President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: A new region of the Russian Federation has been established. There is a lot of organisational and social and economic work ahead.
The purpose of establishing this new region was to give its residents new opportunities and open up new avenues for development. A decree aimed at encouraging all of this was signed on March 1, 2007. Let’s look now at how it is being implemented and what still needs to be done, because it is clear that it’s one thing to sign a document and another to establish a new and fully functioning region.
Governor of Trans-Baikal Region Ravil Geniatulin: The decree provides for the allocation of an additional 2.1 billion roubles over the next two years for dealing with social and economic problems.
I want to inform you that the decree is being carried out in full. Over the next two years, 17 new socially important facilities – hospitals, schools and infrastructure installations – will begin work.
In October, we will hold the first election to the legislative assembly. The commission drawing up the charter has just held its first meeting.
Work is going ahead in calm and constructive fashion and we are working in parallel on issues concerning the region’s social and economic development.
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Dmitry Medvedev: As far as the charter is concerned, it is good to see that it is coming in for such public analysis, because it will act as the foundation for the region’s life and it must therefore be balanced and put together with the greatest care from a legal point of view. It is very good that diverse social groups and representatives of public organisations are involved in drafting the document that will form the foundation for the Trans-Baikal Region’s life.
I want to stress that the aim of establishing the new region is to improve quality of life for people in the Trans-Baikal area. I ask you to keep this goal in mind in all your future work.