www.Kremlin.ru
April 9, 2009
MOSCOW.
President Dmitry Medvedev held a reception of citizens in the new Presidential Reception Office.
President Dmitry Medvedev has decided to increase the status of the reception, formerly known as the Presidential Executive Office Reception, to Presidential Reception Office in order to give greater importance to the work with applicants and directly supervise the implementation of his instructions. The head of state met with people at the reception office and also discussed several topics in a video conference with applicants and authorities of different regions.
Residents of the Sakhalin Region (Far East), the Krasnodar Region (in the south of Russia) and the Kaliningrad Region (Russia's most westerly region) participated in the video conference session. When the video conference came to a close, the President gave instructions related to healthcare sector, instructions regarding perpetuation of the memory of people killed in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 and preparations for the 65th anniversary of the Victory.
Dmitry Medvedev also spoke with people who came to the Presidential Reception Office in Moscow with proposals relating to anniversary dates in 2009: the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union and the 55th anniversary of the launching the world's first nuclear power plant in Obninsk (a town 100 kilometres southwest of Moscow). In particular the President signed an order to establish a memorial museum and an educational centre on the site of the former Obninsk nuclear power plant.
According to the rules governing the Presidential Executive Office, presidential aides, the Chief of Staff of the Executive Office, and his deputies will see applicants twice a year. In addition, Dmitry Medvedev will meet with the reception office visitors at least twice a year.
All those who wish to come to the Presidential Reception Office can bring their requests, wishes and suggestions. The reception will take place at: 23/16 Ilyinka St, Moscow, Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
As experience of the Presidential Executive Office reception operation confirms, about 250 visitors a day are expected. Videoconferencing will increase the possibilities of citizens from different regions of Russia to address the Presidential Reception Office.
Experts working for the Presidential Reception Office will work directly with the applicants and with mail addressed to the President. Every day the head of state receives 2,500 to 3,000 letters, telegrams and Internet messages. These messages contain not only personal requests, but also proposals on how to overcome the negative effects of the global financial crisis and improve the work of all levels of authority. In 2008, Dmitry Medvedev received 500,000 letters by post and about 400,000 emails.