OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2010. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's speech: Good afternoon Mr Shoigu, ladies and gentlemen. Today we are going to discuss a number of major issues linked with the development, consolidation and improvement of the government system of preventing emergencies and coordinating relief efforts.

I don't have to repeat that everything pertaining to people's safety has always been and will remain one of the government's main priorities. The government will continue to pay most careful attention to that.

In effect, our goal should be to protect Russian citizens against any threats, be it from criminals, road traffic, fire, man-made disasters and natural catastrophes wherever possible.

In recent years we have managed to somewhat improve the situation but these are just the first results. Needless to say, we must not rest on our laurels.

Nevertheless, I would like to note that the death rate in road accidents is steadily decreasing. Last year it fell by 13%, which means 4,000 saved lives. The number of people killed by fires went down by 9%.

All in all, during the past year your ministry saved more than 150,000 people. This is a good result. Employees of the Emergencies Ministry took part in 28 international rescue operations.

I would like to note that in the last few years Russian rescue services have considerably enhanced their technical equipment, the personnel potential and mobility. However we must admit that there are still many problems. The system of warning about emergencies remains ineffective. The fire inspection makes this particularly obvious.

The number of fires was reduced by 7.3% and every percentage point means saved human lives. This is not a bad result but last year we witnessed a number of major tragedies. The worst one was a fire in Perm, which killed more than 150 people. That was a terrible tragedy.

The investigation showed that if the fire inspection had been effective this tragedy would not have happened. This is why our common goal for this year is to seriously revise the principles of fire inspection procedures.

I am not referring just to the competence of the Emergencies Ministry. I am talking about different areas of activity in general. Yesterday I conducted the first meeting - on agriculture, which is also beset with numerous problems. Issues regarding the safety of food products and services in this sphere are also extremely important. We will work for safety across the board.

It goes without saying that today we will concentrate on the problems of the Emergencies Ministry. It is necessary to completely get rid of the practice of formal inspections, which only create an illusion of order and divert efforts and funds from the real problems.

At the same time it is essential to enhance the responsibility of ordinary people, businesspeople and officials for what is being done in this sphere. It is very important to draw the attention of officials to the fact that they should monitor the situation proceeding from real problems.

I support the ministry's view that it should not try to keep its excessive regulating and control functions. I hope that the ministry will take a most active part in elaborating and introducing modern economic methods of ensuring safety. I am referring to mandatory liability insurance, safety audit and better system of technical regulation.

Eventually we must effectively encourage businesspeople to invest in safety. I am talking not only about companies providing services but also about all branches of industry and infrastructure.

I would like to say a few words about another major goal. We have already established the National Crisis Management Centre. It is necessary to deepen all types of interdepartmental cooperation on this basis. You know better than anyone else how critical it is for coordinating emergency relief operations. I am talking about effective and prompt response of all government bodies and all services, which should cooperate in these operations.

It is also important to continue improving the Emergencies Ministry, in particular, to complete the formation of the ministry's high readiness forces and modernise the civil defence units.

In conclusion I would like to thank the ministry's personnel once again for their selfless efforts in protecting and saving human lives. I am confident that you will continue performing your duty at the highest professional level. Many thanks for your attention.