The President instructed ministers to concentrate attention on paying compensation to those Chechen residents who have lost their homes. Mr Putin suggested using the experience acquired during previous disaster clean-up operations.
Commenting on the international situation, Mr Putin paid special attention to the fact that the Turkish parliament had denied permission for the stationing of US troops on Turkish territory as part of the preparation for a war against Iraq. Moscow had expected such a decision, the President said.
Mr Putin said that his trip to Bulgaria had been successful, adding that Russian-Bulgarian relations had the potential to both regain and exceed the levels of 1980s.
See also
Opening Remarks at a Meeting with Cabinet Members
March 4, 2003