Medvedev: Russia fires highlight need for reforms
Medvedev
Russia's catastrophic wildfires this summer have demonstrated the need to reform the nation's forest protection legislation and the state forestry agency  President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.
 The remarks appeared to reflect Medvedev's desire to take a higher profile on economic and domestic policy issues presently controlled by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin -- though Medvedev stopped short of an open challenge to his powerful predecessor and mentor.
 Putin has taken a highly visible lead in efforts to combat the fires  visiting affected areas and even taking a seat in a firefighting plane while Medvedev was chairing dull official meetings. Many political commentators perceived Putin's action as a sign of his intention to reclaim the presidency in 2012 and a clear warning to Mevedev to stand by.
 Medvedev indicated Wednesday that the prime minister's move to take direct control of the forestry agency  Rosleskhoz  could be insufficient to properly protect the nation's forests in the future.
 "If it's more convenient to work that way  you are welcome " Medvedev told a government meeting focused on forests. "But if it proves insufficient  I reserve the right to radically change those structures."
 He said the blazes had shown that the current law and the existing official structures can't properly protect the forests.
 "It's quite obvious that the legal base and the organizational structure that we have don't fit the purpose " Medvedev said in televised remarks.
 The president also said that the need for changing the current forest legislation also must be carefully analyzed.
Putin and Medvedev both have said they would decide later who will run for president.
 Medvedev avoided any direct criticism of Putin  but said Wednesday the 2006 law had left most of the nation's forests without due oversight.
 He also seemed to defy Putin on another issue -- the construction of a new highway northwest of Moscow that would destroy a forest near the town of Khimki. Putin's Cabinet has continued to support it despite growing public opposition.
Russia's catastrophic wildfires this summer have demonstrated the need to reform the nation's forest protection legislation and the state forestry agency  [TGT] said Wednesday.
 The remarks appeared to reflect [TGT]'s desire to take a higher profile on economic and domestic policy issues presently controlled by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin -- though [TGT] stopped short of an open challenge to [TGT] powerful predecessor and mentor.
 Putin has taken a highly visible lead in efforts to combat the fires  visiting affected areas and even taking a seat in a firefighting plane while [TGT] was chairing dull official meetings. Many political commentators perceived Putin's action as a sign of his intention to reclaim the presidency in 2012 and a clear warning to Mevedev to stand by.
 [TGT] indicated Wednesday that the prime minister's move to take direct control of the forestry agency  Rosleskhoz  could be insufficient to properly protect the nation's forests in the future.
 "If it's more convenient to work that way  you are welcome " [TGT] told a government meeting focused on forests. "But if it proves insufficient  I reserve the right to radically change those structures."
 He said the blazes had shown that the current law and the existing official structures can't properly protect the forests.
 "It's quite obvious that the legal base and the organizational structure that we have don't fit the purpose [TGT] said in televised remarks.
 [TGT] also said that the need for changing the current forest legislation also must be carefully analyzed.
[TGT] have said [TGT] would decide later who will run for president.
 [TGT] avoided any direct criticism of Putin  but said Wednesday the 2006 law had left most of the nation's forests without due oversight.
 [TGT] also seemed to defy Putin on another issue -- the construction of a new highway northwest of Moscow that would destroy a forest near the town of Khimki. Putin's Cabinet has continued to support it despite growing public opposition.