The President opened the meeting by giving a number of instructions to the Government, in particular concerning the development of a programme to support children without parental care, and youth policy in general. Mr Putin also asked the Government to put together proposals increasing liability for extremist crimes and making work with Russia’s various ethnic and immigrant communities more effective.
Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref reported on the results of a tender to select the areas where special tourism and recreation zones will be developed.
Replying to a question from the President, Health and Social Development Minister Mikhail Zurabov reported on the situation with financing for a programme to address the problems of homeless children and lack of parental supervision. Mr Putin stressed the need to develop a national state programme for working with children without parental care.
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin informed the meeting that the State Duma had definitively adopted the 2007 budget, and reported on preparations for the 2008–2010 three-year budget.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed the meeting about the programme of his upcoming visits to Argentina and Brazil.
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reported on the examination of a draft law to amend the Urban Development Code and related legislation in order to remove administrative barriers in the way of housing construction.
Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov reported on an upcoming meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission that will examine, among other issues, the missile and space industry’s development strategy through to 2015 and the creation of the Angara space rocket system. Replying to a question from the President, Mr Ivanov also reported on deadlines for completing work to connect the Plesetsk space launch centre to the gas network.
Mr Ivanov also reported on the creation of the United Construction Corporation and its board of directors’ upcoming meeting.
Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev reported on the introduction of contract-based service for Interior Ministry personnel serving in Chechnya as from December 1.