In Yessentuki, Stavropol Territory, Presidential Aide Igor Levitin chaired a meeting of the working group to monitor the implementation of the State Council decisions on fulfilling the Presidential instructions on enhancing the investment appeal of Russia’s health resort sector.

Mr Kuznetsov briefed President Putin on the progress in implementing the state programme for developing the North Caucasus Federal District, the first stage of which is to be completed this year.

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin chaired a meeting in the Siberian Federal District on preparing a State Council Presidium meeting on measures to enhance the investment appeal of Russia’s health resort sector facilities.

Presidential Aide and Secretary of the State Council Igor Levitin held the first meeting of the working group on the preparations of the State Council Presidium on Measures to Enhance the Investment Appeal of Health Resort Facilities in the Russian Federation.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov and Adviser to the President Vladimir Tolstoy held a joint session of the Presidiums of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations and the Council on the Russian Language.

Vladimir Putin announced the establishment of the Ministry for North Caucasus Affairs at a working meeting with Lev Kuznetsov, who will head the new ministry.

Vladimir Putin made a short stop in Krasnoyarsk on his way from Vladivostok to Kurgan, and had a working meeting with Governor of Krasnoyarsk Territory Lev Kuznetsov.

The Governor briefed Dmitry Medvedev on the situation in the region’s housing and utilities sector.

The meeting discussed decentralisation initiatives that would transfer some of the federal government’s powers to regional level.