RESULTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN JURIDICAL SYSTEM PROGRAM
Izvestia, April 25, 2003, p. 3 EV
Yesterday the final conference “Development of Russian Juridical System” reviewed the results of a project that the Russian Institute of Law and Public Policy has being carrying out with the support of Danish and Greek governments and with the participation of European Commission representatives in Russia since October 2002. Famous lawyers and public figures regarded the archaism of the Russian administrative system, underdevelopment of the legal awareness of citizens, inaccessibility of the system of justice as the main obstacles on the path of reforms. According to Deputy Economic Development Minister Mikhail Dmitriyev, some of the experts’ recommendations has already been included into the medium-term program of the social and economic development of Russia.
NEW TASKS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ENVOYS
Izvestia, April 25, 2003, p. 3 EV
Vladimir Putin has set new tasks for his seven envoys in the federal districts. They are to see that the upcoming parliamentary elections are clean, to be in full control of the regional leaders in the sphere of the housing and communal services and strengthen the indivisible economic area of the country. However, the main directive is to realize in what direction the seven should move. Moreover, the seven will offer the possible directions.
The presidential envoys appear in the Kremlin very often. However, a specialized envoys’ meeting takes place very seldom. It happens every half of a year at best. Wednesday meeting was a fore-anniversary one. The institution of presidential envoys will be three years old on May 13.
According to Valentina Matviyenko, the presidential envoys should now stand the test of the election campaign. Putin told his envoys to watch over the elections. It is important that “worthy and respected” people come to the Duma from the regions. A strict connection with the political orientation is not obligatory. The main task is the common efficiency of the parliament. As it became known, the purposes of the presidential envoys include the support for the presidential election.
NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 25, 2003, EV
Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov appointed two new deputies yesterday. Galina Karelova replaced Valentina Matviyenko as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs. Her last post was First Deputy Labor Minister. To all appearances, Valentina Matviyenko pulled some strings for this appointment. She described her successor as a “worthy manager”.
Head of the State Standards Commission (SSC) Boris Aleshin took the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Policy. Aleshin became the SSC head before the difficult reforms of standards and certifications. In the course of these reforms, Aleshin broke down substantial resistance from officials, including the officials of his own department. Successful reforms are not the only asset in Aleshin’s career history. The new Deputy Prime Minister is not an outsider in the sphere of the industry. Practically his whole career has been connected with aircraft construction.
