Putin spells out Russia's new strategy in the North Caucasus

The most acute social and psychological problem of the North Caucasus is severe unemployment, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin claimed today, addressing a meeting of "United Russia" regional branches in the North Caucasus Federal District, Interfax reports.

The Prime Minister stressed that no less than 400 thousand work places are to be created in the next few years. He said that the way the government solves the problem of unemployment will show how effective its policy is in the North Caucasus.

800 billion rubles have been invested in the North Caucasus in the last 10 years, said the Prime Minister. And the amount of invested money was always increasing.

The Prime Minister has also said that the social atmosphere in the Caucasus should also be improved. "We have to change the social atmosphere both in the Caucasus and around it", said Mr. Putin.