OREANDA-NEWS. March 01, 2010. In his opening remarks, the President noted that the situation in the region requires particular attention on the authorities’ part. The region’s biggest problems, in Mr Medvedev’s view, are insufficient level of social and economic development, extremism and corruption.

The North Caucasus’ development is directly linked to improving the social and economic situation in the region and raising the professionalism of its law enforcement organisations, the President said.

Later in the day, Mr Medvedev visited a school in Kabardino-Balkaria’s capital, Nalchik, where he spoke of the need to pay more attention to school meals and healthcare services for pupils.

The President also discussed the situation in Kabardino-Balkaria with the republic’s president, Arsen Kanokov. Later, Mr Medvedev visited the new headquarters of the Kabardino-Balkaria branch of the Federal Security Service, where he chaired a meeting on developing the North Caucasus region’s law enforcement agencies.