In reply to a RIA Novosti question the Russian President stated: "It is premature to talk about any results but I give a positive assessment to the new style emerging in the cabinet of ministers to arrange work of the government." Putin stated that he also gave a positive assessment to first moves of Premier Mikhail Fradkov. The head of state indicated that the work to reorganize the government did not interfere with Mr. Fradkov's final development of content decisions of economic, social and political character and the premier was implementing them.
The Russian President stated that "Fradkov managed to continue work reorganization on the basis of reorganization principles."
According to Mr. Putin, prior to nominating Mr. Fradkov Prime Minister he summoned him to Moscow. But the President stated that Mr. Fradkov knew nothing about the objective of the trip. Mr. Putin stated: "I summoned him under the pretext of considering cooperation with the European Union." The head of state spoke of the time he got acquainted with Mr. Fradkov. According to Putin, they have known each other since 1995. The President stated: "I worked in the St Petersburg City Hall and supervised foreign economic relations and Fradkov was the first deputy minister for foreign economic relations. There were no business relations. They never developed but we got acquainted." Mr. Putin reported that Mr. Fradkov arrived in St Petersburg to visit his younger son who was a student at the Suvorov military academy. Putin stated that he was "impressed" by the fact that in that economic environment a person of such rank sent his son to another city and to a military academy.
Later, according to him, he met with Mr. Fradkov while working in the Main Control Department of the Russian President. Mr. Putin stated that he "received information about the activity of various ministries and departments including the department where Fradkov worked." Mr. Putin had a liking for the character and style of Mr. Fradkov's work as well as his personal features. The Russian president stated: "The Ministry of foreign economic relations was one of the departments where Fradkov worked well." Mr. Putin got to know Mr. Fradkov closer in the course of his work in the Russian Federation Security Council when Mr. Fradkov was the first deputy.
The President stated that after that he became the head of the tax police and actually started working under his control.
He reported another fact, which also made a favorable impression on him. The head of state pointed out: "When we made a decision to transfer tax police functions to the Ministry of the Interior, we had long talks with Fradkov. And he, like any other manager, described the importance of the work carried out by his department. I listened very attentively to everything he said and then put the following question to him: forget about your position of the head of the department. Proceeding from the interests of the state, tell me, is it possible to transfer these functions to the Ministry of the Interior? Fradkov answered that, if honestly, there would be no losses. But he admitted that it was difficult for him to say that aloud as people were relying on him. It is an additional trait of his."
