MOSCOW, January 15, 2004. (RIA Novosti correspondent Oleg Osipov) - Vladimir Putin underscored that the checking of foreign intelligence services' activity, the fight against organised crime and corruption, and the strengthening of the personnel potential of the Federal Security Service (FSB) had remained an inalienable part of the activity of this institution.
The aim of this work is "to ensure the national interests and the democratic rights and freedoms, and to efficiently defend the Russian citizens from internal and external threats," pointed out the President, addressing the enlarged FSB Collegium.
Vladimir Putin said he hoped that the FSB officers "well understand both the degree of their responsibility and the scale of the tasks set." The head of the state expressed confidence that "the FSB and other power structures have all the necessary resources for accomplishing these tasks."
