Putin calls on Russians to have three children

MOSCOW In his annual address on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on citizens to tackle the issue of declining birthrate. “In order for Russia to be a strong and sovereign country, there must be more of us and we must be better in morality, in our competences, our work and our creativity,” he said in the speech that was aired by all state TV channels. Putin calls on Russians to have three children “I am convinced that the norm in Russia should become a family with three children. We need to create conditions for that. Women need to be provided with the opportunity to continue work, so that they do not fear that having a second and third child would close the path to a career,” Putin explained. “Cash payments for a second child will continue until 2016 and we are already thinking about financial benefit for mothers who have a third child,” the president pointed out. “The Russian population declined by a million a year and it seemed that the disaster could not be stopped but we have managed to reverse the negative trend and the number of citizens started to increase,” he noted. “We need to create a big and solid family, raise our children, be happy in our country or Russia will turn into a country of the poor, incapable of protecting its sovereignty,” Putin pointed out. He also spoke about “lost moral principles”. “Aggression is growing in the society and this is dangerous for security,” Putin explained. The Russian president insisted that people with criminal past could not be politicians, just like those who worked for foreign states. “We need a whole set of measures to de-offshoreize the economy. Our entrepreneurs are criticized for not being patriots. According to some estimates, nine out of ten businesses, including ones with state companies, are done without obeying the Russian laws,” he said and said that transparency of off-shore companies was necessary, just like in other countries. Commenting on a new phase of privatization in Russia, Putin said that “it must not be similar to the one from the 1990s”. “The sale of the state property should not only bring money to the budget, business must not only work for the owner but for the country as well,” he explained. Putin said that rights of “state officials and politicians” should be limited. He noted that state officials and politicians, often seen as corrupt caste bent on self-enrichment should be prevented from keeping their money abroad, adding that those who had real-estate abroad needed to explain where they got the money to buy it. Vladimir Putin (Beta/AP, file) Vecernje novosti

Putin calls on Russians to have three children

“I am convinced that the norm in Russia should become a family with three children. We need to create conditions for that. Women need to be provided with the opportunity to continue work, so that they do not fear that having a second and third child would close the path to a career,” Putin explained.

“Cash payments for a second child will continue until 2016 and we are already thinking about financial benefit for mothers who have a third child,” the president pointed out.

“The Russian population declined by a million a year and it seemed that the disaster could not be stopped but we have managed to reverse the negative trend and the number of citizens started to increase,” he noted.

“We need to create a big and solid family, raise our children, be happy in our country or Russia will turn into a country of the poor, incapable of protecting its sovereignty,” Putin pointed out.

He also spoke about “lost moral principles”.

“Aggression is growing in the society and this is dangerous for security,” Putin explained.

The Russian president insisted that people with criminal past could not be politicians, just like those who worked for foreign states.

“We need a whole set of measures to de-offshoreize the economy. Our entrepreneurs are criticized for not being patriots. According to some estimates, nine out of ten businesses, including ones with state companies, are done without obeying the Russian laws,” he said and said that transparency of off-shore companies was necessary, just like in other countries.

Commenting on a new phase of privatization in Russia, Putin said that “it must not be similar to the one from the 1990s”.

“The sale of the state property should not only bring money to the budget, business must not only work for the owner but for the country as well,” he explained.

Putin said that rights of “state officials and politicians” should be limited. He noted that state officials and politicians, often seen as corrupt caste bent on self-enrichment should be prevented from keeping their money abroad, adding that those who had real-estate abroad needed to explain where they got the money to buy it.