Addressing the meeting, Mr Putin said that it was the first meeting of its kind between government and society. He also said that non-political organisations were valuable because of their independence from government. They had other, and sometimes more effective, leverages over society.
Representatives of about 30 organisations took part in the meeting. There were members of soldiers’ families communities and associations, associations helping Chernobyl children, disabled people, forced migrants and war veterans.
The meeting discussed, in particular, the social integration of children from orphanages and ways of providing them with accommodation.
See also
Address at a Meeting with NGO Representatives
June 12, 2001