federal agencies and to focus on the following issues:

- Link project-funding sources for this programme with other state programmes, which include the development of the coal industry;

- Assess the state of work-safety measures in the coal industry.

- The upgraded draft long-term programme for the development of the Russian coal industry up to 2030 should be submitted to the Government during the third quarter of 2011 for consideration.

The Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor) were instructed, in conjunction with the concerned federal executive bodies and the non-profit partnership “Council for Organising an Effective System
of Trading Wholesale and Retail Electricity and Capacity Market” to submit proposals to the Government on incentives regarding the use of coal-bed methane in the power and energy sector.

The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economic Development were instructed, in conjunction with the concerned federal executive bodies and organisations, to draft and submit the following documents to the Government for consideration during the second quarter of 2011 based on the established procedure:

- Information about promising investment projects in the coal industry, including the creation of coal-chemical and energy-efficient coal clusters. This issue should be examined at a meeting of the Government Commission for Economic Development and Integration;

- A Draft Federal Law On Amending the Federal Law On State Regulation in Coal Production and Use and on the Specifics of Social Security for Employees in the Coal Industry as regards mandatory regular professional improvement and certification for executives managing mining enterprises and overseeing mining operations;

- Proposals regarding the volume of 2012-2013 budget allocations for the restructuring of the coal industry, which must be overhauled completely in 2015, and for financing the operation of nature-conservation facilities, monitoring environmental consequences and providing free coal to privileged categories of individuals after 2015;

- Proposals regarding expanded trade in Russian coal at commodity exchanges, as well as the registration of off-floor coal-trade transactions, including coal exports.

The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Service for Tariffs were instructed to chart specific measures, projects and funding sources for eliminating railway-transport infrastructure restrictions in line with the Federal Targeted Programme “The Development of the Russian Transport System in 2010-2015” and to focus on access routes to seaports and border checkpoints for the purpose of ensuring the required coal-shipment volumes being stipulated by the draft long-term programme for the development of the Russian coal industry up to 2030.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor) and the Ministry of Energy were instructed, in conjunction with the concerned federal executive bodies, to draft and submit the following proposals to the Government in the third quarter of 2011for consideration:

- On including equipment being used at dangerous industrial facilities and subject to mandatory certification in the Joint List of products being covered by mandatory Customs Union requirements. This shall be done in order to draft the Customs Union’s technical regulations “On the Safety of Mining Equipment,” which would stipulate the mandatory certification of technical systems being used at dangerous industrial facilities;

- On amending the Federal Law On Ensuring Standard Measurements as regards the duty of legal entities operating dangerous industrial facilities to establish the required metrological services;

- On incentives to ensure the creation of joint ventures with leading foreign manufacturers of mining technology, machinery and equipment on the territory of the Russian Federation;

- On designing standardised welded wheel-sets for open wagons being used to carry coal products for the purpose of providing railcar manufacturing and repair enterprises with a sufficient number of these wheel-sets and ensuring their certification.

The Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy were instructed to do the following:

- Study the possibility of authorising accredited certification agencies and testing laboratories (centres), to monitor the compliance of products with preset standards, to conduct the mandatory certification of technical systems being used at coal industry enterprises;

- Study the possibility of selecting organisations for testing equipment being used at dangerous production facilities, while drafting the Federal Law On Accreditation in the Russian Federation.

Specific results should be reported to the Government in June 2011.

The Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor), the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development were instructed to discuss the establishment of independent emergency rescue teams (auxiliary mine-rescue services) at coal mines and, if necessary, to submit the relevant draft regulatory documents to the Government for consideration.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development, the Federal Service for Supervision of the Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor) and the Ministry of Energy were instructed to draft the following documents and to submit them to the Government in the second quarter of 2011 for consideration:

- Proposals on the structure and contents of a Standard Programme to Improve Working Conditions and Work Safety Standards in a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, as well as proposals on specific deadlines for drafting regional programmes to improve working conditions, to preserve the lives of production workers and their health;

- A draft regulatory document on allowing a federal executive body, which sets forth the relevant state policy, and which facilitates legal regulation of labour processes, to stipulate requirements as regards the accreditation of organisations providing services in the work safety sphere;

- Information on approving work safety standards during the certification of the coal industry’s workstations, work safety regulations for the employees of the coal and shale industry, as well as standard industry work-safety instructions for underground coal miners;

- Proposals for drafting the qualifications (professional standards) of coal industry workers.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development was instructed, in conjunction with trade union associations, to organise regular inspections for monitoring employers’ compliance with workers’ rights to safe working conditions in the coal industry.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) and the Federal Agency for Subsoil Usage (Rosnedra) were instructed to do the following:

- Examine issues regarding regulatory support for the requirements of mining companies by analysing their compliance with license agreements’ environmental protection clauses by coal-mining companies. If necessary, to submit the relevant proposals to the Government for consideration;

- Take into consideration the relevant sequence for commissioning mines and opencast or strip mines up to 2030 and projected corporate coal production volumes, as proposed by the Ministry of Energy in line with the draft long-term programme for the development of the coal industry, while compiling a list of facilities subject to license at all main coal basins up to 2015.

The results of this work should be reported to the Government in the third quarter of 2011.

The Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor), the Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief and the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development were instructed to submit their proposals on eliminating excessive administrative barriers during state expert examinations of coal production projects to the Government for consideration.

2. Progress in implementing an action plan to improve supervisory and authorising functions and improve the provision of state services by federal executive bodies in the sphere of agriculture

The Government drew the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture and federal executive bodies responsible for the plan’s implementation to the unacceptability of failing to comply with specific deadlines for the implementation of the above-mentioned plan’s projects and measures. The Government noted that such projects and measures must be implemented completely and on time.

The Government must be informed about the results of implementing the action plan on a quarterly basis and before the tenth of each month following the reporting period.

3. Draft Federal Targeted Programme “Ensuring the Flight Safety of Aircraft in Russian Federation Aviation in 2011-2015”

The Government approved, with due consideration for the latest discussion’s results, the Draft Federal Targeted Programme “Ensuring the Flight Safety of Aircraft in Russian Federation Aviation in 2011-2015,” as well as a draft resolution on this issue.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development were instructed to allocate the required funding volumes being stipulated by the Federal Targeted Programme “Ensuring the Flight Safety of Aircraft in Russian Federation Aviation in 2011-2015,” while charting budget allocations for the current years in line with federal programmes.

4. Draft Federal Law On Amending the Federal Law On Lotteries and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The Government, with due consideration for the discussion’s results, approved the draft federal law. It was decided to submit the document to the State Duma for consideration in line with the established procedure.

The Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy and the Ministry of Finance were instructed to draft proposals as regards the improved regulation of lottery activities in conjunction with the concerned federal executive bodies and to submit them to the Government for consideration. This implies greater budgetary effectiveness and the channeling of additional proceeds for the development of sport, education, culture and other socially important projects.

5. Draft Federal Law On Amending Article 1 of the Federal Law On Minimum Wages

The Government approved the Draft Federal Law. It was decided to submit the document to the State Duma for consideration in line with the established procedure.

6. Draft Federal Law On the Basic Principles of Healthcare in the Russian Federation

The Government approved the draft federal law. It was decided to submit the document to the State Duma for consideration in line with the established procedure.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development was instructed to draft Government amendments to the above Draft Federal Law in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service and other concerned federal executive bodies. These amendments should include the following issues:

- Basic concepts, including “special-purpose diet therapy food,” as well as the classification of medical aid;

- The delimitation of authority between state agencies;

- The confirmation of the duration of medical-activity licenses, issued pending the enactment of the Federal Law On the Basic Principles of Healthcare in the Russian Federation pending their expiry date;

- The regulation of the relevant procedure for the accreditation of professional public associations, which develop and approve clinical protocols regarding the provision of medical aid;

- The approval of the relevant procedure for the development and approval of clinical protocols regarding the provision of medical aid by the Government;

- The sources for financing medical aid provided by private medical institutions in life-threatening situations;

- A conflict of interests during medical and pharmaceutical activity;

- State control in the sphere of health protection; medical products, including permission to import medical products into the Russian Federation for state-registration purposes;

- The provision of medical aid to persons engaged in physical fitness and sport, as well as the rehabilitation of sick and injured athletes.

The relevant draft amendments shall be submitted to the Government for consideration over a seven-day period after the State Duma approves the above draft federal law in the first reading.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development was instructed to draft a federal law on amending legislative acts in conjunction with the concerned federal executive bodies and with due consideration for specific instructions received during the meeting. This shall be done in connection with the approval of the Draft Federal Law On the Basic Principles of Healthcare in the Russian Federation. Moreover, this includes amendments to the Administrative Offences Code as regards the administrative responsibility of medical personnel for violating provisions of the Federal Law On the Basic Principles of Healthcare in the Russian Federation.

7. Draft Federal Law On Amending Article 16 of the Federal Law On Facilitating Expanded Housing Construction

The Government approved the draft federal law. It was decided to submit the document to the State Duma for consideration in line with the established procedure.

8. Submitting to the President of the Russian Federation the Agreement on Common Principles and Rules of Technical Regulation in the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation for subsequent introducing for ratification

The Government passed a draft resolution on this issue.

9. Submitting to the President of the Russian Federation a proposal to sign the Agreement on the Procedure for Paying Pensions to Police Officers Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia

The Government passed a draft resolution on this issue.

10. Submitting to the President of the Russian Federation a proposal to sign  the Agreement on the Procedure for Paying Pensions to Police Officers Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia

The Government passed a draft resolution on this issue.

11. Establishing the Organising Committee to Prepare Russian Athletes for the 22^nd 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the 11^th 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi and the approval of the Committee’s line-up

The Government passed a draft resolution on this issue.

Moscow,

April 20, 2011

* Resolutions on agenda items incorporate comments and suggestions expressed at the Government meeting and are official documents of the Government of the Russian Federation.