The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
|
|
September 25, 2014. Address by Oksana Kozlovskaya at the 34th Session of the Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
The Speaker’s speech at the 34th session was focused on the key trends in the Russian and global politics, which impact the Tomsk Oblast Duma’s priorities and areas of work during the autumn session.
August and September are normally eventful months for Tomsk Oblast and Russia. Yet this year the concentration of events in September was off the charts.
In September, our region celebrated three anniversaries – Tomsk Oblast, Tomsk Governorate, and the city of Tomsk. Seversk turned 65. I would like to once again congratulate our landsmen on those anniversaries and wish to every one of us peace and prosperity.
In September, Tomsk received delegations from Tokyo, Seoul, Hanoi, Bangkok, and Ulan Bator. They visited Tomsk to participate in the summit of the Asian Network of Major Cities. The delegation from Tokyo included representatives of both branches of power. At the end of the summit Tomsk Oblast and Tokyo signed a declaration on cooperation.
Another highlight event in September was the XII Triple Helix International Conference 2014 dedicated to discussions about interaction between university, government, and industry, and its influence on the economic development. For the first time in its history, the conference was held in Russia. More than that, in Tomsk! Tomsk never saw such a large confluence of world famous scientists. Participants at the conference included representatives of 3 out of 10 world’s top universities, politicians and businessmen from 30 countries of four continents.
As Wolfgang Drechsler, a world-renown expert in state management, said, “Tomsk and Tomsk Oblast made a very impressive presentation at this conference. You highlighted Tomsk on the map of the world for those of us who never knew of it before. We all left Tomsk with deep appreciation of your people and your country.”
We have all reason to be proud of such praise. Especially, in today’s tensions in foreign policy.
September was also the month of massive elections in Russia’s regions. 84 regions and more than 60 parties participated. As experts say, these elections became sort of a testimony of public trust in the acting government.
Summarizing the results of the elections, the President appealed to the regions and to the winners to justify the credit of public trust with effective work.
“People are not expecting global solutions. They are looking for clear practical results in all aspects of life. And you will have to accomplish that in difficult conditions without a right to appeal to circumstances.”
Global events that took place in September, and their implications
We have already got used to globalization. Yet, today reverse processes are taking place. The referendum in Scotland showed a clear split in the public moods. In Spain, the Catalan Parliament passed a law which paves the way for a vote on independence.
All those events are heralds of inevitable dramatic territorial and political changes in Europe and in the world.
The situation in the Ukraine has been changing for the better for the first time since the beginning of the year, as Kyiv, Donetsk, and Lugansk have signed an armistice. I regret to say that Russia’s peace-making efforts in this situation did not hold the US and Europe from introducing extra sanctions against our country.
These are the circumstances of the budgeting process for the three following years. The new budget for 2015-2017 has taken into account Crimea, cheaper oil, and risks from sanctions. It has been described as tight.
The discussions around the growth rate over these three coming years are not over yet. Still, the government has confirmed its unconditional commitment to delivering on all social obligations.
The Russian President gave a guidance which explains how the budget revenues can grow through better competitiveness of the national economy. It is essential to substitute imports with quality goods by domestic producers which would fill the gaps in all market segments.
President’s guidance to the Government
1. Adopt an imports substitution program to be implemented at the federal and regional levels, before October 1.
2. Make available bank loans and create new conditions for funding the business, primarily, through favorable interest rates for the industry.
3. Leverage public-private partnership for the development of infrastructure, particularly in the regions.
4. Set up a system for cooperation of the government and business in developing quality workforce for the real sector of economy. The national government has confirmed its intent to pay business for its engagement.
The federal budget has a special crisis pool of 190bn rubles to support the sectors affected by sanctions.
Priorities in the work of the representative branch of power are shifting accordingly.
- We are facing a challenge to develop the consolidated budget for 2015-2017 and a whole bunch of social laws to support it.
- In 2015, more than 95% of budget spending will be allocated to government programs. Procedures for the Duma deputies and the Chamber of Audit and Accounts how to work with those programs, will be defined in a new Oblast law on strategic planning.
- We will soon be reviewing two new Oblast bills On the Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast and On innovation activity in Tomsk Oblast.
- We should also revisit the law on major repairs in apartment blocks and elect representatives of the Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast to the Oblast Public Chamber.
There are 36 items on today’s agenda.
