GORKI, Moscow region. Oct 29 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called on the government, civil society, and the business community to give priority to the improvement of the environment regardless of any short-term reasons.

"We must keep these problems under control," Medvedev said at a meeting with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yury Trutnev on Wednesday.

"Our common goal - both that of the government, civil society, and the business community - is to continue working to make the environment healthier," he said.

"Even when business sees its resources shrinking, it should not stop and should commission new environmentally friendly facilities, improve purification systems, reduce emissions, and so on," he said.

"All this work should continue non-stop, regardless of any external or internal reasons," he said.

"I would like you to focus on this in your activities," he said.