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Putin Talks About Regional Aid

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said an additional 7.2 billion rubles ($240 million) would be allocated for the implementation of priority regional projects before the end of the year, Interfax reported Thursday.

During a government meeting, the prime minister said the payroll fund for federal public sector employees was increased 6.5 percent at the beginning of this month.

"In addition, some of these funds will be used to compensate for wages [spent] on fuel and electricity to some areas of the Far North and Far East," Putin said.

He said: "Another 7.2 billion rubles is supposed to be extended for the implementation of priority projects in the regions before the end of the year. … That's housing, roads, sports and social facilities."

Putin also said the regions would receive co-financing of 670 million rubles annually from the federal budget for development of interagency electronic interaction.

He recalled that July 1, 2012, is the deadline for all government offices, subjects of the federation and municipalities to convert to electronic interaction.

Since Oct. 1 federal agencies have been forbidden to ask recipients of public services for documents that are available to other agencies.

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