Moscow Times
March 23, 2009
Kadyrov, Putin Trade Barbs at Tense Meeting
By Maria Antonova / The Moscow Times
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held a tense meeting with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov on Friday, trading thinly veiled barbs about whose responsibility it was to rebuild the impoverished republic.
While the government aims to cut the budget for regional subsidies this year, Kadyrov has been pressing for more federal support. President Dmitry Medvedev said in February that regional leaders who were not meeting expectations on handling the crisis would be called to Moscow for meetings.
Putin opened the meeting by asking whether Kadyrov's "discussion with the Finance Ministry was finished," without elaborating.
"Everything is great with the Finance Ministry now," Kadyrov said.
"Friends?" Putin asked.
"Friends, thanks to you, Vladimir Vladimirovich!" Kadyrov replied, according to a transcript of the meeting on the government's web site.
In the choppy exchange, which stood out from the usually fawning gubernatorial reports to the prime minister, Putin asked Kadyrov about problems in his region, including wage arrears and unemployment.
Answering a query about aid to Chechens who suffered in an earthquake last year, Kadyrov said his government had given families construction materials and used the "national way -- when people help one another."
"But it's important to give state help, as well," Putin said. "What about the hospital that was destroyed?"
"We did everything that was in our power," Kadyrov said, adding that a new hospital project was being reviewed at the federal level -- in the Health and Social Development Ministry. Putin responded that it needed to be a modern hospital, to which Kadyrov replied: "Of course. Euro-standard."
"The main thing for us is your word that you settle this issue," Kadyrov said, responding to another jab from Putin about the quality of the facility.
The prime minister then abruptly turned his attention to a giant mosque finished in Grozny in October. Called "The Heart of Chechnya," it can hold 10,000 worshipers and is finished with rare marble and 36 Swarovski crystal chandeliers. It is located on Prospekt Vladimira Putina. "And how is your mosque functioning? I saw that you've held some big events," Putin said, referring to the festivities on the prophet Mohammed's birthday earlier this month.
While the sparring suggested a worsening of mutual frustration over who dictates Chechnya's spending priorities, Kadyrov appeared satisfied with the results of the meeting. A statement on the Chechen government's web site said Putin gave "special attention" to the mosque and was "impressed" by the scope of the celebrations.