Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Yalta on the socio-economic development of Crimea and Sevastopol.
During the meeting, the head of state criticized the regional authorities for problems in the field of water supply and the environment.
“Much has been done, but not yet. We also need to work on the problems of water supply and sanitation, on solving environmental issues, which, it seems, no one has ever dealt with here, ”he said.
Of the other problems of Crimea, Putin noted healthcare. According to him, the region lacks specialists and equipment, which makes the situation in this area “worse than in Russia as a whole”.
At the same time, Putin emphasized that much has been done in recent years to unleash the potential of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as for their integration into Russia. In this regard, he particularly noted the development of the trunk infrastructure.
“An important and largely determining factor was the creation and expansion of the trunk infrastructure. It’s clear that this is the most basic thing, this is the foundation, the basis, without which it is impossible to develop at all, ”the head of state emphasized.
So, from 2014 to 2019, industrial production in the Crimea doubled, and the region's own revenues grew by two and a half. This was reported by the head of the region Sergey Aksyonov during the annual report in February last year. These indicators made it possible to increase expenditures on the social sphere by two and a half times, by almost three times - on education, and on culture - by three and a half.
The gross regional product in 2014 amounted to 189 billion rubles, while at the end of 2018 it amounted to 415.9 billion. According to the forecasts of the Crimean authorities, in 2019 the growth amounted to 5.3%.
Recall that in 2014 Crimea reunited with Russia. This happened as a result of the referendum, in which over 96% of the inhabitants of the peninsula called for joining the Russian Federation. However, Ukraine and Western countries refuse to recognize the results of a plebiscite.
“We need to improve the quality of life”
As examples of large-scale projects implemented on the peninsula, Putin cited the Crimean bridge and the new terminal of Simferopol Airport. These facilities “gave a serious impetus to business and social activity,” and created new jobs and opportunities for doing business, the president added.
Putin demanded from officials to work to improve the quality of life of Crimeans. He urged to pay attention not only to tourist areas, but also to all other settlements.
“We need to improve the quality of life on the peninsula, develop urban and social infrastructure, focusing on the highest and most advanced standards,” the head of state urged.
Putin named the Crimean bridge as one of the factors that will improve the supply of goods to the peninsula. The launch of freight traffic on the railway part of the bridge is scheduled for July 1, and now about 57% of 7.4 million tourists in 2019 arrived on the peninsula through the Crimean bridge, the president emphasized.
Recall that the automobile part of the Crimean bridge was launched in May 2018, and the railway - on December 23, 2019. This facility allowed to connect the land transport infrastructure of Crimea with the rest of Russia.
Other transport infrastructure facilities are being built on the peninsula. So, the Tavrida highway is being built, which will connect Simferopol and Sevastopol with Kerch, connecting with the Crimean bridge. Its construction will be completed in 2022, but the first phase was introduced at the end of 2018.
- © Konstantin Mikhalchevsky / RIA News
“Lack of grounds for protest”
A day earlier, Putin held a meeting on the development of the Navy in Sevastopol. He attended the joint exercises of the Northern and Black Sea Fleets and visited the Nakhimov Naval School.
Ukraine sent a note of protest to the Russian Foreign Ministry, calling Putin’s visit “inconsistent,” and the exercises “illegal.”
“In connection with Putin’s next visit to the temporarily occupied Crimea, which was not coordinated with Ukraine, in order to monitor the illegal exercises of the Northern and Black Sea fleets of Russia, a note of protest was sent to the Russian side,” wrote on Twitter Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yekaterina Zelenko.
On Friday, January 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on this note. According to the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, she was returned to Kiev without consideration.
“This note, like other appeals of this kind coming to us, was returned by the Russian Foreign Ministry to the Ukrainian side without consideration due to the lack of grounds for protest. We remind you that the President of Russia and other Russian officials should not coordinate their trips to the subjects of the Russian Federation with foreign states. This fully applies to the Republic of Crimea and the city of federal significance Sevastopol, ”Russian diplomats emphasized.