The State Council Presidium meeting focused on improving the quality of housing and utilities services. In particular, the participants discussed upgrading the housing and utilities infrastructure, the efficiency of housing stock management and the authorities’ coordination and oversight activities in the sphere of housing and utilities services.

Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting with Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoys to the Federal Districts on the housing and utilities sector’s preparations for the winter season.

During his meeting with culture professionals from Vyazma, Smolensk Region, Dmitry Medvedev discussed the problems and prospects of the region’s cultural development, in particular, the restoration of cultural monuments in the region and attracting young professionals.

The current situation in the housing and utilities sector in the regions and the sector’s preparedness for the heating season were the main subjects on the agenda.

Ms Komarova briefed Dmitry Medvedev on the social and economic situation in the region, in particular the efforts underway to resolve housing problems.

Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting with Valentina Matviyenko, who had been elected speaker of the Upper House of Parliament.

Mr Kozhemyako briefed the President on the social and economic situation in the region in general and on the situation in the region’s higher and vocational education sectors.

Dmitry Medvedev and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the VIII Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum. The main item on the agenda is the organisation of the two countries’ joint efforts in cross-border emergency situations.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov reported to Dmitry Medvedev on the socio-econimic situation and measures to ensure order and security in the republic.

The President laid flowers at the site of the crash in which members of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team lost their lives.

Dmitry Medvedev signed executive orders appointing Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoys to three federal districts.

Dmitry Medvedev congratulated residents of Kabardino-Balkaria on the 90^th anniversary of the republic’s establishment.

Dmitry Medvedev was interested, in particular, in the development of education and rise in teachers’ salaries in the region. The issues discussed also included the transition of the territory’s schools to a new system of legal organisation.

In the morning on September 1, Dmitry Medvedev visited a general education school in the village of Verkhnerusskoye, Stavropol Territory, where he sat in the first and eleventh form’s lessons. Later, the President took part in the opening ceremony of the Stavropol Presidential Cadet Academy, established at the premises of the former Defence Ministry aviation engineering college.

Dmitry Medvedev announced his decision to submit Georgy Poltavchenko’s candidacy for the post of St Petersburg Governor for consideration by the St Petersburg Legislative Assembly.

The United Russia party’s leaders presented Dmitry Medvedev with the names of their candidates for the post of governor of St Petersburg.

Dmitry Medvedev visited the Southern Federal Sports Training Centre, where national teams in the various summer and winter sports train for competition. After looking over the Centre, the President met with members of Russia’s national university students’ team.

Dmitry Medvedev presented a new-look battle flag to the Eastern Military District’s 11^th Paratroops Brigade.

Dmitry Medvedev signed Executive Order On Early Termination of the Mandate of St Petersburg Governor