PRESS RELEASE*

The following decisions were adopted on issues considered at the May 11, 2006, meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation:

1. On Measures to Implement the State of the Nation Address of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation has instructed executive bodies to work out measures to implement the main propositions of the State of the Nation Address of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of 2006 and to forward them within a 3-day period to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade along with executive bodies and the Bank of Russia is directed to draw up a summary plan of measures to implement the main propositions of the President''s State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly of 2006 and to forward them within a 10-day period to the Government.
D. A. Medvedev, A. D. Zhukov and S. B. Ivanov had to preliminarily examine the draft of the summary plan of measures with respect to the appropriate matters.
Head of the Apparatus of the Government of the Russian Federation, Minister of the Russian Federation S. E. Naryshkin is directed to secure the preparation of a draft schedule of reports by the heads of the federal executive bodies at Government meetings on progress in carrying out the tasks that are set in the President''s State of the Nation Address of 2006, and to submit it for approval.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade must provide when preparing drafts of a 2007 federal budget and of a long-term financial plan for 2007-2009 federal budget funds that are necessary for implementing the main propositions of the President''s State of the Nation Address of 2006.

2. On the implementation of Federal Law No. 122-FZ of August 22, 2004 in the part of the provision of measures of social support to individual categories of citizens
The Russian Federation Government took note of the report of the Minister of Health and Social Development on the matter.
At the meeting, the Ministries of Finance and of Health and Social Development in conjunction with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation were instructed not later than May 22, 2006, to submit proposals for an increase of the federal budget funds earmarked in 2006 for effecting monthly cash payments to the citizens included in the federal register of persons having a right to receive government social assistance.
The said Ministries along with interested federal executive bodies and organizations have to submit proposals to the Government on procedures governing:
- the provision to citizens who were subjected to radiation as a consequence of the Chernobyl NPP disaster of measures of social support linked to the performance by them of their job duties, and
- the adjustment of the cost of the set of social services following changes in the rates and prices for goods and services.
The Government instructed the Ministry of Health and Social Development along with interested federal executive bodies and organizations to work through additionally the question of providing medicine to certain categories of citizens who are entitled to receive government social assistance in the form of a set of social services, paying special attention to:
- the financial backing of these services with regard for, among other things, the requirements of the citizens in medicinal drugs, and
- the exercise of control over the level of prices for medicinal drugs.
The results of this work have to be reported to the Government before October 1, 2006.
The meeting instructed the Health and Social Development, and Finance Ministries to submit to the Government their coordinated proposals for the use in 2006 of the 2005 federal budget funds that have been turned over to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation to finance the expenses on arranging the travel to the place of medical treatment and back and to the Federal Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, for an additional provision of medicine to those citizens.
In preparing a draft 2007 federal budget the Ministries of Finance and of Health and Social Development have to consider increasing the amount of federal budget funds that are earmarked for providing disabled persons with motor vehicles.
The Government instructed the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the bodies of executive authority of the subjects of the Russian Federation to ensure monitoring of the implementation of Federal Law No. 122-FZ of August 22, 2004.
The executive bodies of the Russian Federation must submit appropriate information to the Ministry of Health and Social Development on a quarterly basis, before the 10th of the month following the reporting quarter.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is directed to report on results to the Government on a quarterly basis, before the 24th of the month following the reporting quarter.

3. On the work of the housing and utilities sector enterprises in the 2005-2006 autumn/winter season and on the tasks in getting them ready for the autumn/winter season of 2006-2007
The Government took note of the report of the Minister of Regional Development on the matter.
The Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Industry and Energy in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and Rosatom along with OAO RAO UES Russia and OAO Gazprom, with regard for the debate held and a review of the 2005-2006 heating period, are directed to prepare and approve the respective plans of measures to ensure a steady supply of fuel and electricity to the public and the branches of the economy during the autumn/winter season of 2006-2007, paying special attention to:
- the necessity of accumulating stocks of fuel and energy resources (gas, coal and mazout) at the UES Russia plants and municipal generating stations in an estimated amount and within a prescribed time;;
- the timely preparation for the heating season of the facilities of the housing and utilities sector, and
- the carrying out of repairs to heat supply systems and communication networks..
Work done has to be reported to the Government before June 15, 2006.
The meeting instructed the Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Industry and Energy and Rostekhnadzor, or the Environmental Regulatory Authority, along with OAO RAO UES Russia, the executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation and bodies of local self-government before November 15, 2006, to secure the completion of a check on the preparedness of the facilities of the housing and utilities sector as well as of the power plants of UES Russia and other generating stations for work in the autumn/winter period of 2006-2007. Before November 25, 2006, an appropriate report must be submitted to the Government.
The Government instructed the Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Ministry of Regional Development to consider lending the budgets of the subjects of the Federation financial assistance out of the federal budget to make up for the expenses to be incurred in the wake of a rise in the cost of furnace mazout as well as for the supernormative expenses connected with an increase in the consumption of fuel and energy resources because of the low temperatures of the past winter.
On matters requiring a Government decision, it is necessary to submit appropriate proposals.
The chief stewards of federal budget resources are directed to take necessary action to extinguish the accumulated arrears of payment for consumed fuel and energy resources and municipal services. The Ministry of Regional Development has to be informed of the results before July 1, 2006.
The Ministry of Regional Development is directed to generalize the received material as well as examine it with participation by the bodies of executive authority of the subjects of the Russian Federation, and before August 1, 2006, report to the Government.
The Government has directed the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Industry and Energy along with interested federal executive bodies and organizations to consider the question of measures to prevent any unjustified increases in furnace mazout prices. The appropriate proposals must be submitted to the Government before October 1, 2006.
At the meeting, the executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation along with bodies of local self-government were directed to:
- carry out an analysis of the results of the work on providing consumers with fuel and energy in the autumn/winter period of 2005-2006 and draw up plans of measures to get the housing and utilities sector ready for work in the autumn/winter season of 2006-2007, paying special attention to the state of the fixed assets of the organizations of the housing and utilities sector, the creation of necessary fuel stocks and the training of skilled personnel to operate the equipment;
- in conjunction with interested federal executive bodies carry out a check on the preparedness for the upcoming heating season of power supply organizations in the areas under their jurisdiction, including the energy facilities of the housing and utilities sector, heat and electric supply stations and boiler city-forming organizations as well as producers of electricity and heat energy;
- take action to improve the settlements for fuel and energy resources and municipal services consumed by their subordinate and other organizations, as well as to improve the collection of individuals'' payments for consumer municipal services and widen the practice of use of personified accounts of citizens, and
- liquidate arrears of wage payments to the workers of the enterprises of the housing utilities sector.

4. On the Draft Federal Law on Introducing Amendments to the Federal Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation and on Considering As No Longer in Effect Certain Russian Federation Legislative Acts on the Prevention of the Spread in the Country of the Disease Caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV Infection)
The Government endorsed the Draft Federal Law and resolved on introducing it to the State Duma.

5. On introducing amendments to the Statute on the Federal Tax Service
The meeting adopted a draft Government resolution on the matter.

6. On allocation of resources from the Russian Federation Government Reserve Fund for lending lump sum financial assistance to the victims of the terrorist action committed on October 13-14, 2005 in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkar Republic
The Government adopted a draft executive order on the matter.

7. On allocation to the Stavropol Territory Government of resources out of the Russian Federation Government Reserve Fund for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations and the consequences of natural disasters and on the issuance of government housing certificates to the citizens who lost their housing as a result of the rain flood that occurred in May 2005 within Stavropol Territory
The meeting adopted a draft executive order of the Government on the matter.

8. On allocation of resources from the Russian Federation Government Reserve Fund for payments to the families of the citizens of the Russian Federation who died as a result of the A-320 plane crash which occurred on May 3, 2006 in the Sochi area
The Government adopted a draft executive order on the matter.

9. Miscellany
The Government took note of the information by the Minister of Transport/Chairman of the Government Commission, which was formed by a decision of the Government of the Russian Federation to aid the families of the dead and eliminate the consequences of the A-230 plane crash, on the progress in the work on the crash scene.
On matters that require a decision of the Government, the Ministry of Transport in conjunction with interested federal executive bodies is to submit drafts of the respective acts.

May 13, 2006
Moscow

No. 866
* Decisions on issues on the agenda take into account proposals and recommendations made at the Government''s meetings and are executed in the form of special official documents of the Government of the Russian Federation.