Interfax: Russia dealing with Crimean problems inherited from former authorities – Putin

(Interfax – August 14, 2014) There are many problems in Crimea which had not been solved for decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. He made the statement at a meeting with members of Russian parliamentary parties in Yalta, as quoted by Russian privately-owned news Interfax agency on 14 August.

“There is a lot to do here [in Crimea]. There is a pile of problems which had not been solved almost for decades. Sometimes there is an impression that Crimea was living as a poor relative. The former authorities were draining a lot from it, but were giving little or almost nothing,” Putin said.

“In actual fact, they were making no secret of it. Yes, there were many problems, and now there are even more problems in the country, in that country. Of course, they needed to support other territories. They were taking a lot from Crimea, giving little,” he added.

He wen on to say: “We are taking the most urgent, priority measures in order to improve the situation.”

One of the priorities is the Crimean energy system’s integration, Putin was quoted as saying. “The second thing is infrastructure, the removal of transport restrictions. Despite the increased number of flights and ferries going across the Kerch Strait, there are still some problems of course,” Putin said.

Later on the same day, state-owned ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying that Crimea can play a uniting role.

“I think that Crimea can become a touchstone today, can play a unique unifying role for Russia, becoming a kind of a historic, spiritual source, a reconciliation line for the red and for the white,” Putin said.

Another Interfax report quoted Putin as saying that over 19bn dollars will be allocated to Crimea by 2020.

“The main goal is to ensure the dynamic development of Crimea and Sevastopol and make them economically self-sufficient,” Putin said.