Opening the plenary session, Magomedsalam Magomedov read out a message of greetings from the President, which reads, in part:
“Your forum rightfully enjoys high respect and prestige, and for many years, it has been bringing together famous scientists, experts, university professors and representatives of specialised ministries and agencies. It raises before its participants serious issues linked with the development of high-priority aspects of the national school of history, anthropology, ethnology, and training skilled specialists.
I would like to note that the current meeting marks a significant date, the 180th anniversary of establishing the Ethnographic Commission of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. The Commission paved the way for systematic studies of unique cultures, languages, traditions and lifestyles of our country’s nations. It became a genuine cradle of academic science and accomplished a lot in the sphere of wide-ranging public education projects.
Let me stress that we sincerely cherish the immensely rich historical and spiritual asset – good relations between representatives of various religions and cultures that are passed on from generation to generation. I am confident that the preservation of inter-ethnic peace and accord and the protection of traditional values is the main and key guarantee of Russia’s sustained and sovereign development. And, of course, it is important to strengthen constructive dialogue between state agencies and civil society institutions. Therefore, substantive and large-scale initiatives, including, without doubt, your forum, assume major significance.”
In his remarks, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Chairman of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations Magomedsalam Magomedov also noted, “The state ethnic policy, as well as uniform approaches to implementing it at all levels of government, in close cooperation with civil society is one of the topmost priorities for our multi-ethnic state. Historically, Russia formed as a union of equal groups, many of them autochthonous, which directly contributed to shaping Russia’s statehood. At the same time, undeniably, the key state-forming role in this process belongs to the great Russian people, Russian culture and the Russian language.”
“We realise that modern-day approaches to the implementation of the state ethnic policy cannot be ensured without high-quality academic and expert support and qualified personnel. At the same time, I am confident that the Russian academic community has enough capacity for more substantial involvement in implementing state ethnic policy,” the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office stressed.
During his working trip, Magomedsalam Magomedov held a working meeting with Governor of the Perm Territory Dmitry Makhonin to discuss various aspects of socioeconomic development and interethnic relations in the region.
