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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Ms Matviyenko, Mr Volodin, colleagues,

By tradition we meet ahead of the New Year. I am very glad to see all of you. We have an opportunity of summing up the results of your work in the outgoing year. Just recently we celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the Russian Constitution and both chambers of the Federal Assembly. Indeed, we have traversed a very long road together, and accumulated a great deal of valuable experience during this time. You and your colleagues have shaped and continue developing our legislation and consolidating Russia’s legal system generally.

It is enough to say that over 8,000 laws have been adopted in the past quarter of a century. Understandably, the number of legislative acts is not the main indicator. What is much more important is their quality and systemic character, and concordance with public expectations and vital demands, as well as the fundamental tasks of national development.

The past year has shown that these priorities and understanding of national interests form the foundation of your work and serve as a guide for the efforts – despite the differences in views – of all parliamentary parties and regional lawmakers. This ensures constructive cooperation between all branches of power.

I would like to thank you for your support and meticulous work on the key decisions of this year, including the initiatives set out in the Address to the Federal Assembly and the May Executive Order, the funding for which has already been included into the new federal law on the budget.

Now it is very important to achieve success in implementing every national project, to move swiftly and confidently and to reach all of the set goals so that our people could feel the real positive results, the practical results of our joint work already in the upcoming year.

In this context I would like to ask you to pay special attention to the people on the ground, and to be in constant contact with your voters. In fact, this is exactly what you are doing.

It is necessary to step up open and practical work with public associations, trade unions and the business community. You should initiate an independent civil expertise of all legislative acts and draft laws that are being studied by the Federal Assembly, and keep in close contact with your colleagues in the regions, in particular, by actively using the potentialities of the Council of Legislators.

Today, regional work is extremely important and I have talked about this in public many times, as, I am sure, you know. The huge resources that we channel into the implementation of national projects will be used for the most part at the regional level. Therefore, coordination and joint work must be smooth.

We will be faced with ambitious tasks next year and much will depend on the professional, responsible work of the legislative and representative branches of power. I am hoping for the further continuation of our joint work.

Naturally, I would like to use this opportunity to wish all of you a happy New Year.

Thank you for your attention.

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