Vladimir Putin’s introductory remarks:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today, we have at our meeting the representatives of the public organisations that have supported the idea of establishing the Russian Popular Front and have voiced their readiness to jointly work in the interests of the stable, confident and sustained development of Russia. We are united by common views and strategic goals. First of all, this means strengthening the unity of our state, building a strong, democratic and sovereign Russia with an effective market economy based on the principles of public-private partnership and, naturally, on the principles of free enterprise, competition, the responsibility of employers and solid guarantees of working people’s rights.

It is our opinion that it is essential to Russia’s development to preserve civil and inter-ethnic peace, accord, mutual respect and solidarity between representatives of various ethnic groups, religions, generations and representatives of various professional categories.

Our highest value is the freedom and prosperity of all people in Russia. We will continue to strengthen this country’s standing in the world, to expand open and good-neighbourly relations with partners and to take an active part in integration processes.

I would like to once again repeat several basic principles for establishing the Russian Popular Front. First, as I already said while proposing this idea for the first time in Volgograd, all associations due to join this entity will be absolutely equal partners and should be able to submit for discussion their ideas and solutions for various national issues.

Second. Members of the Russian Popular Front will take part together in national parliamentary elections to the State Duma and will make a list of United Russia candidates through joint agreement.

Third. Our candidates will run for parliament with a common programme, and this is a very important feature. I repeat, a common programme which should be drafted after a very broad discussion at all organisations involved in the Russian Popular Front. Representatives of all organisations in the Russian Popular Front should understand that they are really involved in this joint work, so that our election programme is a truly general programme.

Fourth. The Russian Popular Front is open to everyone who shares our objectives and who is ready to take part in drafting and implementing a long-term programme for the development of the state and society. We are establishing the Russian Popular Front in order to draw together constructive ideas, so that civil society, including youth, women’s and veterans’ organisations, the business community, trade unions and associations, has an additional opportunity to become directly involved in charting highly important state decisions, so that “social lifts” function effectively, and so that everyone with the potential, creativity, energy and desire to work for Russia can prove themselves.

I would like to say that the idea to establish the Russian Popular Front has already received broad support. All of us have been involved in events linked with Victory Day. Various people approached us at the reception and directly offered to take part in our work. I was particularly happy with the fact that we were approached by veterans, and representatives of other organisations, who said: “You know our organisation is very small. But we are very active, and we know what should be done for the country. We’d like to declare our readiness to work with you right away.” They gave us their cards, addresses and so on. It was very pleasant to get such a response.  Work to establish the Russian Popular Front was happening all these days. On May 7, we met with you and representatives of public organisations supporting the idea to establish the Russian Popular Front. At that time, a  coordination council was established at the suggestion of the leader of national trade unions, the leading trade union organisation.

Last evening, we met in an informal setting and shared opinions on how to organise our work. Today, I suggest continuing our consultations. As we agreed yesterday, we should, first of all, discuss a draft declaration on establishing the Russian Popular Front. I know that all participants in the meeting have worked with this document. All of you have this text. Let’s share our thoughts once again and submit the declaration to the organisations involved in the Russian Popular Front for discussion. I would like all of you to speak on the draft declaration. First of all, I would like to hear from Mikhail Shmakov, Boris Gryzlov, Alexander Shokhin and other colleagues. Every opinion counts. If there are some remarks and additional proposals, all of them will be taken into account. I have also prepared some amendments. I have already looked at the text very closely, but we will now discuss all this.

In conclusion, I would like to mention another subject which I consider important. I believe it would be right for members of the coordination council to work in the regions, meet with representatives of public organisations which have joined the Russian Popular Front or which would like to join it. It is very important to us that the declaration is not only discussed by leaders. This task should involve as many members of public organisations and our fellow citizens as possible. In this sense, we should see to it that the Russian Popular Front becomes a nationwide entity.

Thank you for your attention, and let’s begin discussing the document which we have agreed to discuss today and create the basis for its final adoption.

Mikhail Shmakov (chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia): Colleagues, we have joint our common effort and have given our proposals for the declaration. I see in the text that many of our suggestions were taken into account.

There are some minor proposals for amendments of the editorial guidelines, I would even say the style or spelling guidelines: where to change the punctuation to make the document more persuasive... But in general, in my opinion, the declaration is substantial in content and short in its form, and this is something that I think we need to promote the idea of ​​the Russian Popular Front.

I’ll allow myself a couple of suggestions – not only for the declaration. First of all, in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia we have already started a discussion. We have prepared a memo to be sent to all of our regional offices, and next week a meeting of our elected body will make a formal decision on joining the Russian Popular Front. Here, from my point of view, what is also important – as we said earlier and as you just said now – is take on new members, to engage new members in this front. We already have a suggestion, and I have already held preliminary negotiations: there is another trade union association – the Russian Confederation of Labour – that is ready to join the Popular Front. So I think what we need is attract other organizations. I was contacted by the Union of NGOs and a number of other associations that have expressed their commitment to join in the work of the Popular Front.

Now we are discussing the declaration, but we also need to prepare and discuss a plan of action for some period – a month, two months, three months – some steps that need to be discussed, taken and sealed in a document. And then, in order to ensure that everyone takes these steps in unison, we should perhaps hold a conference, other public forums to promote these ideas, and, in fact, facilitate the activities of the Popular Front.

Those are my suggestions for today.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. You have the floor, Mr Gryzlov.

Boris Gryzlov: Thank you, Mr Putin. I would like to point out several things that are included in the declaration. To me, it is very important that we are talking about a long-term programme to develop our society; this is not in any way part of an election campaign. We are establishing the Russian Popular Front to ensure the sustainable development of our country, at least in the medium term.

I would like to cite Pyotr Stolypin, who once said: “Give our country twenty years of internal and external peace, and you would not recognise Russia.” The Popular Front is not a militant concept in any sense; it is about broad social consolidation – this is how we understand this notion. And the fact that the Strategy 2020 is cited as an objective for the immediate future – there are only ten years to go – is also very important. We’re referring to actions taken without sudden flights to extremes – to a conservative approach, so to say. At the same time, we deliberately view economic development in terms of addressing social issues. This is very important.

United Russia has had bilateral relations with many NGOs that became members of the Coordination Council. We had agreements on joint efforts in a number of areas. Now we are taking an absolutely new step. We are creating conditions for us all to devise our programmes and to create a development strategy for this country on equal terms. Through these non-governmental organisations, everyone will get this opportunity – and I’m referring to millions of people. If we take into account all the NGOs that will be represented in the organisational council and other network entities, the number of people involved will run into the millions. This means that millions of people will be able to make a proposal and have a voice. This is very important.

Another important aspect of this work is that we are giving representatives of these public organisations the opportunity to later become candidates of United Russia for election to the State Duma. They can become deputies and implement the programmes they have come up with themselves. This is another important step. I believe that the declaration that is to be discussed today incorporates all these provisions. It is fairly short, which is for the better, since it includes only those ideas that can become an impetus for the current development of Russia and lays the foundation for the future of this great country.

As for specific issues, namely organisational issues, we need to decide as soon as possible on the primary venue – most likely in Moscow – at which we all will be able to meet and discuss our ideas now that the movement is gathering momentum. I have already received several dozen calls and requests pertaining to expanding the list of non-governmental organisations. This idea indeed provokes a very agitated reaction. And the momentum you created in Volgograd has been supported. If I’m not mistaken, about 100 organisations are already willing to join the Coordination Council. And this is only the most conservative figure as of today. Certainly, we need to devise an approach on how we will establish regional organisations. Some NGOs are either interregional or regional, not federal, and I don’t think we should neglect them. We need to listen carefully to their ideas and proposals. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Yes, Mr Shokhin, please.

Alexander Shokhin (President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs): Thank you, Mr Putin. I believe that Mr Gryzlov is absolutely correct to say that this front is being established to consolidate civil society rather than fight its opponents. Our objective is to consolidate all the healthy elements of society that seem to share the values outlined in the declaration. It is equally important that we keep a long-term development programme in sight. Meanwhile, it is also clear that a significant part of our work is related to forming United Russia’s election platform in the form of a joint Russian Popular Front platform and candidate list and to implementing this programme in the next State Duma. At the same time, I believe that the Strategy 2020, mentioned here, is quite relevant because the election programme should take into account longer term prospects.

Mr Putin, I would like to use this opportunity to incorporate some of your comments into the draft declaration. For example, in speaking of a market economy based on such principles as social partnership, support for entrepreneurship, employer responsibility, and the protection of workers’ rights, you also mentioned such crucial notions as freedom of enterprise and competition. To my mind, these are not only very important notions but also policies of the Front that will help consolidate broader business circles involved in associations that both are and are not involved in the Coordination Council. I would even rephrase the passage about the Strategy 2020. It is a decade-long sustainable development that we need, not the implementation of the Strategy 2020. To carry out all our objectives and ensure sustainable development, we need to ground our efforts in a programme designed to last for at least ten years. Naturally, it is important to recognise that we understand gradual movement not as a slow crawl towards modernisation but as a confident and balanced transition to modernisation and innovation without sudden flights to extremes. I would like to see these ideas mentioned in the document.

It is very important to begin the work right away. Some structural elements of United Russia can be subordinated to the Russian Popular Front, as I suggested at our last meeting on May 7. For example, the four associations that are interacting with a large group of partners can be transformed into platforms to consolidate non-governmental organisations that are inclined to a particular association proceeding from their interests. Thus, we can start arranging our work. At the same time, I agree with Mr Gryzlov that we need a venue that will not be associated either with the Government House or the State Duma. This venue can become a focal point for consolidating different groups participating in the joint Russian Popular Front and those that are not directly involved in it – that is, standing beyond the Front – but will take part in its discussions and debates.

We need to bear in mind that we can use a system for consolidating civil society arranged in depth – to put it in military terms – in which direct participants in the Russian Popular Front are followed by supporters and sympathisers, those who can be involved in expert work or in regional or interregional organisations. This work needs to be designed for the longer term and for the post-election period and can prove useful in practical work.

In addition, it is crucial to give our organisations the chance to take part in discussions of the declaration upon which the Front will be founded. It is necessary to ensure that the decision is made by the organisation as a whole rather than by its leader alone. So, we need to provide between seven and ten days for an organisation to decide upon joining the Front. This period seems reasonable, and this work needs to be done.

Vladimir Putin: I have an urgent request. We are doing everything absolutely in the open as we agreed and as we will continue to do in the future. No doubt, part of our work will be routine, but let it also be open for everyone to understand what we are doing, what we want to achieve, and how we go about it.

In this context, I have a request for Mr Shokhin, Mr Gryzlov, and Mr Babich. I have put some things down here, but had no time for others. However, everything you have said will be put to use. Here’s my request: please formulate your proposals after others have expressed their opinions, so that Mr Volodin and Mr Surkov can look at them, incorporate them into a certain format, and submit as a document.

Ms Lakhova, please go ahead.

Yekaterina Lakhova (Chairperson of the Union of Russian Women and Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy): Little time has passed, but over the last week we received many calls from women living in the regions. To be honest, I was a bit surprised. It seems they read about the declaration and took all the information on it from the internet, perhaps without even understanding what it is all about.

Different women of different ages and occupations come to us with different problems – from salaries to family issues, and so on – so they took everything for granted. During this time, we conducted debates in 22 regions that actually form our management department… We gathered them all together and discussed the idea, which still hadn't been declared, but the direction of which we understood.

I know that some of the regions are planning to hold their own conferences on the issue, and we have given them clear-cut instructions: new ideas, new proposals, and new people. Most importantly, they have many social issues there. That's what people say in the regions: that our discussions are not limited to the Duma because we have our own elections as well. From March almost to October, 30 regions will hold elections to their legislative assemblies. This is an opportunity to establish a personnel reserve at different levels and then use its potential. This means that their proposals will be lobbied and heard. You said that we can take part in compiling a general programme, and this is very important for us. In fact, we have already formed a working group.

We know what problems we want to discuss – not only women’s but national issues, related to the family, children, women, and men, who currently have shorter life expectancies than women in Russia. Therefore, we think that it is worth discussing the declaration before the end of May at round tables and conferences in the regions, or at least considering its basic points. In fact, this is a letter of intent, and we must involve as many people as possible in its discussion – women in particular because they are very active.

I want to say that I didn’t expect all this. Perhaps I didn’t expect to be criticised, either. Our board has representatives of different parties and they all supported the formation of a Popular Front. They say it is a good idea because they understand that it may help actualise the normal, sensible thoughts that we fail to implement at the local, regional, and even federal levels. In other words, we are pooling our efforts to try to formulate our tasks outside the limits of the declaration. I think it is possible to draft another document that will become a plan of action for us. But our diverse female audience is happy to take part in discussing the programme of the party that bears the responsibility for it.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Morozov, please go ahead.

Oleg Morozov (Member of the bureau of the United Russia Supreme Council and First Deputy Duma Speaker): Mr Putin, may I make two suggestions on the declaration? First, I’d like to continue the line of Mr Shokhin’s thinking on the term “front.” You know that there have been debates, and people express many opinions on this score. This morning, we exchanged our views and found one more serious argument in favour of this term. It does credit to the European political tradition. We are not the trailblazers here – Germany, France, and Spain first established consolidated associations and called them “fronts.” Therefore, it is absolutely correct that this term does not imply confrontation but reflects the tradition of consolidating political forces for the sake of achieving a major national goal. Therefore, I think we have additional arguments in support of this term.

Vladimir Putin: The Baltic republics are making active use of this term. They did so for national consolidation as well.

Oleg Morozov: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: Тheir objectives were a little different, but …

Oleg Morozov: We must admit this was an effective form.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, it was effective.

Oleg Morozov: Yes, and there is a second suggestion. I consider it important, but I don’t know whether I’m right. I think that the term “gradual renovation” is a highly vulnerable phrase. I don’t think we are supporting gradual renovation because in some areas, we favour fast and resolute action. The fact that renovation must occur only under conditions of social stability and civil peace, that it must be renovation without upheaval, populism, or ill-conceived experimentation, as was mentioned here, is another matter. And if we leave “gradual renovation” on a par with “stable development without sudden flights into extremes and ill-conceived experimentation,” we are sending a very unclear signal, as if we want to say something else with this phrase. Therefore, I think the last key paragraph of the declaration should read as follows: “Our country needs stable development and simultaneous reform in all aspects of public life based on broad popular support and the long-term Strategy 2020. We intend to pursue this course without sudden flights to extremes, ill-conceived experiments, or populism.

Vladimir Putin: I’d like to say that the phrase “flights to extremes” is too colloquial. It’s okay in spoken speech, but in a document… You will have to set it right. Please, Mr Prokopenko, go ahead.

Timur Prokopenko (Coordinating Council Chairman of the public organisation United Russia Young Guards): Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to say that regardless of the basic document, your initiative has already taken into account the opinions of the youth. The basic document will only officially reinforce these opportunities.

As a member of the Coordinating Council, I also receive many calls from those who are willing to take part in the Popular Front. We communicate with ten youth organisations with a total of 1.5 million members. For us, this is primarily a platform for consolidation. We want to work on principles of parity – we won’t have bosses, and we’ll use all the opportunities at our disposal.

I think it is very important that this gives us a chance to speak out to those young people who are being drawn into unauthorised demonstrations under the pretext that they are being deprived of the opportunity to express their opinion. Now they have a chance to speak out and to see their initiatives implemented.

We invite those who are ready to assume responsibility to join our organisation. Today, we are conducting a campaign in the regions to select leaders of public opinion – our so-called primaries. Under the plan, about 2,500 people will take part in the youth primaries, and 80-100 will win. They will also take part in the party primaries. In effect, they are all participants in the Popular Front. These are people from many well-known public movements, sub-cultures, and people with disabilities. A disabled man is winning the elections in Omsk. People are voting for him. He is bound to come to us and take part in these primaries and, hopefully, will win them.

Mr Putin, I’d like to emphasise my main point: our youth primaries end in Lipetsk in the first ten days of July. This is when we’ll sum up the results. We’ve decided to establish a federal youth camp of the Popular Front in Lipetsk and to invite you as its leader. There will be active, passionate young people from all the regions without exception – people from 67 regions are taking part in the youth primaries. These will be active participants in this process, and the movements that will have consolidated by that time. I have no doubt that there will be several dozen of them. Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Do you have any remarks on the text?

Timur Prokopenko: On the text… I’ve submitted proposals…

Vladimir Putin: So, they must have been considered.

Timur Prokopenko: Yes, they have been considered.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Babich, please.

Mikhail Babich (Chairman of the Commission of the United Russia General Council Presidium for Work with Public Petitions, and Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Defence): Mr Putin, I’d like to say that we are not forming the Popular Front from scratch. In two and a half years, the public reception offices of the party chairman have received almost 600,000 public petitions. These are petitions that have been sent electronically and received a response. Of them, a mere 2% were sent by United Russia members. The remaining 98% represent the civil society that we are invited to work with us today. What does this testify to? That people have become accustomed to the fact that if they want to receive assistance or carry out a constructive initiative, they can do so only in cooperation with United Russia. We have already put that idea into practice. During these two and a half years, we amassed many proposals. Here’s one figure, for reference. We have changed or drafted more than 400 legal acts at municipal, regional, and federal levels based upon the proposals sent in by citizens and public organisations to public reception offices.

Today, we have amassed many proposals that we are ready to report to you and, most importantly, we have analysed the effectiveness of major federal projects that have been adopted in healthcare, the industrial sector, social support for veterans of the Great Patriotic War and families with many children, and other major initiatives. We have seen how they are being executed in the regions, and this analysis will also become part of our future joint election programme, which we must elaborate over this period. So, we have these proposals, and I’d like to say that a network of the party leader’s reception offices will become an effective and, importantly, professional platform for consolidating people and ideas around United Russia and its leader.

Vladimir Putin: This is a good proposal. You are absolutely right that joint work should take place outside the government and even the United Russia party agencies. All participants in this process – all participants in the Popular Front – must feel that they are working on a neutral platform. We’ll make a proposal to this effect in the near future. As for the regions, the prime minister’s reception offices can be used for this purpose because they represent a broad network.

Good. Do you have any remarks about the text? Ms Orlova, please take the floor.

Svetlana Orlova (Member of the United Russia General Council Presidium): Thank you very much. Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen, the decision to create the Popular Front was expected because the work on the “Strategy 2020” and all regional strategies and development plans show that life has changed considerably. Many new realities have come into being, and our work on these projects shows that a lot of people are already involved in them.

Now it is very important for all those who want to join the Popular Front to feel that they are taking party in the country’s development up to 2020, that their proposals have been heard, and that they will be included into a number of legislative acts to be reviewed by the next Duma. As you’ve said, Mr Putin, it is very important to make sure that the Duma is joined by caring people who love Russia, who do what is necessary every day. Of course, the main goal –as you mentioned at one conference – is to bring many of our current plans to fruition. When people see this, they develop a feeling of sincere love for our homeland.

Now I’d like to say a few words about the text. The goal of building a strong, democratic, and sovereign Russia is very important. Our candidates will take part in the elections with a common programme. But why don’t they have a popular programme? This will be a genuinely popular programme because everyone will take part in its elaboration.

Now as for the word “task”. The task of the Russian Popular Front is to pave the way for new ideas and new projects. It is practically an agency that is going to be created under the government. You know how the young people’s eyes shine – I mean those who have done their job well – when they present such projects. They are successful people, and there are many such people in our country. They made it because over the past ten years, the country has followed a stable, serious, systemic, and well-considered course. Those were not an easy ten years… Perhaps we should add this point or make a slight digression here: “all those who care…” Perhaps… my heart prompts me… I would write: “those who love Russia…”

Vladimir Putin: We will consider that, of course. Mr Plotnikov has the floor.

Vladimir Plotnikov (Member of the Federation Council, Chairman of the Russian Association of Private Farms and Agricultural Cooperatives): Thank you. Mr Putin, I would like to draw attention to the word “popular” in the name of the Russian Popular Front. I represent farmers, and farmers are the people. For them, it is a real opportunity to make their voices heard – a chance to make their proposals. They have joined this work very actively because they have great expectations.

There are two types of people. One type sees this as the continuation of the important and serious conversation that took place in Tambov when you devoted so much time to the problems facing the farmers, the rural folk. A whole programme was outlined there and instructions were given. They are closely following these developments. If the national programme is put forward before the elections and they have a chance to take part in it, and people will see that this is true, I think they will become very committed.

But the other type of people – and I must say that they include not only farmers – just want to jump on the bandwagon. We are being invited? They are distributing portfolios and mandates? Where? We're ready to go…There are unfortunately such people as well, who simply want to get into the Duma, and so on.

I think some time should be allowed for discussion (a week or two) so that more people can fit in the picture, express their opinions, and show that the campaign is only just beginning – that it will gain momentum, and people will be able to express their opinions, make proposals, and select the best from among them, so that decisions are taken collectively. If these principles are adhered to, then the whole system of creating a broad and truly popular front will be effective. I think it is one of our important joint tasks, and the farmers are ready and look forward to it with great interest.

There is one other important point in the text. You know, there are a lot of problems, and farmers are considered to be… Well, there are many poor people. At the same time, there are also farmers who own land, good houses, and means of production. They are interested in stability, and they do not want to see any upheavals. These words that are in the declaration are important and they go down well with the farmers… Because such people may not say it aloud, but they feel deep down that all they need is to be left alone. They want their businesses to grow and to gather pace. That is what the farmer is all about because stability in society is pivotal, and I am glad that the declaration seals this approach.

And the last thing. I would like to add my voice to Svetlana’s (Svetlana Orlova). When we speak about the Popular Front, we assume that it will be a programme articulating people’s aspirations and that it will be discussed nationwide. I think if it is called a “National Programme,” we will only stand to gain from it.  Thank you.

Andrei Isayev (Deputy Secretary of the United Russia General Council Presidium, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Labour and Social Policy): I think Mikhail Shmakov made a very important point: that is, today we must map out the guidelines and determine a formula for completing the creation of the Popular Front, and, thus, it is necessary to finalise the composition of the coordinating council.

I support the move to include the Russian Labour Confederation, and it is important not to omit the Russian Association of the Disabled. They account for 10% of the population. The way a society treats its disabled peers is a litmus test of its culture. I have been approached by representatives of the Russian Association of the Disabled, and they wish to take part in the Popular Front. It is important that they be represented in bodies of power and contribute to the formation of our programme.

The creation of coordinating councils in the regions is a necessary stage, and we should come up with a formula for how they will operate. Things are more or less clear at the centre, but it will be more complicated in the regions because there will be many initiatives and many people. Those who represent citizens’ associations must make a formal decision to join the Popular Front in the foreseeable future and at the same time put in place a mechanism for collecting proposals for the Popular Front's electoral platform.

I would suggest holding mass demonstrations of Popular Front supporters in all major cities on June 11, on the eve of Russia Day, as a symbolic event to make it clear to everyone that the work to create the Popular Front has been completed. In Moscow, the venue could be Victory Park. I think it is important that the association to which you correctly referred between the Popular Front and Victory – you said so in Volgograd –  be reaffirmed. From that moment, the Popular Front will emerge as a real social force. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, such events can be held. But I think that the declaration, as our colleagues have suggested, should be finalised within a week. It should be presented to local organisations, and the text should be agreed upon and adopted. However, that does not preclude holding the mass events you have suggested. We’ll discuss it separately later, agreed? Sergei Neverov, please.

Sergei Neverov (Acting Secretary of the United Russia General Council Presidium, State Duma Deputy): Thank you. You know, I think what you articulated in your speech is very important: namely, that all organisations have equal rights and equal opportunities to take part in the Russian Popular Front. It offers a very real chance for our citizens’ organisations to contribute to shaping state decisions. And, of course, it addresses the problem that we talk about all the time: creating opportunities for social advancement, opportunities to rise to a totally new level.

On the instructions of Boris Gryzlov, we will hold a meeting of the secretaries of all 83 regional organisations as early as May 16. We have invited Vyacheslav Volodin and Vladislav Surkov to discuss the ideas of the Popular Front and how we can act in the regions to get the idea across that it is a level playing field and not an interregional tug-of-war.

As regards the text, I have a suggestion concerning page two, where it reads: “proceeding from the above, we have agreed to take part together in the elections of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and, in accordance with the law and by general agreement, to form a federal list of United Russia candidates…” I would add one more line: “…headed by Vladimir Putin.”

Andrei Vorobyov (Head of the United Russia Central Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the United Russia party at the State Duma): A lot has already been said about the document. I think one of its strengths is that it is fairly comprehensible and succinct and, most importantly, feasible. It is a strong initiative in itself, and not only major citizens’ organisations but sometimes informal movements are taking part in it. You said in your presentation that it is important for them to be involved so that their ideas and plans, which have up until now been more muted than those of our major social organisations, can be heard. They are getting an excellent chance today. Our task in the regions is to enable these active people to air their bold ideas within the Coordinating Council.

As regards the language, many useful comments have been made. Stable development, yes, of course, stable and gradual. And yet, to my taste, I would like to see more dynamism. As for the rest, we believe it is a very important idea, and it will help – to use business terminology – capitalise upon citizens’ movements and organisations that do have ideas to propose on how to improve the quality of life.

Yekaterina Lakhova: I have a running argument with Mr Shmakov. Our society is divided into two big social groups: men and women. He says that they have the same problems: both men and women can be disabled, both men and women can be religious. It is not by chance that I emphasise the differences between these two groups – men and women. There are international and national documents, as well as Section 3, Article 19 of the Constitution (which our union has been pressing for), which demand equal rights and opportunities for men and women.

I tell him about the solidarity of different religions, nationalities, generations, and genders… He says: “Why genders?” I reply: “Because these are different social groups”… A woman has to give birth to one, two, or three children in order to solve the demographic crisis, and the state must provide the conditions to do so. We have equal rights, but not equal opportunities to exercise them. So, I think gender should be included, after nationality and religion.

Vladimir Putin: Let us write “men and women” to underscore gender equality.

Mikhail Shmakov: I won’t quarrel with Yekaterina – she is more of a specialist because I often have to wage a fight at the international level against the sometimes rabid promotion of the idea of equality in every respect.

I would like to address a different matter. There are different suggestions as to how to qualify stable development, as “gradual” for instance. International terminology, the international trade union movement, and G20 documents refer to “sustainable development”. Perhaps we should use that term: stable, sustainable development?

Vladimir Putin: The remark about the word “gradual” is absolutely correct. As is the point made by Boris Gryzlov and Alexander Shokhin to the effect that the Front does not divide but unite. That must be written down, too.

Alexandr Shokhin: Concerning the term “sustainable development”, the English term refers to environmental matters and the social parameters of economic development and not to dynamics, so we should be careful in using these borrowed terms.

Vladislav Surkov (First Deputy Chief of the Russian President’s Staff):

“Stable” is better.

Vladimir Putin: One can put it in different ways: stable, progressive, dynamic. Well, Vladislav Surkov has already joined the discussion.

Vladislav Surkov: I am more concerned about the organisational aspects.

Vladimir Putin: Let us discuss organisation.

Vladislav Surkov: I think that the real integration of social groups in this process is at a very complicated and challenging stage. At a certain point, we should discuss the technological aspect of it in a very hands-on way because everybody here knows practically everybody else, and all these organisations are already represented, for example, in the United Russia party in the State Duma. Some – indeed, the majority – of those present are already deputies, and if we want to integrate others – and this seems to be the main task – not all of them will be calm, staid, and steady-handed people; some are very dynamic, and we should understand their place and how to go about it. I think that without this consideration, the idea may not be implemented on a full scale. So, I believe that at a certain point, we should discuss the specifics of how it will be done.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, but do you think the basic idea merits support?

Vladislav Surkov: Certainly. There is nothing in it that could be described as wrong.

The technique is really important. If we really mean to achieve the goals we have declared then we do need a technique to implement these objectives. These goals include a genuinely widespread discussion of the programme, hearing out people with new ideas and proposals, and moving these people up to the decision-making level. That’s the point. If we want to do all that, then we need a technique to implement these noble objectives. This is certainly the right thing to do. I was thinking about it just now. There are scores of proposals already, maybe close to a hundred, and more will come. Clearly, we need to establish channels of communication with the people who are willing to join in our work. That means we need to make sure that these channels function well and, like the circulation system, carry useful information and the right people up to the heart of our project. We’ll get back to it later. Any other comments, please?

Mikhail Shmakov: May I?

Vladimir Putin: Please, go ahead.

Mikhail Shmakov: You are right about the channels and the need to organise our work. I don’t think we need to put too much effort in revising the existing declaration that we are now discussing. We need to draft another document (a programme or something else), which will bring together all the ideas, even the most extreme ones, so that we have a good selection of proposals and ideas coming from all of Russia’s regions. By definition, a declaration is a succinct document. We need to go over it again just like we decided previously and then publish it. We should use it as a core document and add other proposals and ideas to it.

Alexander Shokhin: Mr Putin, I believe we should keep in mind another scenario, too. The level of trust in the front will depend on how strongly it starts out. If we manage to complete the organisational process before the end of the month, then it’ll be very important to come up with a concrete initiative with regard to coordinating the lawmaking activities of the Duma or the government initiative to submit draft laws to the Duma, so that anyone could see that the organisations that are part of the Popular Front do participate in the discussion. I am not really sure how to implement this, but we need to show that the work is already underway and we do have an idea of the technique that will be applied in the next Duma. I think it’s really important.

We are going to have regional and Duma elections in the second half of the year. We should focus on these regions and conduct pilot runs of this regional technology.

Audience remark: And some of the candidates, too.

Alexander Shokhin: Yes, we can do this, too. We can assign some of the candidates to regional rosters.

Vladimir Putin: Just a moment, please. Mr Shokhin has just made an important observation about the numerous regional elections and elections to the Duma.

Audience remark: There will be many municipal elections, too.

Vladimir Putin: That’s right. Therefore, we’ll need people at different levels. There will be ones who join us and the ones we’ll deem necessary to support in the interests of the nation, region, town or village. We’ll absolutely need these people at these levels, too.

Mikhail Shmakov: As for lawmaking, we have reached an agreement with Mr Shokhin with regard to contract labour.

Alexander Shokhin: Mr Shmakov…  Shmakov and Isayev keep on pushing me to approve the draft law on contract labour in your presence.  In general, we are prepared to accept it provided that the Duma’s resolution on the adoption of this law in the first reading will clearly state the revision procedure for the second reading. I don’t think we need to dump these issues on Mr Putin or Mr Gryzlov before we agree on the proper wording.

As far as I know, a meeting to discuss the transfer pricing law is scheduled for May 18. Russian businesses and the Finance Ministry have different opinions about it. We already discussed this issue on April 21. Certainly, we would like the businesses to be at least heard out before the final decision is taken. We can’t dictate the terms, but…

Vladimir Putin: Ms Orlova…

Svetlana Orlova: Thank you. Just an idea. The government, Mr Shokhin, and Opora Russia are involved in the work of the draft law. It would be right to do if public organisations that are part of the Popular Front also join them. They are doing really serious work and look into the laws that will be subsequently submitted to the government. You mentioned that they should be subject to broader discussions. We have 78 more draft laws that we could discuss with the participants of the Popular Front. That’s it.

Vladimir Putin: That’s correct, and you can start working on it. Please, Mr Vorobiev, go ahead.

Andrei Vorobiev: I just wanted to see what others think. People don’t always become members of organisations, all the more so now that we are in the 21^st century and the spirit of individualism is often present. It might just so happen that a person or a family also want to say or propose something. My point is: can we make provisions for such work and just ask around for opinions?  People may have ideas without being members of any organisation. Mr Prokopenko, maybe youth organisations can set up an open forum, a kiosk or something like that?

Audience remark: If we set up an internet portal then we can open the discussion to everyone.

Andrei Vorobiev: So that we don’t leave out people who are not part of any organisation.

Mikhail Shmakov:  We suggest building a special forum run by the unions and the Russian Popular Front and using the forum to discuss all proposals, including individual ones.

Timur Prokopenko: May I, Mr Putin? A very lively discussion is underway on the internet, on blogs and social networks. There are even special banners and features encouraging people to share their ideas. I’ll show you one of them. It’s all being done on a voluntary basis. We posted them on the Young Guard website and…

Vladimir Putin: Great job, by the way.

Timur Prokopenko: …gathered the opinions of youth organisations. You can see that on Facebook, VKontakte, and other social networks.

Vladimir Putin: Is this really voluntary? People just did it by themselves?

Timur Prokopenko: Some of it was initiated by the Young Guard, but similar projects are already available on VKontakte, social networks and blogs. There are discussion groups and people are sharing their opinions. However, there is some misunderstanding about what’s going on, and everyone is still waiting for someone to come with ideas or information. Certainly, we will make sure that people understand what it’s all about.

Vladimir Putin: This should be brought together, you are absolutely right.

Alexander Shokhin: Taking this idea a bit further, I would suggest that each organisation in the Popular Front launch a forum on its own website, collect the incoming proposals and post them on the front’s website. That way we’ll establish a multi-tiered information system.

Andrei Vorobiev: Mr Prokopenko showed us the photo. It’s all about human nature. People try to visualise the way the Popular Front might look. Maybe we should take a look at all the proposals? There should be an identity in the form of pictures, photographs, and images. This is also being discussed.

Vladimir Putin: Why not. Last night we discussed certain issues in general, today we spoke about them in greater detail. I have a strong feeling that the work is already underway. This initiative has appealed to many people and organisations. Certainly, we do need to think about the right way to organise our work. We need to develop the mechanisms and tools, sort of like a circulation system, as I mentioned before, to have the ideas and people conveyed to the decision-making level. I believe we need to build an independent and neutral platform that we could use for our meetings. We will do it next week. I’m talking about being in Moscow, of course.

Let me thank you for today’s discussion of the issues involved in the organisation and content of our work and the discussion of the document. Certainly, all we had to deal with today is just a rough draft, but I think it’s a pretty good draft, which let us discuss the phrasing of certain statements.

Mr Medvedev and I had a fairly detailed discussion about these issues. He supports our work. We will think about the incorporation of the documents, but I still need to run this by him.

I believe we are on the right track. Thank you for coming and I hope that we will get together and agree on certain things next week, just like Mr Shokhin said. We will take your proposals under consideration and finalise the document shortly. Then we’ll send it out to everybody and expect the organisations to discuss it.