Разговор с В.Путиным.Прямая линия.Прямой эфир. 04.12.08.Part 2

Part 2 Speaking during his annual televised Q&A session with the public,Russian Prime Minster Vladimir Putin The session lasted for about three hours. The Russian Prime Minister and the leader of the most popular Russian political party, United Russia, covered a variety of issues ranging from the global financial crisis to relations with Europe and the United States to purely domestic topics. В прямом эфире телеканалов «Россия» и «Вести», радиостанций «Маяк» и «Радио России» Владимир Путин Председатель Правительства и лидер партии «Единая Россия» ответил на вопросы, поступившие в общественные приемные Председателя партии, заданные по телефону, sms, а также через сайт программы.Трансляция идет из Гостиного двора в Москве. Let me just remind you of the figures. The economic growth target was above 7%, or more precisely 7.5%. The annual growth rate will be around 7%, possibly 6.8% or 6.9%. This is good. What is particularly important for us is the results of our efforts in the social sphere. The increase in take-home wages will be approximately 12.6% and pensions slightly more than 12% - 25% in nominal figures. Industrial production growth will be nearly 5% (4.8%). As for agriculture, it posted record-high growth over the past few years, 8.8%. We have gathered in a record-large harvest, including over 100 million metric tons of grain, which is the highest in many years. It is true that we have problems with inflation. The target figure was slightly above 12%, but annual inflation is likely to be 13%, because of the global crisis and because the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry had to inject a huge amount of liquidity into the economy. It certainly spurred inflation. But on the whole, I repeat, the annual results will be good despite the global financial crisis. ERNEST MACKEVICIUS: Mr Putin, will you have to change plans for the future, and if so, to what extent? VLADIMIR PUTIN: In principle, we have no intention to change any plans, which is very important. I am referring also to the investment plans of Russia's largest companies, and the planned reform of the housing and utilities sector, healthcare and compulsory health insurance, as well as the planned reform of education and the pension system. In addition - I think we will discuss these issues in detail later, since there are bound to be questions - I want to say at the beginning of this session that we will fulfil all our plans in the social sphere, all decisions aimed at increasing social payments and pensions. Everyone knows that some countries which have been hit by the crisis are planning to cut wages and people's incomes. We will not do this in the social sphere. On the contrary, we intend to implement all our plans aimed at increasing allocations. ERNEST MACKEVICIUS: The people's reaction in this room speaks louder than words. Mr Putin, when we were preparing for this session you selected the most frequently asked questions, issues that are of greatest concern to the people. And the biggest question is, will we survive the crisis? VLADIMIR PUTIN: To be honest, it is going to be a difficult period in the global economy, including Russia. And we must be prepared for it morally, administratively, financially and even politically. But as you know, Russia has survived bigger troubles in over a thousand years of its history. Not very long ago, in the early 1990s, we faced the problem of territorial integrity, and industrial and social disintegration. Today the situation in the country is totally different. We have a good chance of getting through this difficult time - and I repeat, it will be a difficult time - with minimal losses for the economy and the people. Трансляция канала ВЕСТИ