President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues and friends.
I would like to congratulate all of you on the completion of what I think – and you will probably confirm this – is an interesting and useful undertaking linked with the upgrading of your skills.
This is the first class of graduates of this kind, but I must say right away – and you know this – that seven graduates have already been appointed governors of large and very important regions of the Russian Federation.
We do need modern, smart specialists that are able to formulate tasks and achieve implementation, and in all areas: production, science, education, medicine and management. I am very pleased to say that this is what all of you are.
I would like very much to see your careers match your potential, which is great. All of you are people with much potential. As they say, your lives are ahead of you and I would like to wish you success.
You probably know that we will continue this programme and the second enrollment will take place in June. I would like to see not just seven graduates appointed and working but all of you find yourselves in your professions and careers, and for our part we will do everything we can to help and support you.
I hope that the time you have spent was not in vain and that all this will be used to resolve the major challenges facing this country.
I wish you success!
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