Mr Kadyrov summarised regional social and economic development in 2003, describing them as positive. The budget was fully utilised, and all wages in education and health services, as well as grants and pensions, paid on schedule.
Much was still to be done to oust traitors from the Chechen police, Mr Kadyrov said, adding that the personnel should be increased to establish and man rural police stations.
Mr Putin replied that the Chechen police was active enough, as far as he knew.
The recognition of the Chechen leadership and its policy—that is, the federal centre’s policy in Chechnya—was among the greatest achievements of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Mr Kadyrov said.
To that, Mr Putin stressed that recognition by one’s own people mattered most. He asked what was being done in Chechnya to increase public incomes, create new jobs and pay promised compensations for lost homes in time.
Mr Kadyrov replied that more than a thousand families had been notified about upcoming compensations, and explained that the process was lengthy as upward distortions had been found in a half of applications on the previous compensation arrangement. Interior Ministry and Gosstroi checks also revealed major transgressions in the new arrangement. Mr Kadyrov thought the payment pattern needed more streamlining.
Mr Putin called him to spare no efforts against transgressions, and said that all entitled to compensations should get them.
He asked whether children had been taken out of Chechnya for summer vacations. Mr Kadyrov said that much fewer enjoyed the benefit than in 2002 because of a recent change of top social insurance managers.