"I think that will make their job more efficient," remarked the President as he held session in Sochi, Black Sea coastal spa, with Alu Alkhanov, chief of the public council for Chechen rehabilitation, and Ramzan Kadyrov, republican Deputy Prime Minister.
"Bandit outrages have not stopped to this day. Your men and federal forces are in action against them-but to be really efficient, you ought to be very quick on the uptake in your contacts. You must offer a joint response to challenges, and support each other," Mr. Putin called the Chechen dignitaries.
Alu Alkhanov thinks Chechen petroleum export returns ought to raise the republic from the ruins-a task that demands huge sums. Vladimir Putin approved his idea.
"We have long been racking our brains over the matter. Now, we are ready with a plan: a certain part of Chechen-extracted petroleum will be taken out of Russia, with the entire export returns to go to Chechnya to restore its economy and social welfare. That will reduce related federal expenditures and step up rehabilitation efforts," said Mr. Alkhanov.
"That will be possible, I expect. Please put your idea on paper for the federal Prime Minister, and I shall talk to him. I think it's a reasonable idea, and everyone will understand it. If necessary, it may take the form of a government decree-and if it requires fiscal laws amended, I am ready to make the request to the State Duma [the federal parliament's lower house]," replied President Putin.
He expects the Duma to approve the tentative arrangement. "Why should we spend federal money on a republic that extracts a mineral treasure in great global demand? It would be just, considering current developments, to channel that oil-extracting republic's revenues into its rehabilitation. It is extremely important for the government to come up with a related initiative in an explicit wording," added the President.
He called the public council for Chechen rehabilitation not to terminate work and, on the contrary, step it up after the upcoming Chechen presidential poll. A pre-term election has been appointed for August 29, Sunday next, and Alu Alkhanov is one of the principal hopefuls.
"Not a kopeck should be wasted-all money is to come to the benefit of people who live in Chechnya," stressed President Putin.
He made an emphasis on another point, too-Chechen social issues will never be settled unless the republic regains law and order: "There is no way to solve social problems without due order. We know that better than many."
This morning, President Putin made a lightning visit to Chechnya. He was paying tribute to the memory of late lamented republican president Ahmad Kadyrov on his birthday.
"You have found time to come to the graveside of our republic's President. We are grateful. You have commemorated not only the dead President but all who laid down their life for Russian interests," said Ramzan Kadyrov, President Kadyrov's son.
"Don't thank me. I was long eager to do it. That was my duty to Ahmad Kadyrov's memory," replied President Putin.
He, Ramzan Kadyrov and Alu Alkhanov came to the Chechen village Tsentoroi to lay flowers on the grave of Ahmad Kadyrov, who would be 53 today. The republican president died in a terror act of May 9 in Grozny, Chechen capital.
