PRESS RELEASE^*

At the session of the Government of the Russian Federation on March 27, 2008 the following decisions were made on questions under consideration.

1. On the Action Plan of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation to Achieve Quantitative and Qualitative Figures Set for 2008.

The Government of the Russian Federation took into consideration the report of the Minister of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation on the subject.

At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved, with due consideration of the discussions which had taken place, the action plan of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation to achieve the quantitative and qualitative figures set for 2008.

Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia in cooperation with interested federal executive bodies are entrusted to additionally develop the questions brought up at the meeting, which concern the:

• Reduction in the level of income difference;
• Improved wages for public sector employees;
• Increase in the minimum salaries up to the minimum subsistence level for employable people;
• Increase in unemployment benefits;
• Creation of conditions for effective internal labor migration;
• Improved processes of regulation for external labor migration for the purpose of attracting more qualified foreign employees.

The corresponding recommendations should be submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation.

2. On Measures for the Replacement of Mineral Resource Bases of the Russian Federation

The Government of the Russian Federation took into consideration the report of the Minister of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation on the subject.

At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved in substance the measures proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.

Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, with participation of Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Ministry of Industry and Energy of Russia, Ministry of Finance of Russia and other interested federal executive bodies and organizations need to refine the complex of measures for replacement of mineral resource bases of the Russian Federation; they also should refine the Long-Term State Program of Subsoil Examination and Replacement of Mineral Resource Bases of Russia, on the basis of the balance of consumption and replacement of mineral resources., with particular attention paid to:

• improved mechanisms for the attraction of investments into the sphere of subsoil usage;
• stimulation for the application of resource-saving technologies and practice complex usage of mineral resources;
• ensured effective usage of resources provided from the federal budget for subsoil geological examination and replacement of the mineral resource bases, including spending of resources within the framework of the state orders for the implementation of corresponding operations;
• inter-linkage of measures for the replacement of subsoil mineral resource deposits with prospects of regional and economic development of different industries;
• sufficient staffing for the implementation of geological surveys;
• improved process of monitoring of the state of geological environment and preparation of forecasts of dangerous geological processes, including processes of seismic nature;
• financial and economic justifications of the recommended measures.

Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia is entrusted to confirm, as established by law, the refined complex of measures for replacement of mineral resource bases of the Russian Federation and report to the Government of the Russian Federation by May 1, 2008.

Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and Ministry of Economic Development of Russia are entrusted to develop questions of preservation in the state property of state geological enterprises and management of stocks of open joint stock companies which are federal property, that work in the sphere of geological subsoil examination, and submit the corresponding recommendations to the Government of the Russian Federation by June 1, 2008.

Federal Agency for Subsoil Usage needs to prepare information on the state and prospective development of the geology industry organizations and submit this to the Government of the Russian Federation within one week.

Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia is entrusted to analyze the proper observance of laws in organizing auctions in the Moscow Region, which concern the sale of rights to conclude leasing contracts for forest areas to be used for recreational activities, including analysis of the portion that determines the rental fee amounts.

The results should be reported to the Government of the Russian Federation within two weeks.

3. On the Draft Federal Law "On Transfer of Technologies"

The Government of the Russian Federation approved, with due consideration of the discussions which had taken place, the draft federal law "On Transfer of Technologies" and decided to introduce it into the State Duma.

4. On the Draft Federal Law "On Amendments to Article 28.7 of the Administrative Infraction Code of the Russian Federation"

The Government of the Russian Federation approved the draft federal law "On Amendments to Article 28.7 of the Administrative Infraction Code of the Russian Federation" and decided to introduce it into the State Duma.

5. On Submitting of the Supplementary Protocol of the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities and Authorities to the President of the Russian Federation for Ratification

At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the draft regulation on the subject.

6. On Submitting of Protocol No. 2 of the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities and Authorities, Concerning the Cooperation between Territorial Communities, to the President of the Russian Federation for Ratification

At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the draft regulation on the subject.

7. On Provision of Resources from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for Prevention and Recovery of Emergencies and Natural Disasters to the Sakhalin Region administration

At the meeting, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the draft regulation on the subject.

March 28, 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.