Putin: Russia safe from collapse but facing stagnation

publiziert: Dienstag, 3. Apr 2001 / 14:46 Uhr

Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin told the parliament in Moscow Tuesday that the disintegration of the country had been halted, but warned of prolonged stagnation if far-reaching structural reforms are not driven through.

Reviewing the results of his first year in office as Boris Yeltsin's successor, Putin said in a one-hour televised speech in the Kremlin that the main task of "strengthening the state at all levels" had been fulfilled after "ten stormy years".

"Today we can say that the period of disintegration of the state is behind us," the Russian leader told an audience of government ministers and members of the two chambers of parliament, State Duma and Federation Council.

Successes he claimed included tighter control by Moscow over recalcitrant regional administrations, the highest economic growth rate in Russia for 30 years, and improved tax collection.

But he tempered his remarks with a warning that unless Russia now begins structural reforms, it faces a long period of stagnation. "Growing economic retardation" became apparent late last year but conditions for stimulating further growth were not created, he said.

Continuing capital flight of 20 billion dollars a year was evidence of an unfavorable business climate, as did the low level of capitalization of the Russian stock market. The climate for foreign investment remains weak despite some improvements, said Putin.

But although development of the private sector is being "stifled" by bureaucrats, there remains a need to introduce a "transparent" state control policy over all areas of public life, Putin added.

Putin called upon his government this year to strengthen measures to protect private property, intensify social policy and drive on reform in taxation, justice and education.

He specifically criticised vague and arbitrary enforcement of the law as encouraging corruption. "The people will hardly thank us yet because the living standard is still extremely low," Putin said of his first year's work as president.

"A main task is to regain the trust of citizens who have been repeatedly cheated by the state in the past."

Referring to the unresolved conflict against Islamic rebel forces in Chechnya, Putin said that despite the "high price" in human lives, the army had effectively fulfilled its main task. Work to rebuild the republic could go ahead but military operations will continue to "annihilate the nests of terrorists", he stressed.

A brief silence was observed for those who so far died in the war in the North Caucasus, including more than 3,000 federal troops and policemen.

Russia's foreign policy will continue to serve its economic interests in particular, Putin said. Integration with Europe would remain one of the key directions of this policy.

Cooperation with NATO in the future would depend on the Western military alliance's observance of international law and respect of the United Nations Security Council as the only body authorised to sanction the use of force, he said. No reference was made to recent tensions with the United States.

Putin's speech drew a mixed reaction from parliamentarians. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov rejected it as an "unacceptable liberal variant".

The leader of the liberal Yabloko party, Grigory Yavlinsky, meanwhile said that "the president seems to understand what is going on in the country but what he wants to do about it is still open".

Deputy Prime Viktor Kristenko said Putin's speech had called for "serious hard work at all levels". Putin won a first round victory in presidential elections on March 26, 2000, and took power as Yeltsin's preferred successor.

According to an opinion poll by the ROMIR research centre among 2,000 people, some 78 per cent of Russians support Putin's activity as president. Only 14.5 per cent viewed his record negatively.

Another recent poll showed a similar level of support for the president, but 48 per cent of people - more than double the number one year ago - said they were "very worried" by his inability to stop the armed conflict in Chechnya.

(bb/dpa)

.
Digitaler Strukturwandel  Nach über 16 Jahren hat sich news.ch entschlossen, den Titel in seiner jetzigen Form einzustellen. Damit endet eine Ära medialer Pionierarbeit. mehr lesen 22
Das Ziel des Starshield-Projekts ist die kontinuierliche Überwachung der Erdoberfläche, insbesondere für militärische Zwecke.
Das Ziel des Starshield-Projekts ist die kontinuierliche ...
Nach Berichten aus den USA plant SpaceX den Bau eines neuen Satellitennetzwerks für einen US-Geheimdienst. Dieses Netzwerk namens «Starshield» soll die gesamte Erdoberfläche überwachen. mehr lesen 
Musikstreaming-Apps im App Store  Brüssel hat Apple mit einer Geldstrafe in Höhe von 1,8 Milliarden Euro belegt. Laut einer Untersuchung ... mehr lesen  
Apple hatte Musikstreaming-Konkurrenten im App Store benachteiligt.
Internationales Super-Wahljahr 2024.
Während die USA und andere Länder sich auf die bevorstehenden Wahlen vorbereiten, prognostiziert eine neue Studie eine Eskalation der täglichen ... mehr lesen  
Obwohl künstliche Intelligenz komplexe Probleme lösen kann, hat sie auch ihre Grenzen. In einem virtuellen Test des US-Militärs mit KI-gesteuerten Drohnen sollen ... mehr lesen
Die US-Army testet KI gesteuerte Drohnen - und wurde überrascht.
Titel Forum Teaser
  • keinschaf aus Wladiwostok 2826
    belustigend peinlich Das kommt schon fast in die Nähe der Verwechslung von Oekonomie mit ... Mi, 28.12.16 01:21
  • Unwichtiger aus Zürich 11
    Grammatik? Wie kann Stoltenberg denn Heute schon wissen, welche Entscheidungen am ... Sa, 22.10.16 10:59
  • Kassandra aus Frauenfeld 1781
    Der phallophile Blick eines cerebrophoben Schäfleins! Frau Stämpfli schrieb am Ende ... Mo, 26.09.16 17:32
  • keinschaf aus Wladiwostok 2826
    phallophobe Geschichtsrückblicke "Und die grösste Denkerin des 21. Jahrhunderts? Verdient ihr Geld mit ... Sa, 13.08.16 17:48
  • Kassandra aus Frauenfeld 1781
    Alle Demonstranten gefilmt. Der Erdogan lässt doch keine Domo gegen sich zu! Die ... Di, 21.06.16 16:42
  • Kassandra aus Frauenfeld 1781
    Konzernrecht? Konzernpfusch! Was ist denn das? Konzerne werden vorwiegend von Vollidioten geführt. ... Fr, 10.06.16 17:49
  • Kassandra aus Frauenfeld 1781
    Das wird die Deutschen aber traurig machen. Wenn man keinen Flughafen und keinen Bahnhof ... Mi, 08.06.16 17:49
  • zombie1969 aus Frauenfeld 3945
    Der... Daesh (IS) kommt immer mehr unter Druck. Davon sind inzwischen auch ... Do, 02.06.16 19:22
Jonathan Mann moderiert auf CNN International immer samstags, um 20.00 Uhr, die US- Politsendung Political Mann.
CNN-News Was würde «Präsident Trump» tatsächlich bedeuten? Noch ist absolut nichts sicher, doch es ...
 
Stellenmarkt.ch
Kreditrechner
Wunschkredit in CHF
wetter.ch
Heute Fr Sa
Zürich 0°C 12°C wolkig, aber kaum Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig wechselnd bewölkt wolkig, aber kaum Regen
Basel 5°C 14°C wolkig, aber kaum Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig wolkig, aber kaum Regen wolkig, aber kaum Regen
St. Gallen 1°C 9°C wolkig, aber kaum Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig freundlich wechselnd bewölkt
Bern 0°C 11°C starker Schneeregenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig freundlich wolkig, aber kaum Regen
Luzern 1°C 12°C wolkig, aber kaum Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig wechselnd bewölkt wolkig, aber kaum Regen
Genf 5°C 13°C wolkig, aber kaum Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig wechselnd bewölkt wolkig, aber kaum Regen
Lugano 6°C 10°C wechselnd bewölkt, Regenleicht bewölkt, ueberwiegend sonnig anhaltender Regen anhaltender Regen
mehr Wetter von über 8 Millionen Orten