Meeting with Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kozlov, let us start by discussing the implementation of the Clean Air and Clean Country projects. I know that you are resolving some issues with this, even earlier than planned? Is that right?

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov Kozlov AlexanderMinister of Natural Resources and Environment: Thank you, Mr President.

If I may, I would like to conduct a presentation.

I would like to thank you for supporting our nature conservation issues. We are trying to balance economic development and environmental protection, and we are accomplishing this with your assistance.

We are mainly working with the legal framework in order to maintain environmental safety. Quality is our principle. We do not need huge piles of documents, and it is important that legal regulation should help preserve nature, and that it should not hamper the development of businesses.

Regarding major issues, the law on recreation on specially protected natural areas is entering into force. You noted this in your Address. This is a mechanism for collaboration among investors in designated tourist areas. I would like to remind you that it is possible to build nature trails, observation decks, hotels and cafes where we are ready to receive visitors on six million hectares out of a total of 75 million hectares. We have posted a substantial increase in tourist traffic, that is over ten million people, and this figure is going up by about 30 percent a year. I believe that this law is quite timely.

Under the so-called Usolye Law, those polluting the environment have to pay for this. We have been talking about this for a long time; every enterprise, especially a hazardous enterprise, has its own service life. In effect, we should think in advance of liquidating it, while it is still working and earning money for its shareholders. Otherwise, they abandon a bankrupt enterprise, and we will have to do all this at the expense of the state and the budget. It would be desirable to avoid this.

To be continued.