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PRESIDENT-ELECT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich and Boris Vyacheslavovich!

Dear delegates and guests of the Congress!

Dear colleagues!

First of all I would like to thank United Russia and all of you for supporting my candidacy in the elections for the President of the Russian Federation.

There are leaders of regions, municipalities, public figures, activists and supporters of United Russia here today. Once again I thank you and all the citizens of the country, those who you represent at this congress. Without a doubt, the party has done a lot to ensure that the elections were commendable, respectable and successfull.

Today we continue to face the challenge of ensuring continuity and the renewal of democratic government in our country. You know that continuity and stability, renewal and innovative development are the key principles of state policy for the coming years. It is obvious that they should serve our primary goals, namely improving the quality of life of our citizens and ensuring life security in our country. This is the number one priority in the practical work we do with you.

For me it is clear: further increase in the well-being of our citizens and strengthening our country is only possible if political decisions are taken on the basis of modern notions about national interests, economic development, societal values and public administration. On ideas developed as a result of meaningful public discussion. In this sense, I consider the initiative supported by the congress to enhance internal discussion and dialogue with the expert community to be a very useful one. Involving professional associations, the business community, academia and non-profit organisations in the process of finalizing and implementing the development strategy until 2020 is very useful. All of this is entirely in keeping with the spirit of today.

In addition, modern Russian democracy needs to strengthen the autonomy of all branches of government: judicial, legislative and executive. I have already expressed my opinion with regards to the judiciary. Now Boris Vyacheslavovich [Gryzlov] has mentioned it as well. I am convinced that we still have a great deal of work to do in this direction. We will come back to this topic in due time.

As for the legislative and executive authorities, today we can take a concrete, practical step towards making better use of the political potential of the Government and the Federal Assembly as stipulated in the Constitution of Russia.

Boris Vyacheslavovich Gryzlov suggested that the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, should assume the chairmanship of United Russia. I think that this proposal is both logical and timely.

The consent of the President will strengthen the party and at the same time improve cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities at the federal level. It will give us the opportunity to form a Government of Russia based on a parliamentary majority.

You know that once elected President of the Russian Federation I proposed the candidacy of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the post of Prime Minister of Russia. And when one considers that United Russia benefits from 315 voices in the State Duma (and a majority in the legislative assemblies of almost all subjects of the Russian Federation), the implementation of this proposal will result in the creation and consolidation of a really powerful political force. A force different from anything we have ever had before. This political bloc will be able to guarantee the implementation of ambitious plans to modernise the economy, as well as the social, cultural and educational spheres of our country.

The leadership of United Russia has invited me to join the party. I am deeply grateful and want to thank everyone who has urged me to do this. Of course, United Russia is for me a party of kindred spirits; ideologically, it is the party with which I most identify. But at this point I think it would be premature to involve myself directly in its work. I am convinced that now that I have been elected head of state, it would be best to avoid any direct affiliation with a political party.

Let me repeat: the proposal that United Russia be headed by Vladimir Putin is only logical. As President, he initiated the establishment of the party in 2001 by drawing together several socio-political movements. His support has been a decisive influence in the elections to the State Duma and, indeed, the other representative bodies of power. This support has twice enabled United Russia to obtain a constitutional majority in the highest legislative body.

In effect, President Putin has been the de facto leader of the party for a long time.

I am convinced that Vladimir Vladimirovich’s leadership of United Russia will enhance interaction between the Government and the Federal Assembly. It will also help strengthen and develop the basic democratic institutions of our society. And, critically, it will ensure the consistency of government policy, which has already been directly aimed at improving the quality of life of our citizens for several years.

And this is the most important thing.

Thank you.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN:

Distinguished delegates, guests of the Congress!

Dear friends!

Today, in this room there are scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, businessmen, workers, artists and journalists, military personnel and builders, fishermen, agricultural workers, pensioners, young people, representatives of various public organisations, all the regions and all the peoples of Russia.

At first glance, we are very different people. But all of us are united by a love of Russia, a desire to make it even more beautiful and powerful, and to make the life of our citizens more dignified and prosperous. And that is why all of us kindred spirits have gathered here today.

At the outset, United Russia was conceived and founded as a political organisation, designed to consolidate the responsible, constructive forces of Russian society. It set out to gather together and engage in creative work all those who refused to tolerate the degradation and collapse of the economy and the social sphere, the state system and our democratic institutions. To bring together those who sincerely wanted our country’s thousand-year history, history of our Motherland, not to die out but to continue. Those who wanted our Motherland to become competitive, to raise its standard of living, to be respected by the international community, and to become a free country of free people.

It has been almost seven years, and now we can say with some assurance that United Russia has managed to unite the most diverse social groups in a spirit of cooperation. The party has proved that it can work in the interests of Russia, in the interests of its citizens, for the successful future of our country and our people.

The concerted efforts of millions of people have helped us to extricate ourselves from a full-scale crisis and to inflict some crushing blows on terrorism. We have taken the very first, very timid perhaps, yet significant steps to address widespread poverty, upgrade infrastructure and modernise the armed forces. We have built the foundations for an innovative economy, and articulated an active and independent foreign policy aimed at strengthening our country’s position in the world.

I am absolutely convinced that without your participation, without the contribution of United Russia in addressing all these challenges as part of our common cause, we would not have been able to accomplish anything like the positive achievements of the few past years.

Dear colleagues!

At the 8th Congress of United Russia, you will remember that I said that, once my term as President was complete, I would be prepared to participate actively in our country’s political life. This depended on United Russia’s winning the parliamentary elections to the State Duma and the election of a new President with whom I could work in tandem.

United Russia won the election and I would like to congratulate you once again, and once again to thank the voters and citizens of Russia for giving us the benefit of their trust. Dmitry Medvedev, the very man that I recommended to the country and the electorate, has been elected President of Russia. I have therefore accepted his proposal, one that was supported by United Russia and other parties, to head the Government of the Russian Federation in accordance with the timeframe stipulated in the Constitution.

In 1999 and 2000 I had the privilege to work as Prime Minister. And I know that this work requires daily consultations with deputies and the help of our supporters in the Federal Assembly. It requires complete immersion in current economic and administrative affairs.

It is not possible to lead the Government without constant and extensive contacts with the regions, public associations, trade unions, expert panels, and direct contacts with Russian citizens. In this respect the party's organisational structure could become an important instrument of influence and, no less important, one that provides feedback.

As I have repeatedly said, and my opinion on this matter remains the same today, I would consider it inappropriate if the head of state, no matter his political sympathies, were to head one of the parties. And here I fully agree with Dmitry Anatolevich Medvedev. As for the Prime Minister, the fact that the head of a party occupies the position of Prime Minister is a perfectly civilised, natural and traditional practice for democratic states. Harmonious work between the cabinet and the parliamentary majority offers an opportunity to successfully meet the challenges of economic development, improve the quality of health care and education, increase the incomes of our citizens and strengthen the defense capabilities of our nation.

Therefore, I gladly accept the offer of the members of the party and its leadership. Thank you very much. I am ready to take on the additional responsibility and to lead United Russia.

However (and I have said this before but wish to repeat it here), I am suggesting the following. First of all, that the decision taken at this congress, if it is implemented, take effect only after the elected head of state takes office. And, accordingly, after my presidential powers have been annulled.

Second. I would ask Boris Vyacheslavovich Gryzlov to continue to coordinate all the current activities of the party.

Third. The party, as I have said more than once, should be reformed. Actually, this is now happening right before our eyes. It must become more open to discussions and take the views of voters into account. We must reduce bureaucracy and eliminate from its ranks the random people who are simply there to pursue their selfish interests. It must work more actively with young people, intellectuals, businessmen, urban workers and those in rural areas. It must help attract the most talented, energetic and decent professionals into all areas of public life.

Dear friends!

Times are changing. A lot of new, interesting things lie ahead. We are renewing all the components of our society. And the Russian political system must evolve adequately to meet these changes.

There is one thing - and perhaps the most important thing – that doesn't change, namely the people's desire to live a dignified life, their desire for freedom, for justice and prosperity. Our obligation is to contribute to the achievement of these goals. Here lies the true meaning of all our joint work.

Thank you.

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RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Dear friends!

I thank you for your decision. I promise that I will do everything possible to strengthen the influence and authority of the party, and to use its resources for the development of the country.

Russia’s new President-elect, the Party and its supporters all still have a lot to do together.

We must not relax. The country continues to move forward, and we must continue to work to implement all the commitments we have made to the Russian people, so that everyone in our country lives better and looks to the future with confidence.

At this new stage, during the public discussion and finalization of the development strategies through to 2020 that I proposed, it has become even more apparent that the scope and ambition of our plans are not the result of anyone's whims or idle fantasy. In the true sense of the word, the future of the Russian nation is at stake.

We need to become one of the five largest economies of the world (as Boris Vyacheslavovich Gryzlov explained)  not only because that would be a prestigious honour, but because a rapid move forward is the only way to preserve the integrity and independence of a vast and resource-rich country like ours.

We must strive for intellectual and technological superiority in our battle to be competitive. We have to do this so that our citizens are able to perform the most highly skilled and highly paid jobs in international markets.

And that is why today, to an even greater extent than ever before, we need to consolidate the political forces and spiritual unity of our people. We need a responsible government that works smoothly and effectively at all levels and acts as a single body on behalf of the majority, but in the interests of every Russian citizen, in the interests of all of Russian society.

Thank you for your support.