Excerpts from the transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: What are the results of the winter season on the domestic market and in terms of exports?

Alexei Miller: This winter’s natural gas supplies were affected by an unusually cold February in Russia and Europe. Nevertheless, Gazprom fully satisfied the demand of Russian consumers and consumers in the European market.

In February, Gazprom distributed 30.7 billion cubic metres of gas to consumers in Russia. This is the largest amount in the past five years.

The demand for Russian gas in Europe was growing fast. In total, in February, we set an all-time high for gas distribution to the European market in the amount of 17.4 billion cubic metres, which is up 6.8 percent compared to the historically high volume in February 2017. On March 2, we set a megarecord by delivering 713.4 million cubic metres of gas.

Gazprom has the capacity to meet peak demands for gas. On an annualised basis, our capacity totals 260 billion cubic metres of gas with an understanding that in 2017 – the year of record-high distribution – we supplied 194.4 billion cubic metres to Europe.

This winter, Gazprom confirmed its status as a reliable and responsible supplier that honours its obligations in full and on time.

Underground gas storage facilities in Europe remain at about quarter volume. In some countries this level is critical at around only 10 percent. This means that in the coming gas pumping period, in the summer, the demand for Russian gas will be high as well. In circumstances where gas production in the European Union is declining and the demand for Russian gas is increasing, new export gas distribution projects for supplying Russian gas to foreign markets are becoming even more important, including Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2.

Dmitry Medvedev: These projects are important. However, there are other factors that affect the consumption of gas in one way or another. I’m referring to the Stockholm Arbitration Institute rulings, the arbitration court, regarding your dispute with the Ukrainian company. What steps is Gazprom taking, including the contract?

Alexei Miller: The Stockholm Arbitration Court handed down a one-sided ruling which violated the balance of the interests of the parties under two contracts – the contract for gas supplies to Ukraine and the transit contract. Under the Stockholm Arbitration ruling, Gazprom owes Naftogaz $2.56 billion. Almost instantly, Naftogaz released a statement that, based on the Stockholm Arbitration rulings, Naftogaz would be able to fine us for 2018 and 2019, that is, until the expiration of the contracts, and we would be forced to pay several billion dollars.

Given this, these contracts have become economically unviable for us, so Gazprom decided to initiate a procedure for the dissolution of the contracts through the Stockholm Arbitration Court. We have already filed an appeal regarding the gas supply contract to Ukraine. An appeal will be filed before the end of March for the transit contract and the procedure for the termination of the contracts under the established standards.

Dmitry Medvedev: What will happen to gas transit to Europe?

Alexei Miller: There are currently no risks for transiting gas to Europe across Ukraine, unless of course we identify unauthorised gas siphoning by Naftogaz in Ukraine. We expect that the Stockholm Arbitration Court will redress the imbalance in the interests of the parties during the new proceedings.

Dmitry Medvedev: It is critically important for all these proceedings to take place in accordance with the existing regulations, so that the disputing parties themselves are directly involved – I mean Gazprom and Ukraine. This is expressly provided for in the existing agreements. With regard to other ways of influencing these relations, I believe, it is absolutely wrong and has an obvious political connotation – I’m talking about isolated comments made by EU officials and even the US State Department. Neither the European Union nor the foreign ministries of other countries have any part in bilateral relations between Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart.

Alexei Miller: Given the situation, Ukraine must prove the economic efficiency and viability of continuing gas transit through its territory. We are ready to hear them out and consider any proposals.

Dmitry Medvedev: Of course, all options should remain open. This is a matter of contract profitability and effectiveness.

Novosibirsk Islands Federal Nature Sanctuary with a total area of ​​6,594,496.3 hectares will be created in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on the Novosibirsk Islands Archipelago and adjoining waters. The purpose of the sanctuary is to preserve unique island ecosystems of the Russian Arctic, which have great environmental and scientific importance, the habitats and breeding grounds of many species of animals, including those requiring special protection (polar bears, Laptev subspecies of walrus, rose gulls and others), and historical and cultural sites related to the period of discovery and exploration of the islands. The adopted decision will create the legal foundation supporting the special protection regime for natural complexes and sites on lands included in the boundaries of the sanctuary.

Reference

Submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in keeping with Federal Law No 33-FZ of 14 March 1995, On Specially Protected Nature Areas.

The creation of the Novosibirsk Islands Federal Nature Sanctuary was approved as per the Plan for Observing the Year of the Environment in Russia in 2017 (approved by Government Directive No. 1082-r of 2 June 2016) and the Plan to Implement the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the Provision of National Security up to 2020.

The signed directive establishes Novosibirsk Islands Federal Nature Sanctuary (hereinafter referred to as the sanctuary), with a total area of ​​6,594,496.3, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on the Novosibirsk Islands Archipelago and adjoining waters (a section of inland sea and the territorial sea of the Russian Federation with a width of 12 nautical miles adjoining the territory of the Novosibirsk Islands Archipelago). The sanctuary will be under the jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Ministry.

The purpose of the sanctuary is to preserve unique island ecosystems of the Russian Arctic, which have great environmental and scientific importance, habitats and breeding grounds of many species of animals, including those requiring special protection (polar bears, Laptev subspecies of walrus, rose gulls and others), and  historical and cultural sites related to the period of discovery and exploration of the islands.

The islands of the archipelago are home to the world’s largest sedimentary deposit of mammoth bone and other remains of “mammoth fauna” of the Pleistocene era. On Zhokhov Island, which is part of the Novosibirsk Islands Archipelago, scientists discovered a campsite of people of the Stone Age (about seven thousand years ago). This is the northernmost known campsite of ancient humans. Also, natural geological monuments with considerable aesthetic value were discovered on the islands.

The island ecosystems, with their characteristic biological diversity and geomorphological structure combined with historical and paleontological landmarks, are a draw for tourists who can visit the sanctuary on Arctic cruises.

The results of the comprehensive environmental survey of the territory, which justified giving this territory the legal status of a specially protected natural area of federal importance, were publicly discussed and approved in a state environmental review.

The adopted decision will create the legal foundation supporting the special protection regime for natural complexes and sites on lands included in the boundaries of the sanctuary.

A decision was made on holding annual Abilympics, a national professional skills competition among people with disabilities starting in 2018. This will contribute to encouraging such persons to expand their range of professional activities, acquire professional training and find employment.

Reference

Prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science as per the President’s instructions issued on 5 December 2017 following a meeting with disabled people and representatives of public organisations and professional communities that assist the disabled (Instruction No. 50 of 13 January 2018, clause 1, sub clause l).

A directive was adopted to hold an annual Abilympics national professional skills competition for persons with disabilities starting in 2018 (hereinafter referred to as national competition).

Abilympics is an international movement whose priority is holding professional skills competitions for persons with disabilities. The international movement is the only professional skills competition system for the disabled. It emerged in Japan and has been developing throughout the world since 1972. Currently 46 countries take part in this international movement.

The Abilympics movement has been comprehensively developing in Russia since 2015. The movement has been joined by 75 regions of the Russian Federation, and 95 regional and three national competitions have been held to date. Employers’ associations, non-profit public organisations and associations of people with disabilities are actively joining the movement.

The competition includes tournaments of applied and professional competencies for which there is a market demand, as well as workshops, seminars, training sessions on developing various skills, and job fairs.

Abilympics competitions are an effective tool for assisting people with employment. In 2017, 92 percent of Abilympics participants were employed or continued training at the next level of education.

The Ministry of Education and Science has been instructed to establish an organising committee for holding a national competition and ensuring the national team’s readiness for international Abilympics.

Executive bodies of the Russian regions have been recommended to hold annual regional Abilympics professional skills competitions for people with disabilities.

The expenses for preparing and holding the national competition will be covered within the Accessible Environment 2011-2020 state programme. The funds for this have been earmarked in the federal budget for 2018 and the planning period of 2019 and 2020.

The annual competition will encourage people with disabilities to expand their range of professional activities and get professional education, and will help them with employment.

The message reads, in part:

“On behalf of the Government and myself personally, I express deep condolences in connection with multiple casualties in the Republican Narcological Centre in Baku.

Please relate my words of support and empathy to the families and friends of the victims and wishes of speedy recovery to all those injured.”

Greetings to 2018 PyeongChang Olympic medallists

28 February 2018

With Alina Zagitova, gold medallist in ladies’ single figure skating at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Yevgenia Medvedeva, silver medallist in ladies’ single figure skating at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Nikita Gusev, ice hockey gold medallist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Pavel Datsuk, ice hockey gold medallist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Sergei Mozyakin, ice hockey gold medallist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Kirill Kaprizov, ice hockey gold medallist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Alexander Bolshunov, medallist in cross-country skiing at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Andrei Larkov, medallist in cross-country skiing at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Semyon Yelistratov, bronze medallist in short-track at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

With Natalya Nepryayeva, medallist in cross-country skiing at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

28 February 2018

Предыдущая новость Следующая новость

Greetings to 2018 PyeongChang Olympic medallists

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev took part in a ceremony at which winners and medallists of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang were presented with cars from the Russian Olympians Foundation. The Prime Minister chairs the foundation’s board of trustees.

Excerpts from Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks:

My sincere congratulations both on your Olympic and state awards.

The XXIII Winter Olympic Games claimed special attention due to the very specific atmosphere which formed around the Games and our Olympic team.

Today it was decided to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee.

All Russia watched the Olympic Games with great interest. I am saying this both as Prime Minister and as an ordinary fan, a viewer who watched your performances. Nicely done! You have already done a lot, and not only for your sport careers but for the country.

We have the Russian Olympians Foundation, and I was directly involved in its establishment 13 years ago. The foundation is meant to help our athletes. It is done by Russian businesspeople.

There are state programmes, mass sport and elite sport, and support also comes from such foundations. They too would like to thank you for your performance and give you the gifts usually presented on this occasion. I hope that they will help you follow the first part of the Olympic motto, which is to be faster, however, within the traffic regulations.