13 November 2003 11:13
Russia needs urgent improvement of demographic situation in Far East
Moscow, 13 November: Russia needs a long-term programme for sociodemographic development of the Far East, Yuriy
Obryadin, deputy plenipotentiary representative of the Russian president in the Far Eastern Federal District, has said.
He today addressed parliamentary hearings "The demographic situation and migration policy in the Far East: legal,
legislative and socioeconomic aspects".
Obryadin said the demographic situation in the Far East "is no longer a regional problem, it has become a
national and all-Russian problem". It is characterized above all by the falling population in the region and
growing foreign migration. Over the past 10 years the number of Russian citizens living in the Far East has fallen by
1.3 million people, at the same time the natural decline of the population has doubled and, as a result of migration to
other Russian regions, the region lost nearly one million people.
At the same time, Obryadin said, there has been growing migration pressure on the Russian Far East from neighbouring
states. In the circumstances, he said, Russia needs to draw up a comprehensive approach to improving the demographic and
migration situation in the region, including the adoption of a number of measures at legislative level. "The
Russian Far East can accept up to one million foreign workers but their temporary presence on our territory should be
strictly regulated by legislative acts," Obryadin said.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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