Khloponin: NCFD starts first phase of development strategy

In the course of the first stage of implementing the development strategy of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), which is already underway, the earlier drafted and approved federal target programmes will be realized. As reported on July 8 in the city of Essentuki by Alexander Khloponin, Plenipotentiary of President of Russia in the NCFD, the government had allocated 75 billion roubles for this purpose.

Mr Khloponin started his dialogue with journalists with the main problem of Northern Caucasus - unemployment. "By different expert's estimates the unemployment level in the NCFD makes 18 percent, that is, 827,000 jobless persons in all the republics of the District," he said. From here, the primary goal of the strategy arises - addressing the problem of employment of the population. According to Mr Khloponin, the social and economic strategy of development of Northern Caucasus will be built around the employment issue.

The Plenipotentiary said that the NCFD development strategy will pass several stages. The first one will be implemented in 2010-2012 and assumes fulfilment of earlier developed and approved federal target programmes. They are based on social projects: construction of schools, kindergartens, hospitals, culture objects and agrarian-production facilities.

The second development strategy stage will be focused on regional projects - it will start already after 2012. Alexander Khloponin has highlighted three priority branches, where projects will be selected for this stage: agriculture, tourism and construction.

At the press conference, Mr Khloponin has also offered his recipes on struggling against corruption. "I know by my personal experience that the most efficient way to eradicate corruption is to develop two institutions: independent courts, operating outside any influence of bureaucrats and politicians; and institutes of civil society, such as public organizations and boards, which have more chances to be heard by the state," he has stated.