OREANDA-NEWS. May 31, 2010. Dmitry Medvedev made this statement at a meeting with the core group of the United Russia political party.

The President said that the country has been on the right development track over these last years. It has strengthened the state’s foundation, defined the basic economic principles, and built the framework for the country’s political system. But progress has not been as rapid as hoped, Mr Medvedev said, and the time has now come to change the development paradigm.

Developing a high-technology economy is the main task on the country’s modernisation agenda, the President said. Modernisation needs to be rapid and of a high quality, and must be attractive for ordinary people and for business.

Mr Medvedev also said that he has sent the new START Treaty signed with the USA to the parliament for ratification, and called on the United Russia members, the State Duma and the Federation Council to give the treaty their attention and ratify it simultaneously with their counterparts in the United States.