No additional investment will be made in Sochi - Putin
SOCHI. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Investments made in Sochi are sufficiently large, therefore the city should be further developed, using other means other than additional funding, said President Vladimir Putin.
"Imagine we take money, however scarce, from the Altai territory in order to make additional investments here in Sochi, where billions have already been put. For all our love for Sochi, no, the city should be further developed using absolutely different methods," Putin told the Public Council for the Olympic Games.
"I don't think additional money can be brought here now that colossal resources have already been invested. I am saying this openly and honestly, not dodging your question," he said in answer to a proposal that Sochi be entered on the list of ten pilot regions in need of development.
Facilities already financed - infrastructure, roads, bridges and tunnels - must be used effectively, he said.
"We cannot take money away from some regions and move it to Sochi. This would not be a statesman's approach to the problem and would be dishonest towards people in other regions. Most importantly, this would not be a reasonable decision on our part. We have a colossal potential for promoting tourism. Domestic tourism is poorly developed in this country," Putin said.