In his talk with journalists, Vladimir Putin dismissed the fears of some sceptics who claimed that the celebrations would be undemocratic and geared mainly towards entertaining foreign guests and not the residents of Russia’s northern capital. The President said that the anniversary was above all an occasion to remind the country and the world of the cultural, economic and political significance of St Petersburg and draw attention to the problems of the city which equally belongs to Russia and Europe.
Preparations for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg started three years ago, and during that time the federal and city authorities concentrated on large-scale infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life in St Petersburg. The President said that the federal budget had disbursed more than 40 million roubles in recent years. Much of that sum went to modernising the transport system. The new Ladoga Train Station had been opened and the rebuilding of an accident-stricken metro line continues. The eastern half of the ring motorway will be completed by 2004 and the western half no later than 2009. This project, President Putin said, would go a long way in solving the problem of congestion in the city centre and dramatically improve the environment.
Another priority is restoration of cultural and historical landmarks. Restoration work has been carried out at the Sheremetyev Palace and in the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelnya has been rebuilt. The President told journalists that the restoration of that palace, which cost $300 million, was 99.9% privately financed by Russian donors. The palace will be the venue of major international events.
On May 31, Strelnya will host the Russia-European Union summit, which will be attended by the leaders of 15 EU member countries and 10 candidate countries. Mr Putin expressed hope that the holding of such a representative forum outside St Petersburg, the most European of Russian cities, would help to strengthen mutual understanding between Russia and Europe. The President stressed that if the EU wanted to be an independent centre of world power in its own right, the shortest and safest way to achieve that goal is to have good relations with Russia. The Russian head of state noted with satisfaction that this view was increasingly shared in Europe and that the attitude towards Russia was changing for the better, adding to St Petersburg’s role as a bridge between Russians and Europeans.
In conclusion, President Putin recalled the city’s arduous history and the numerous victims claimed by its construction and throughout its existence. St Petersburg was built for over 300 years against heavy odds; it stood on its feet with difficulty and put up a valiant defence against invaders. That is why to be a citizen of St Petersburg is a great honour and a great test. The head of state congratulated all the citizens on the city’s anniversary and wished them a good life in a good city.