Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.
Since our last meeting on Wednesday we have had five days to work and to think. Now we can sum up the conclusions we have reached over this time.
The task before us was not a simple one. We had to propose to the country the person we would like to see as Prime Minister of the Russian Federation’s government. This person has to be without doubt a real professional, a person of decency and integrity, and someone with solid experience in various areas of state activities.
I am pleased to see that our views coincide. The chosen candidate is Mikhail Fradkov, Russia’s ambassador to the European Union with the rank of Minister.