Vladimir Putin: People from all over Russia Will Move to Far East

An agency to oversee the progress of the governmental programme to develop the Far East is about to be created. According to the Vostok-Media news agency, while speaking at a press conference in Vladivostok, President Vladimir Putin said he would have such agency created as soon as he returned to Moscow.

The head of state emphasised that both the federal government and local administrations will take measures to assure a significantly higher standard of living in the Far East so 'people will move here from other regions of the country'. Special support will be extended to young families, a separate federal programme to receive additional financing.

The President also said a commission of the Security Council of Russia headed by Vladimir Rushailo would arrive in the Far East soon. The commission will consider the problems of the military and law enforcement agencies in the region pertaining to the security of Russia. The President also believes that migration policies need to be revised, the Chinese population of the region having lately increased from 15,000 to 200,000. 'There is a number of questions', he said, 'the military and law enforcement will have to answer'.

While commenting on the reasons of his trip to the Far East, the President said he needed 'to learn as much as possible about the life in the country and the existing problems'. Mr. Putin intends to make such trips traditional. From the Far East, the President went to Siberia where he has a number of important meetings.