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Vladimir Putin: Life cannot be brought back to normal without dealing with criminal activity. And the seats of criminal activity and terrorism cannot be liquidated unless normal conditions are created for the people. One thing flows from the other…

We will revisit the issues discussed at the Conference in Moscow and here in Chechnya, in Gudermes and in Grozny: I mean wage arrears and lack of jobs. We will revisit the issues of financing and of the spring sowing season. The chances are that we won’t be able to do everything on the required scale and in required quantities at the same time. But I want to bring this message to you: we have no other option but to work steadfastly, calmly and without hysteria. To work together. We must understand that no miracles will happen, that we will all simply have to work if anything is to be achieved. Of course the leaders should work too, beginning from the district level to the Government of the Republic and the Head of the Republic and of course it applies to the federal ministers too.

If problems are to be solved they must be tackled on the ground here. That is why I have with me today the federal-level executives. That is why I have brought them along with me.

And last, but not least. I would like to stress that in spite of the withdrawal of troops – and it will continue – Russia is not going to leave. There should be no doubts on that score. The excess troops are being removed precisely in order to make it easier for the heads of local administrations to work with the people. You know what happens to the armed forces when they are inactive. And the heads of administrations gave poignant accounts of the abuses that occur at checkpoints. That should also be food for thought. Without any doubt, one of the key tasks is to establish communication lines with all the structures operating in the Chechen Republic.