When opening the session, Vladimir Putin thanked the government for its good performance over the past several months. “In the period of election campaigns more attention is sometimes devoted to the campaign than to routine work. However, during the past campaign all members of the government focused on the outstanding problems and had no failures this time.”
He said that during the election campaign the country’s leadership did not give any populist or unfeasible promises. Vladimir Putin underlined the necessity to focus on meeting the criteria set by the federal budget for the development of the national economy. The ultimate purpose of all undertakings by the Cabinet should be the implementation of social programmes. “We must admit the achievements in this respect are insufficient,” Vladimir Putin said.
The session also discussed government strategy in housing reform to be implemented in 2000–2005. Vladimir Putin stressed the need to further develop the housing market, including through the improvement of the system of mortgage crediting of housing construction.
After the Cabinet meeting, Vladimir Putin held a separate meeting with members of the government’s presidium which summed up the results of 10% personnel cuts at central offices of all federal ministries.