PRESS RELEASE*

At the session of the Government of the Russian Federation on March 13, 2008 the following decisions were made on questions under consideration.

1. On Questions of Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Tuva.
The Government of the Russian Federation took into consideration the report of the Chairman of the Government of Republic of Tuva on the subject.
Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, Ministry of Finance of Russia in cooperation with interested federal executive bodies and with participation of the Government of Republic of Tuva are entrusted to develop the question of possible inclusion of objects provided for by the Program of Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Tuva by 2015, into corresponding federal target programs on the condition of their joint funding from the federal budget, starting in 2008.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 20, 2008.
Ministry of Industry and Energy of Russia must:
- lend assistance to the Government of Republic of Tuva in its creation of a program for development of the power industry in the Republic;
- develop, together with Ministry of Finance of Russia and Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, the question of a possible joint funding provided for construction of a steam power plant in the Republic of Tuva from the federal budget in 2008 and in the ensuing years, with consideration of coals from the Kaa-Khem coal strip mine to be used by the station;
- prepare recommendations on possibilities to reconstruct in 2008-2009 the high-voltage power line Kizil - Chadan for the purpose of increasing its transmission capacity;
- develop the question of reconstruction of the Kizil thermal power station, together with "Unified Energy Systems of Russia" OJSC and the Government of Republic of Tuva.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 20, 2008.
Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Ministry of Finance of Russia are entrusted to consider the possibility to transfer shares of the Kaa-Khem Coal Strip Mine OJSC to the ownership of the Republic of Tuva with conclusion of an agreement for debt restructuring of the Kaa-Khem Coal Strip Mine OJSC to the federal budget and the budget of Republic of Tuva.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by July 1, 2008.
The Russian Border Services Agency, Ministry of Transportation of Russia, and Federal Tariff Service in cooperation with interested federal executive bodies and the Government of Republic of Tuva need to consider the question of opening the Kizil airport for international traffic and creation of a passage point in the state border of the Russian Federation.
The corresponding recommendations, concerning questions that require a decision of the Government of the Russian Federation, should be submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation.
Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Ministry of Transportation of Russia, and Ministry of Finance of Russia with participation of the Government of Republic of Tuva are entrusted to develop a set of measures for the reorganization of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Tuva Airways."
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 20, 2008.
Federal Tariff Service together with Federal Security Service, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Russian Border Services Agency must prepare recommendations on inclusion into the federal target program "State Border of the Russian Federation (2003-2010)" of measures on reconstruction, modernization and technical equipping of the "Khandagayti" car passage point, with consideration of its opening for multilateral international traffic.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by April 10, 2008.
Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia, Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia, Ministry of Culture of Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, Ministry of Transportation of Russia, in accordance with their spheres of competence, are entrusted to consider the following questions in cooperation with the Government of Republic of Tuva:
- inclusion of the following regional general-purpose highways into the list of federal highways: А-161 Abakan - Ak-Dovurak, А-162 Ak-Dovurak - Chadan, А-163 Chadan -Khandagayti - state border of Mongolia;
- possibility to reduce tariffs for passenger air traffic in air service to the Republic of Tuva;
- organization of reconstruction of a building complex in the territory of the Republic, with particular attention paid to the need to build factories that produce cement, brick and ferroconcrete;
- allocation of funding for geological explorations for the purpose of search and evaluation of solid mineral resources in the territory of the Republic of Tuva in the process of formation of draft lists of objects of the government order on renewal of primary mineral resource base at the expense of the federal budget for 2009 and in the ensuing years;
- development of agriculture processing in Republic of Tuva, with particular attention paid to creation of aviculture and swine breeding enterprises, restoration of livestock breeding, and improved efficiency of veterinary service;
- development of information and communication technologies in the Republic of Tuva;
- refining of the list of specialties registered at educational institutions of the Republic of Tuva, and consideration of reorientation of these institutions according to changes in the Republic's demand for specialists;
- equipping of health service establishments of the Republic of Tuva with modern medical equipment having provided, in particular, for enhancement of the Kizil tuberculosis dispensary physical framework in 2009-2010;
- conclusion of building of annex to the building of the Kizil Perinatal Therapy Center;
- creation of a museum exposition displaying cultural valuables discovered during excavations of the Arzhaan-2 archeological object in Republic of Tuva;
- joint funding of reconstruction of the Kizil Drama and Music Theatre from the federal budget.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by July 1, 2008.
Ministry of Regional Development of Russia in cooperation with other interested federal executive bodies, the Government of Republic of Tuva with participation of interested organizations, with consideration of directions given at the meeting, are entrusted to ensure the formation of investor unions for implementation of investment projects in Republic of Tuva for the purpose of creation of the infrastructure, including railway infrastructure, and a complex social and economic development of the region.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by April 2, 2008.
The Russian Federal Agency for Tourism and Ministry of Economic Development should lend assistance to the Government of the Republic of Tuva in its preparation of recommendations to create a special economic zone of the tourism and recreational type.
At the meeting, it was recommended that the Government of Republic of Tuva should:
- speed-up the work on allocation of land for the purpose of implementation of investment projects for construction of Kizil-Kuragino railway line, and development of the Mezhegey coal field;
- develop the question of amendments to the Regional Program for Improved Traffic Safety, in the part of adjusting of its aims and factors in accordance with the aims and factors of the federal target program "Improved Traffic Safety in 2006 - 2012."
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 27, 2008.
The Government of Republic of Tuva needs to take measures to intensify work on realization of priority lines of administrative reform, with particular attention paid to:
- development and introduction of administrative standards for performance of state functions and provision of state services, having started the creation of multifunctional centers for provision of services to legal entities and private individuals;
- optimization of the network of state and municipal establishments and enterprises in the part of redistribution of non-appropriated property for the realization of powers delegated to executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and local authorities.
The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation by November 1, 2008.

2. On the Progress of Implementation of Federal Target Programs and Implementation of Federal Targeted Investment Program for 2007
The Government of the Russian Federation took into consideration the report of Ministry of Economic Development of Russia on the subject.
It was noted at the meeting that specific federal executive bodies - state customers of federal target programs and construction projects and objects for state federal needs, have not ensured the completion of program activities in full and implementation of construction projects and objects.
In connection with this, federal executive bodies - state customers of federal target programs, and also construction projects and objects for federal state needs who have allowed delays in the completion of program activities and implementation of construction projects and objects, need to take measures to eliminate these.
Ministry of Economic Development of Russia should report the results of the work to the Government of the Russian Federation having included it into the set of materials on the progress of federal target programs for the 1st quarter of 2007.
Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, Ministry of Finance of Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of Russia with participation of federal executive bodies - state customers of federal target programs are entrusted to develop the question of amendments to federal target programs in the part of ensuring their compliance with implementation of inter-budgetary relations in the form of provision of subsidies for joint funding from the federal budget for capital development objects of state property of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and for provision of subsidies from budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for joint financing of capital development objects being part of municipal property.
The corresponding recommendations should be submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation by June 1, 2008.
Federal executive bodies - state customers of federal target programs and construction projects and objects for state federal requirements need to take comprehensive measures to ensure their uniform implementation during the year, with particular attention paid to adjustment of the programs in accordance with approved volumes of funding form the federal budget, objective distribution of budget investments, timely allocation of delivery orders, work orders, service orders and conclusion of contracts, and submit the corresponding materials to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia by May 15, 2008.
Ministry of Economic Development of Russia should report the results of the specified work to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 31, 2008.
Ministry of Industry and Energy of Russia, Ministry of Defense of Russia, and Federal Atomic Energy Agency by April 15, 2008 should take necessary measures to ensure implementation of federal target programs "Industrial Disposal of Military Equipment (2005-2010)" and "Global Positioning System."
The Military Commission at the Government of the Russian Federation needs to consider the specified questions.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia must adjust the federal target program "improved traffic safety in 2006-2012," refine the target indices and factors of the program, ensure their monitoring throughout the regions and envisage implementation of program activities at the cost of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, municipal areas and off-budget sources of funding.
The draft regulation of the government of the Russian Federation on the corresponding amendments to the specified program must be submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation by April 25, 2008.
Ministry of Regional Development of Russia with participation of interested federal executive bodies are entrusted to prepare and submit to the Government of the Russian Federation by September 1, 2008 the schedule of implementation of objects of federal target program "Economic and Social Development of the Far East and the Trans-Baikal by 2013."
In their adjustment of the federal target program "Electronic Russia" (2002-2010)," Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Russia with participation of interested federal executive bodies need to refine the program activities and ensure concentration of federal budget resources for funding of top-priority activities of the program.
The draft regulation of the Government of the Russian Federation on corresponding amendments to the mentioned program must be submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation by April 25, 2008.
Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, and Ministry of Finance of Russia should submit the draft federal target program "Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Chechnya for 2008-2011 to the Government of the Russian Federation by April 1, 2008.
Ministry of Defense of Russia and Ministry of Regional Development of Russia within two weeks must ensure submission of concepts of federal target programs "Improved system of recruitment of military servicemen transferred to the contract military service, to vacancies of non-commissioned officers and soldiers; transition to recruitment of military servicemen with their contracts for 2009-2013 to vacancies of non-commissioned officers (petty officers), and also shipboard personnel of the Navy" and "Improved stability of main objects and life support in earthquake zones of the Russian federation (2009-2013)," accordingly, to the Government of the Russian Federation.
3. On the Plan of Activities of Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation for Achievement of Qualitative and Quantitative Factors Set for 2008.
The Government of the Russian Federation took into consideration the report of Minister of Information Technologies and Communications on the subject.
At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the plan of activities of Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation for Achievement of Qualitative and Quantitative Factors Set for 2008, with due consideration of the discussions which had taken place.

4. On the Draft Federal Law "On Amendments to Article 17 of the Federal Law "On Narcotic and Mind-Altering Substances"
The Government of the Russian Federation approved the proposed draft federal law and decided to introduce it into the State Duma.
Ministry of Industry and Energy, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia in cooperation with interested federal executive bodies need to additionally consider the question of limitation or taking out of circulation the properties of enterprises and establishments, used for the production of narcotic and mind-altering substances.

5. On Creation of the Government Commission for Development of Small and Mid-Size Entrepreneurship.
At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the draft regulation on the subject, with due consideration of the discussions which had taken place.

March 14, 2008.
Moscow
* Decisions on the questions on the agenda are made with consideration of remarks and suggestions expressed at the government meeting. The decisions made are to be formatted as official documents issued by the Government of the Russian Federation.