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The President expressed concern over the environmental situation in the Russian regions. During the meeting he said that up to 15% of the regions are in a critical or near-critical state. The environment in some industrial centers in Siberia and the Urals was giving special cause for concern. In the opinion of Vladimir Putin, industrial growth unaccompanied by indispensable environment-protection measures could further aggravate the problems.
A comprehensive environmental policy is a key component of a dynamic economy, the President said. He urged the need to revise and streamline the relevant legal framework. It is a must to build up a comprehensive system of government management in the field of environment protection, to take stock of the federal and regional environmental programmes, to create a single system of training ecological specialists and to match international standards in developing environmental policies.
In connection with the World Climate Change Conference due in September 2003 Vladimir Putin gave instructions to complete a review of the Russian position on the Kyoto Protocol by the time of the Conference.
The President noted measures to protect the Caspian environment as a separate challenge.
June 4, 2003, The Kremlin, Moscow