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According to the document, the Ministry for Internal Affairs will, in addition to its other functions, act as a federal executive body responsible for migration policy.

By a separate decree, Colonel General of the Interior Andrei Chernenko was appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and head of the Federal Migration Service.

During a meeting with Mr Chernenko, Mr Putin set three objectives before the Deputy Minister: to create conditions for immigration of skilled personnel to Russia, to regularise the residence of stateless people in the country and create a favourable climate for those who want to work, study or get medical treatment in Russia.

Mr Putin said the decision to make the migration service part of the Internal Affairs Ministry had been prompted by the need to streamline the service. He stressed that Russia was interested in an increased labour inflow and that foreign specialists were welcome in those parts of Russia that needed them.

The President noted that the migration service would not be a para-military organisation because its main aim was to make arrival procedures orderly and migration processes transparent.

Mr Chernenko reported to the President the top-priority measures he intended to take in his new post.