Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday criticized his presidential envoy to the North Caucasus region for the poor situation in the volatile North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.
Medvedev instructed Alexander Khloponin to look at the possibility of giving the republic money from the federal program aimed at developing southern Russia.
Dagestani President Magomedsalam Magomedov asked Medvedev to make the change when the three met in Sochi on Wednesday.
"I believe such a program could have taken into account the problems of Dagestan more completely. It has proved itself wonderfully in Chechnya and Ingushetia," Magomedov said.
Medvedev approved the idea. "Under large programs, aid is usually wasted...If you conclude that it [the program] is worth [implementing], we will nip off a slice from the Federal Target Program South," Medvedev said, adding that the situation in Dagestan genuinely demanded such action.
"The situation is miserable," Khloponin agreed. "The republic has no source of fresh investment."
"Lately, almost nothing has been done. We can't improve the republic's economy without investment," Medvedev replied.
Dagestan's budget for this year is 9.5 billion rubles ($314 million) less than the 2009 one, but expenses have increased, Magomedov said.
Medvedev emphasized that Dagestan is among the most subsidized Russian regions with very low quality of life. "Many efforts have been made [to improve the situation] but I consider them insufficient," he said.
The Russian president announced the establishment of the North Caucasus district in January and named Khloponin as deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the district. The onetime Krasnoyarsk governor and former business executive has been described as a "crisis manager" for the region.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered Khloponin to develop a complex strategy to increase social and economic stability in the region. He said special economic zones and industrial parks should be established in the North Caucasus to attract investment to the region.
SOCHI, August 11 (RIA Novosti)
