Peskov: president has ‘crazy day and busy schedule’ on Monday

MOSCOW. Dec 19 (Interfax) – Russian presidential press officer Dmitry Peskov has spoken about the president’s “crazy” schedule on Monday, which, besides a meeting with government officials and a meeting with businessmen before the New Year holidays, includes several international phone conversations.

“The president will congratulate government officials on the New Year, he will visit cabinet members in the House of Government, such meetings traditionally take place at the end of the year,” he told reporters.

Peskov said that at such meetings, results are summed up, the work of the government is evaluated, and plans are proposed for next year.

“Additionally, the president is scheduled to have a number of bilateral meetings and several international phone conversations today,” Peskov said.

Peskov said the president will meet with Russian businessmen and representatives of Russian business associations on Monday afternoon and, if time is left, will visit the Maly Theater, which is opening after a lengthy renovation, on Monday evening.

“Today is a crazy day and the schedule is busy,” Peskov said.

Speaking about the agenda of the meeting between Putin and the “captains” of Russian business, Peskov said that this refers to the “the largest employers”.

“Besides their contribution to the development of the economy, including in crisis conditions, they bear social responsibility,” Peskov said.

“These enterprises account for shares of the national economy and therefore it is necessary to exchange opinions on the situation and hear the attitude of businesses to the anti-crisis measures being taken by the country’s administration,” he said.