Putin calls for more attention to village development

Vladimir Putin has called on the government to take energetic measures related to social development of the village. At a meeting with the Cabinet members in the Kremlin, the president said he had already discussed this issue with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The President is glad that "the Cabinet is going to tackle the problems of the village today, since a crucial period is to follow in the village development." The President believes that the social aspect of the village life should be addressed as well as the industrial aspect. In addition, the head of state said he would like to see the basic parameters of the village social development programme that the government is to achieve. Vice Premier, Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev took the floor after the President.