A Russian Diary by Anna Politkovskaya Read Free Book Online Page B

answer.)
    PUTIN: “The fact that you are working for export is entirely positive. There is a battle being waged for the arms market, and Russia is not doing at all badly. We have an armaments procurement program up to the year 2010 and it is being fully financed. Of course, there are problems; one would always like to allocate more to our armed forces. The priorities for procurement are decided by the Ministry of Defense, which has placed new aircraft only eighth on its list of priorities, even though today's wars are fought using aircraft. You can be entirely sure that your services will be required.”
    KATYA USTIMENKO, student: “ I have voted for the first time. What can we expect from the new Duma?”
    PUTIN: “No civilized state can live without a legislative institution. A great deal depends on the Duma. We expect efficient, systematic work.”
    ALEXANDER NIKOLAEVICH: “I live in Tula, in the house where my father lived before me. The foundations are breaking up. We are in an excavation zone. Why does the state talk so much, but still doesn't resolve the problem of crumbling accommodations?”
    PUTIN: “I have been to Tula. I was surprised at the state of the residential accommodations. There are ways and means. What are they? Only a few years ago the state allocated practically no funds. For the first time we made funds available in 2003: 1.3 billion rubles [$43.3 million]from the federal budget. The same amount again was to be added from local government budgets. The way out is to develop mortgage lending. If mortgages had been introduced, you would have been able to make use of one. What is your monthly salary? You are working in an efficient region.”
    ALEXANDER NIKOLAEVICH: “Twelve thousand rubles [$410].”
    PUTIN: “You would qualify for a mortgage. We need to make some legislative changes.”
    YURY SIDOROV, Kuzbass: “Working as a miner is dangerous. Why has the miners’ pension been reduced to the statutory rate? What sort of pension is that?”
    PUTIN: “The average salary of miners is 12,000 rubles a month, against a national average salary of 5,700 [$195]. The logic of the pensions reform is for pensions to reflect directly the contributions made from salary. Your pension will differ from the average to your advantage; it will be higher. This change has been introduced. The national pension fund is opening a network of consultation centers around the country and in the workplace. You need to go and talk to them.”
    VALENTINA ALEXEYEVNA from Krasnodar: “You have not so far announced whether you are intending to stand in the presidential election. What are your plans?”
    PUTIN: : “Yes, I shall be standing. I shall make an official announcement in the near future.”
    ALEXEY VIKTOROVICH, naval repair yard, Murmansk Province: “We have had no salary or vacation pay since August. When is this going to be sorted out?”
    PUTIN: “We have sorted matters out as far as the budget is concerned. Delays must not exceed two days for salaries. As far as industry is concerned, there are a number of variations here. There are state enterprises, some of which are being reclassified as budget-financed enterprises. A number are in a parlous financial state. In other cases it is the owners and management who are responsible.”
    Question from BRILEV: “How do you feel about having your portrait in government offices?”
    PUTIN: “The president is a symbol of the state, so there is nothing terrible about that. Everything is good in moderation. When that is forgotten, it gives rise to concern.”
    SGT. SERGEY SERGEYEVICH, Russian military base in Kant, Kirghizia:* “The Americans have managed to capture Saddam Hussein, but there is going to be a second Vietnam in Iraq. Everybody will run away. The chaos there will affect everyone.”
    PUTIN: “ Sergey Sergeyevich, it is not in our national interest to see the USA defeated in its struggle against international terrorism. As far as Iraq is concerned, that is