OREANDA-NEWS. August 10, 2010. Dmitry Medvedev made a working visit to the Republic of Mari El, which is one of the seven regions where a state of emergency due to forest fires was declared under a Presidential Executive Order.

The President had a meeting with representatives of local authorities where he specifically addressed water supplies for towns and villages and construction of fire extinction basins. The meeting participants complained about overinflated loan interest rates at various banks, and Dmitry Medvedev promised to have the problem resolved.

While visiting the village of Maly Shaplak, the President spoke to local residents about their problems and measures being taken to protect the village against forest fires.

Dmitry Medvedev met with Mari El President Leonid Markelov to discuss the socioeconomic situation in the republic and the fire-fighting prospects.

President Medvedev also visited the Department of the Interior of Yoshkar Ola, the capital of the republic, where he discussed the draft law On the Police Force with local police officers and answered their questions, mentioning that the new law may come into force on January 1, 2011.

Besides, the President presented state decorations to 17 officers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry, and other agencies involved in fighting forest fires, from six Russian regions.