RF govt to work out priority measures in support of socio-economic development of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol

MOSCOW, March 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's government will work out priority measures Monday in support of the socio-economic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. This will be a subject of discussion at a special conference to be chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the govetnment press service reported. "The government is in for a large amount of important work which has become possible due to the desire, expressed at Crimea's referendum, for a re-unification with Russia," Medvedev wrote in a social-network page. He pointed out that a harmonious development of Crimea and Sevastopol within the structure of the State is a key task of the RF government. "We shall do everything for the socio-economic development of our State and its new regions," Medvedev assured the social networkers. "The referendum is already (past) history. Just as the decisions taken at it," Medvedev emphasized. "It is now important to mull how to shape life heneforth, with due regard for the current politico-legal realities. This concerns all people." The first ideas relating to support for Crimea and Sevastopol were made public in Moscow immediately following the promulgation of the referendum results. RF President Vladimir Putin assigned the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to increase the size of pensions of the residents of Crimea as soon as possible, bringing them up to the level of those in Russia, almost doubling them. Putin also ordered the government to establish territorial Federal governing bodies in Russia's new regions before March 29. The President also set a task of building a bridge across the Kerch Strait in two versions -- an automobile bridge and a railway one. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov reaffirmed that the project would be precisely such as had been contemplated and said that "a governmetn instruction has been already issued about a procedure for the elaboration of a cost analysis and feasibility study of the construction of the Kerch Strait bridge". Last week, Medvedev held a conference on matters aimd at stimulating the economic activity of Russia's regions. Andrei Nikitin, Head of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives in Advancemen of Projects, told Itar-Tass that already this coming summer Crimea and Sevastopol would be able to make use of new measures to enhance the attractiveness investment-wise. "The main thing now is to furnish a platform understandable to investors so that entrepreneurs come to know what they can expect: which privileges they will be able to enjoy and how the administration will support them," he explained. Nikitin's opinion is that " Crimea has areas available for development. This is an attractive region, particularly from the viewpoint of tourism". Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin, for his part, stated that Russia can place part of the State defence order at the ship-repairing and shipbuilding enterprises of Crimea -- Feogosia, Kerch, and Sevastopol. "We also believe that it it is quite probable to place part of State (defence) order connected with the manufacture of civil maritime equipment," Rogozin pointed out. "We do not have the slightest doubt that this will become one of the most powerful incentives to developing the budget of the Crimean Peninsula," the Vice-Premier stressed. According to the data of the RF Ministry of Economic Development, the Crimean budget deficit is estimated at $80-90 million a month. As far as long-term tasks are concerned, a solution to transport problems of the Peninsula may cost up to 100 billion roubles while a communications infrastructure may require tens of billions of roubles. It is expected that until 2015 taxes in Crimea will be brought in to its budget. Russia will give financial support to Crimea and Sevastopol in accordance with the Federal Budget Law for 2014 and for the plan period of 2015 and 2016. The Law also provides for a transitional period -- until January 1, 2015 -- to resolve various matters connected with the integration of the new regions into all walks of Russia's life. The rouble will the monetary unit in Crimea. However, the circulation of of the Ukrainian grivna will be allowed in Crimea. The payment of taxes, social benefits, as well as allowances to organizations registered in other constituent entities of the RF must be made in roubles. Spending in the short term will be aimed at leveling out the living standards in Crimea with Russia's indicators and at making investments in infrastructure, primarily transport one. The RF President signed laws on the re-unification of Crimea and Sevastopol with the RF on March 21. The Interstate Treaty "On the Admission of the Republic of Crimea and the Formation of New Regions as Part of the RF" was signed on March 18. Beginning from that date the Republic of Crimea is reckoned admitted to the RF. Putin also signed a law on the establishment of new constituent entities in the country -- the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol of Federal jurisdiction. Crimea was admitted as part of the RF on the strength of the results of the all-Crimea referendum held on March16 and the Declaration on the Independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. During the referendum on the status of Crimea, 96.77 percent of the residents of the Peninsula, who took part in the plebiscite, voted in favour of reunification with the RF. In Sevastopol, 95.6 percent of participants in the referendum upheld joining the RF.