Moskovsky Komsomolets
Putin Criticizes Ministers
Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Moskovsky Komsomolets that the underperforming ministers might lose their bonuses and receive a black mark on their performance reviews. During a meeting on the 2012-2015 budget, Putin told Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to consider the ministers of labor, regional development and education as candidates for this treatment.
According to Peskov, Putin also said that the three-year draft budget needs to be improved before being submitted to the State Duma. He instructed Medvedev to personally monitor the fulfillment of the presidential executive orders and to consider disciplinary measures against the “delinquent” ministers.
Putin said that Medvedev should discipline Labor and Social Security Minister Maxim Topilin and Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun for failing to fulfill the presidential orders of May 7. “A ministerial position entails personal responsibility,” the president said. “If some of the planned targets are not met, the minister should be held personally accountable. I will draw the attention of the prime minister to the need to reprimand the regional development minister and the labor minister.”
He recalled that his first executive orders, based on his election promises, formulate objectives in almost all areas. “Unfortunately, we see systemic failings in some areas,” he said, citing the failure to formulate measures for accelerating the socioeconomic development of Siberia and the Russian Far East. Several ministers were responsible for drafting these proposals, but the minister of regional development was the only one who came in for mention.
Putin also blamed the labor minister for the low salaries of university staff and for the failure to provide preferential mortgage terms for disadvantaged sections of the population. “These provisions have not been fulfilled. No proposals regarding them have been formulated,” the president said.
Putin said that government members had made only formal attempts to fulfill the objectives, but had done nothing concrete to address them. He cited the drafting of the law on professional standards (the Labor Ministry) and measures to improve the housing conditions of families with three and more children (the Regional Development Ministry). He criticized Labor Minister Topilin for his failure to submit proposals on pension reforms, saying that this is holding up the proper drafting of the budget. Peskov later said that Putin also criticized Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov for the low salaries of teachers and academics.
The ministers cited problems in their defense (only Topilin did so in person as he attended the meeting), but it did not help. “The president believes that this practice is inappropriate,” said his press secretary. “Problems should be discussed in the process of resolving them, rather than when it turns out that you have failed.”
Peskov said that it is difficult to say how the “delinquent” ministers will be punished. He said an entry could be made in their work record, which would mean they would not receive any bonuses.
But will this help the teachers and academics, who are still waiting for the president’s election promise to be fulfilled?
Kommersant
Russian Communist Sparks International Backlash with Derogatory Comment on Ambassador’s Death
The U.S. government is unlikely to dismiss Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov’s insulting tweet with regard to U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed in an attack in Libya.
“The American ambassador to Libya was shot like the lowest dog. He was the main expert on the Libyan ‘revolution.’ He reaped what he sowed,” were the exact words that Zyuganov tweeted on Monday.
Zyuganov’s office told Kommersant that spokesman Denis Parfyonov was responsible for the Communist leader’s Twitter blog. Parfyonov, in turn, said he was only responsible for technical issues and only wrote what Zyuganov told him to.
“We tweet everything that Mr Zyuganov says word for word. We wouldn’t dream of inventing things,” he said.
Kommersant sources in Washington expressed open indignation over the fact that Zyuganov, leader of the second largest political party in Russia, should mock the memory of the deceased ambassador. His views are all the more surprising since Zyuganov was known to be friendly with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, regularly attending its functions and meeting with officials.
In December 2007, he met with Ambassador William Burns where he criticized Putin and his United Russia party, according to the U.S. diplomat’s letters posted on the WikiLeaks website.
A source at the Department of State confirmed that Zyuganov continues to meet with U.S. diplomats to discuss current politics. As to the possible response to the controversial tweet, the official said the department had a choice of retaliatory measures at their disposal.
A source close to the U.S. administration was more specific and was convinced that the “lowest dog” phrase had effectively precluded any further contacts between Zyuganov and U.S. Embassy staff. On the other hand, the Department of State has yet to make any public statement.
The U.S. administration is reluctant to promote another international scandal in the midst of a presidential campaign, in case it casts a shadow on Barack Obama’s foreign policies and jeopardizes his efforts to “reset” relations with Moscow. The retaliation has apparently been postponed until after the elections, but it will come, whether the presidential election is won by incumbent President Obama or his Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Romney, who is much more critical of Russia, may authorize some kind of “show sanctions” against Zyuganov to demonstrate to other politicians that insulting the United States or its representatives will not go unpunished, sources say.
As for the ambassador who was killed, Zyuganov’s tweet was not just insulting, but also inaccurate: Stevens was not shot. According to eyewitnesses, he died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the hospital where he was taken after the militants left the compound.
Izvestia
USAID Closes Mission in Russia
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will shut down its mission in Russia.
“The United States recently received the Russian government's decision to end USAID activities in the Russian Federation," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a written statement.
“We are extremely proud of what USAID has accomplished in Russia over the past two decades, and we will work with our partners and staff to responsibly end or transition USAID’s programs,” Nuland said.
“While USAID's physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia."
At the same time, she vowed to remain committed to supporting democracy and cooperate with Russian non-government organizations.
“While USAID's physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia and look forward to continuing our cooperation with Russian NGOs,” she emphasized.
Izvestia actually warned about USAID’s possible exit back in early August. It turned out the U.S. democracy advocacy agency was reducing funding for its Russian programs due to its “declining interest” in Russia.
RIA Novosti is not responsible for the content of outside sources.
