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December 31, 2008
Wednesday
New Year Address to the Nation.
Dear friends!
We will soon be seeing in the New Year, greeting 2009.
Getting straight to the point, I would like to give you all my best wishes for this, everyone’s favourite celebration, when we take a moment to remember the past year, in which we saw happiness and disappointment, joy and loss. We each have our own experiences, and now is the time to remember them. And all our individual lives, actions and feelings are what combine to make our great country, Russia.
We have already proved how much we can do together, that we can triumph. And this year our nation has been sorely tested, and has come through with confidence and dignity, thanks to you – its citizens. I am certain that we will be able to deal with whatever difficulties we may meet in the future. And also that the state will do everything it can to make this possible.
In a few moments the dates on the calendars will change, but our essential values remain unchanging, these values – devotion to our loved ones, friendship, loyalty, sympathy and charity - remain as an anchor for us at all times. They give us strength in any difficult situation and help us not just overcome difficulties but raise us to new heights.
Now, in these minutes I would like to turn to our parents and thank them for their care and understanding, and wish them above all good health. We really do need you, and you are very dear to us. I would like also to congratulate our children on this holiday. We will do everything we can to make sure you are happy, but remember, that a lot depends on you yourselves.
Dear friends. It is time to greet the New Year. Let us take this moment to wish our loved ones, our dear ones, well. Wherever we are seeing in this New Year – whether we are at home, among friends, or even at work, now we are thinking about our nearest and dearest.
New Years Eve is a time of hope. I wish each of us peace, love and the fulfilment of all your wishes.
I wish you happiness! Happy New Year!
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December 30, 2008
Tuesday
Dmitry Medvedev signed the laws on amendments to the Russian Constitution regarding the Government's responsibility to deputies and the raising of the terms of office for the head of state and members of parliament.
The amendments assign to the State Duma (lower house of parliament) supervisory powers in relation to the Government, in particular the presentation of annual governmental reports of the results of their activity for the consideration of the deputies, including matters assigned by the State Duma.
It also sets the Presidential term as being six years, and the State Duma as five years (previously both the Presidential and Duma terms in office were four years). These changes affect any President and State Duma elected after the law is in force.
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December 29, 2008
Monday
Social services must continue to be the government's highest priority.
At the last cabinet meeting of 2008, Dmitry Medvedev called upon members of the government cabinet, State Duma leaders, and the Federation Council to pay particular attention to social services, since this is the area that most addresses the needs of citizens.
In addition to supporting social services, the president spoke about innovative economic development, in accordance with Russia’s Development Strategy through 2020, as well as development of entrepreneurship, as a long-standing priority. The head of state emphasized that the consequences of the world financial crisis should not change the objectives of Russia’s long-term development.
In summing up the year, Dmitry Medvedev noted that goals within the 2020 Strategy framework, as well as medium term goals, were met.
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December 25, 2008
Thursday
The President signed a legislative package to fight corruption.
Dmitry Medvedev signed a Federal law ‘On Fighting Corruption,’ which was accepted by the State Duma on December 19, 2008, and approved by the Federal Council on December 22, 2008.
Through another Federal law, the head of state made changes to individual legislative acts of the Russian Federation related to the enactment of the Federal law ‘On Fighting Corruption.’
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December 24, 2008
Wednesday
The national projects will be implemented fully despite the world financial crisis.
The government should fund all social obligations, Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting of the Council for the Implementation of Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy.
The national projects play an important role in the social development of the country and proved their effectiveness, President believes.
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December 23, 2008
Tuesday
The ceremony for the presentation of state awards was held in the Kremlin.
Dmitry Medvedev presented state awards of the Russian Federation to outstanding Russian citizens.
The awards ceremony is traditionally held in the Catherine Hall at the Kremlin.
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December 22, 2008
Monday
Dmitry Medvedev met with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
The principles of Russian gas supplies to Belarus and payment for them in 2009 were approved at the negotiations in the Kremlin.
The main subjects on the agenda were formation of the common economic space, trade and economic cooperation, efforts to overcome the global financial crisis, and energy sector cooperation.
Other subjects discussed included cooperation in strengthening defence capability, steps to deepen military and military-technical cooperation, and cultural and humanitarian ties.
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