Russian President on role of Russian business in restoring culture objects

Russian President Vladimir Putin considers it necessary to specify functions, rights and obligations of federal, regional and municipal authorities in culture in the context of separation of powers.

When speaking at a field session of the Culture State Council in St. Petersburg, the President pointed to the need "to complete the division of property".

In this connection he told the State Council participants about his yesterday's meeting with representatives of big business at the Constantine Palace, in St. Petersburg's district of Strelna, who financed restoration of this palace. According to Vladimir Putin, businessmen expressed their readiness to finance restoration of other culture objects. A key issue in this respect is an issue concerning the property, the President stressed.

"Failure to resolve these basic issues negatively affect distribution of means," the Russian Head of State pointed out.

Besides, Vladimir Putin said that despite the vast interest to culture projects from the business community ready to invest money to the projects, the state had so far failed to create sufficient legal and economic conditions for these purposes.

The President proposed "to take into consideration" these aspects, while developing the federal target programme, "Russia's Culture", which is to be launched in 2006.