Vladimir Putin's introductory speech: 

Good afternoon,

Today, we have gathered for the first meeting of the organising committee on holding the Year of the Youth in Russia. Let's analyse the year's programme and discuss the priorities of youth policy in Russia.

The first question suggests itself: do we have a youth policy or not? Many people are asking this question. It goes without saying that if under this policy we mean a unified code of rules, priorities and directions of work, we probably don't have it up to this day.

Talking about youth policy, we mean a whole complex of economic and social problems, such as demography, science, education, and housing policy. I think you will agree with me on this score. Mr Zhukov is sitting next to me. He knows that we have a housing programme. If we look at demographic problems on a broad plane, they will also be part of youth policy. Everything that concerns science and education is youth policy as well.

We have decided to conduct the Year of theYouth to concentrate the efforts of the federal Government, the regions and civil society as a whole on resolving these issues. Needless to say, this is a logical continuation of our strategic line of investing in human resources. We have declared this in the Concept of Long-Term National Development up to 2020. These priorities underlie the Main Directions of Government Policy up to 2012.

Those who are now 15, 20, 30, or 40 will lead the efforts to carry out plans and projects of Russia's development and consolidation of civil society. We have 38 million young people aged between 14 and 30. They make up one third of our population, or to be more precise, 27%. This is the most dynamic, and, I hope you'll agree, the most vulnerable part of society.

On the one hand, they are capable of many things. They can make the country successful and competitive, but they need support, encouragement, a sound environment and reliable social guarantees. Now almost every young person is facing major challenges in education, employment, social adaptation, and housing. Regrettably, certain other problems that we didn't address in the past acquire special urgency in the conditions of the crisis. I mean aggressiveness, crime, extremism and ethnic intolerance among young people. Unfortunately, these attitudes exist and we cannot ignore them.

We must deal with all these problems extensively and systematically. We must remove all barriers to career promotions of young people in business, the Government and in science, and to give them broad opportunities for personal and professional self-fulfillment. Allow me to repeat that we view the Year of the Youth as an important stage in developing a systemic model of work with the younger generation.

We have made certain organisational efforts in this direction. We have approved a strategy of government youth policy, and set up a profile ministry and a federal agency. Relevant structures are operating in many regions and municipalities.

However, we still have a lot of ground to cover. One of the main tasks is to restore and develop at a new level a network of regional and municipal organisations working with the youth. Regrettably, at one time we have practically lost this entire infrastructure.

I consider it necessary to help the regions with premises, and the material and technical base of centres for children and young people. It is essential to do the most elementary things. I'd like to ask federal officials to improve permanent monitoring of this sphere.

We need circumspect mechanisms for implementing youth policy. I'd like to see proposals on improving legislation. For instance, we need to have a more flexible and effective permanent financial support for children's and youth public organisations. It goes without saying that we must make full use of their potential in carrying out government youth policy. Thus, they can become a major link in the chain of search and support for self-motivated and talented young people. Needless to say, it is impossible to imagine any youth policy without young people themselves. They should take an active part in this work.

We are counting on the effective, coordinated position of the Government, public and youth organisations and movements, on the active attitude of young people themselves. Last but not least, it would be great if our efforts do not become a mere formality. I hope, everyone will agree with me on this.

I started by saying that we do not have a code of rules that we could call a youth policy but it is perfectly obvious that government bodies are making very effective efforts, especially in the demographic sphere, to help young people resolve their problems. Now we must take another step forward. This is exactly why we have announced the Year of the Youth - to draw society's attention to the problems facing young people. At this point I'd like to emphasise once again - I'd like to hope very much that our efforts do not turn into a sheer formality.

Let's get down to work.

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It goes without saying, and I've already mentioned it, we have announced the Year of theYouth to draw the attention of society and the state to the problems of young people. We proceed from the premise that our efforts in the past were insufficient. I've already said that elements of youth policy are present in all spheres dealt with by the Government - education, science, housing, demography, to name but a few. However, we assume that we are not doing enough to support our young people.

Needless to say, we should consolidate the legal foundation. I agree with Mr Mutko. We must build a material and technical base but we must make sure that our organisational efforts do not replace the gist of our work. For instance, I don't see much point in converting sports and fitness centres in the regions into administrative offices. Let's use other premises for this purpose. If we are doing something for meaningful work with young people, let's give them an opportunity to use what was made specially for them.