Kremlin

President of Russia

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National Priorities:
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Diary |  |

December 18 2003

The existing law on citizenship is too harsh and does not make it possible to solve the important task of attracting labour resources to the Russian market, President Vladimir Putin announced, replying to questions in a direct television and radio broadcast.

The CIS states are a natural reserve of the flow of immigrants into Russia, but the law on citizenship does not contain adequate regulation of this. The government plans to make the necessary amendments, and perhaps pass a special law on immigration.

The President said he was against prohibitive methods to regulate the flow of immigrants.

It is necessary to clearly imagine the demands of the Russian market of labour resources, and in accordance with this to develop mechanisms of attracting immigrants.

Replying to a question on the situation of the Russian population in the Baltic States, the President said that the situation needs to be combated when different standards are introduced in different parts of Europe. But this needs to be done with civilised methods, so as not to harm Russian nationals, whom Russia needs to look after everywhere, including in the Baltic States.

| Excerpts from the President’s live television and radio dialogue with the population

December 10 2003

At a meeting with participants of the conference of the Council of Defence Ministers of CIS member nations, President Vladimir Putin mentioned the topic of providing for military pensioners.

For decades, these people did their duty honestly, and whatever state in the CIS they have chosen to live in, they should be provided with decent social services and medical care.

The appropriate departments of the CIS countries should deal with this, including military departments. There are intergovernmental agreements on this matter. The President asked the ministers to give increased attention to this.

| Address to participants at the session of the Council of Defence Ministers of CIS member states

| Previous events

"We do not need bans and obstacles; we need an effective immigration policy. One that is advantageous for the country and convenient for people, particularly for residents of the Commonwealth of Independent States. For people who are close to us and with whom we have a good understanding, and with whom we share the same language. These are people of our common Russian culture."
Annual Presidential Adress to the Federal Assembly,
May 16, 2003

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