The Yabloko faction hails the declarations by President Putin at the meeting of the Presidium of the State Council devoted to local government. This statement was made by a deputy of the State Duma from the Yabloko faction, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Local Government, Sergei Mitrokhin.

At a meeting held on February 20, 2001, Putin proposed consolidating significantly the economic base of local government, and redistributing tax revenues in favour of local budgets. He also said that a proportion of some federal taxes may be determined, which will be directly allocated to the local budgets.

According to Mitrokhin, the President's speech demonstrated that he had accepted the proposals made by the deputies of the Yabloko faction at the meeting in December last year.

"This speech of the President may become a landmark, highlighting the state's attention towards local government. If this happens, this will mark a strategic step towards consolidation of the foundation of a civil society in Russia," added Mitrokhin.

At the same time Mitrokhin stressed that " words must result in real deeds", adding that deputies of the Yabloko faction had already prepared a package of draft laws aimed at implementing the ideas voiced by Putin at the meeting of the Presidium of the State Council. Yabloko plans to submit its drafts to President Putin in the very near future.