Website of the President of Russia: Commissions and Councils

Seminar meeting on implementing state ethnic policy in Russia’s regions

2015-03-20T18:00:29+04:00

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Viktor Tolokonsky held a seminar meeting on implementing state ethnic policy in Russia’s constituent entities.

Participants in the seminar included deputy regional governors responsible for domestic policy issues and experts from federal executive bodies in charge of ethnic policy implementation in the Siberian Federal District.

Similar meetings will be held in all the federal districts during the first six months of the year, including the newly-formed Crimean Federal District.

Trip by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov to Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area

2015-03-20T18:00:29+04:00

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Chairman of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations Presidium Magomedsalam Magomedov made a working trip to the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area.

In Salekhard Mr Magomedov together with the Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Kobylkin met with senior members of the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North and Far East and took part in celebrating the tradition holiday of Tundra residents: the Reindeer Breeder’s Day.

The discussion touched upon implementing the rights of indigenous minorities living in the Arctic region and throughout Russia, and improving the relevant legislation and normative legal base.

Mr Magomedov gave a high assessment to the work of the Yamal regional authorities with the indigenous ethnic groups of the North. Economically, Yamal is a strategic region, gradually acquiring progressive experience in the safe development of the Arctic.

Yamal has accumulated positive experience in balancing active economic development with respect for the interests of the indigenous population and efficient implementation of environmental programmes. Local demographics are showing a positive trend and traditional industries are growing.

At the same time, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office noted the need to regularly update federal and regional legislation, to pay necessary attention to the preservation of small ethnic groups, to protect their rights and interests and to maintain their steady development as part of the of the National Ethnic Strategy.

Social and economic policy in the region should develop with due account of the comfort of the indigenous Arctic population, Mr Magomedov stressed. According to him, we must not let the unique civilisations of the minorities of the North to be absorbed by overall globalisation. The state will continue its efforts to improve conditions for the development of indigenous minorities through the use of their social and economic potential while retaining their traditional environment, lifestyle and cultural heritage.

The Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations will further consider the proposals made by the meeting participants.

Meeting of Council for Interethnic Relations

2015-03-20T18:00:42+04:00

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations in Ufa. The meeting’s main theme was implementing state ethnic policy in Russia’s regions.

The meeting’s agenda also included improving regional legislative frameworks, staffing systems, ethnological monitoring, socio-cultural adaptation and migrant integration.

Speech at a meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Our meeting is devoted to implementing state ethnic policy in Russian regions. The majority of them are characterised by ethno-cultural and religious diversity; this fact is well-known. And we shall discuss what is being done at the local level to ensure interethnic peace and accord.

We have already established the good tradition of holding our Council’s meeting in a given Russian region. Today we are in Ufa, where we are celebrating the 225^th anniversary of Catherine the Great’s decree establishing the Muslim Spiritual Assembly. This decision contributed to the self-organisation of Russia’s Muslim community and, of course, its fruitful development in order to serve society and our country.

This event played an important, very important role in strengthening Russian statehood, contributed to creating a common spiritual and cultural space, and to establishing the values and traditions that unite us. It is our duty to preserve this unique heritage, support interethnic harmony, and respond adequately and competently to new, contemporary challenges and problems.

Colleagues, we identified specific areas for joint work at the Council’s first meeting. They were integrated into the National Ethnic Policy Strategy through to 2025, approved in December 2012. The Government has adopted the relevant implementation plan for 2013–2015, and the programme Strengthening the Unity of the Russian Nation and the Ethnic and Cultural Development of the Peoples of Russia, which provides funding for regional programmes. For the first time we are using a so-called targeted programme approach to addressing ethnic issues. This was an initiative of our Council members; they suggested it at our meeting in Saransk. It is laid out in the documents I just mentioned.

Today, special importance is given to active, meaningful efforts taken at the local level, and regional and municipal authorities’ strive to enforce the new National Ethnic Policy Strategy, taking into account, of course, each territory’s specific nature and unique qualities.

However, we must admit that this work has been progressing too slowly so far; plans for implementing the federal Strategy have included only one third of the Russian Federation’s regions. Let me repeat, we are talking only about plans, about the first imperative measures, and if we analyse the actual work that has been done, things appear even more discouraging.

In addition, 21 of Russia’s regions have adopted their own strategic documents. But here, too, the situation is suboptimal: most of the documents are clearly outdated.

Russia is a federal state. We generally recommend that regions create their own plans or documents to supplement the federal ones. However, as you know, the Russian Constitution specifies that the federal structure is based on a consolidated system of state power, and this requires consistency and coordination of actions between all levels of authorities when resolving nationwide challenges.

”Today, special importance is given to active, meaningful efforts taken at the local level, and regional and municipal authorities’ strive to enforce the new National Ethnic Policy Strategy, taking into account each territory’s specific nature and unique qualities.“

Interethnic relations certainly fit into this category. They are one of the most important, complex and sensitive issues requiring our close joint attention.

We must remember that ethnic discord usually originates at a local level, in places where it needs to be blocked pre-emptively. Unfortunately, the heads of those regions often prefer office work, which is of little or no use, particularly if it is impossible for people to meet with the relevant administrators.

For example, as you know, in Biryulevo, residents’ discontent had been building up for years. People complained to the police, to the local authorities and to district leaders. What are the authorities for if they do not want to know about the local situation, if they do not take any measures and are not hearing the people? All this leads to terrible conflicts, including on an ethnic and religious basis, as well as attempts to resolve those conflicts using unlawful means.

It is also unacceptable to turn a blind eye to unlawful actions by foreign nationals who violate migration legislation and commit crimes. This, too, is clear; I have already spoken about it many times. Let me stress again that each area, market and home is the responsibility of an individual person, a specific leader, business proprietor or official. And it is unacceptable for anyone to eschew this responsibility.

A few days ago, the Federation Council passed a law on identifying the powers of regional and municipal authorities and their responsibility in the occurrence of interethnic conflicts, with consequences that include the dismissal of administrators who are unable to prevent conflicts. The law has been signed.

I have already stated at our Council meeting in Saransk that such conflicts often arise from day-to-day occurrences. And if people of different ethnicities are involved, these clashes can instantly be used by extremists, radical groups and individuals for fuelling ethnic tensions and achieving their selfish political aims. The media and online communities often pick up and propagate the hyped-up “ethnic” version and interpretation of the conflict. Thus, consciously or due to stupidity and professional incompetence, they make the situation even worse.

I am certain that most of these conflicts could have been avoided if the local authorities had listened to the people’s requests and opinions and resolved the problems that occur fairly and promptly.

”One-time emergency measures to prevent interethnic conflicts are ineffective. We need modern, system-wide measures and approaches that are reflected in the new National Ethnic Policy Strategy.“

Let me repeat: one-time emergency measures to prevent interethnic conflicts are ineffective. We need modern, system-wide measures and approaches that are reflected in the new National Ethnic Policy Strategy. It will come into full force only when it is sought after by the regions, when it becomes a real guide to action, to painstaking, systematic efforts to strengthen interethnic harmony.

Let me stress that regional plans for implementing the National Ethnic Policy Strategy must be substantive, reflecting the needs and particularities of each specific area. Nobody is ever in need of empty paperwork, and it is particularly true in this case.

It is also imperative to create a system for monitoring interethnic relations and assessing risks and measures for preventing possible conflicts on a common, methodical basis. Here, the role of the academic and expert community is quite important.

A research centre has already been created following my instructions to monitor interethnic relations in Southern Russia and the Volga Federal District. I believe every region should use the rich potential of our academic community and engage in dialogue with civil society institutions and ethnic and cultural associations.

I want to once again ask the Plenipotentiary Envoys to the federal districts to do more than just track and monitor the situation. We need to help regional and municipal authorities analyse the state of affairs in interethnic matters and work with them to resolve difficult problems, if they occur.

Particular attention should be given to employment issues. The people appointed as deputy governors and those responsible for interethnic relations should have a modern understanding of this area and should be capable of putting together a team of competent administrators, establishing direct dialogue with individuals and public associations. All this requires outstanding personal skills and extensive professional expertise.

Colleagues, let’s discuss the concrete measures needed in order to train and retrain government and municipal officials working in the field of interethnic relations and migration policy.

”It is also imperative to create a system for monitoring interethnic relations and assessing risks and measures for preventing possible conflicts on a common, methodical basis. Here, the role of the academic and expert community is quite important.“

In recent years, we have seen a trend of increasing tension in the relations between local residents and migrants. This is true for both immigrants from other countries and people relocating from various regions within Russia.

Today, the Federal Migration Service and the Regional Development Ministry are responsible for helping migrants adapt and integrate. But we must admit that we are seeing few positive changes in this area. Meanwhile, we must work more actively on a local level. Perhaps we should consider drawing up labour maps that outline the needs of Russian regions for additional labour. However, the greatest attention should be given to migrants’ social adaptation and creating the necessary conditions to achieve this. Such adaptation centres have been established in Tambov and Orenburg, and according to initial expert assessments, they can provide good results.

In conclusion, I want to talk about the suggestion to create an annual nationwide public award For Contributions to Strengthening National Unity in Russia. I think this can be a good incentive for people whose work relates to the crucial and highly sensitive field that is interethnic relations.

Let’s begin our work.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Let’s round things up now. I want to thank you for our work together and for this discussion.

Let me say a few words in conclusion. I will not get into a debate with some of the participants in today’s meeting, though the urge to argue was certainly there. However, we are here not to argue but to listen to what each of us has to say and carry out the proposals that you come up with in our practical work through the presidential bodies and the Russian Federation Government.

The subject we are dealing with is a very big issue not just for Russia but for practically all developed countries. You know how serious these problems are in Europe, North America and other parts of the world. Some of our colleagues in Europe have spoken of their ethnic policy’s failure over the last decade. We cannot allow ourselves to even contemplate such an outcome because Russia is a multi-ethnic country.

”We therefore must make use of all the positive experience and good things that were built up over these decades, make use of our advantages as a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country, which should give us a solid foundation for development.“

I met today with Muslim spiritual leaders and said what I have repeated on many occasions, namely, that our Muslims are Russians, our citizens, and this is their only home. We can say the same of every people living in the Russian Federation. Russia is the biggest part, but nonetheless only a part of the former homeland that we all shared, the Soviet Union. That we developed as a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country does create some problems, but it also gives us unquestionable huge advantages. We therefore must make use of all the positive experience and good things that were built up over these decades, make use of our advantages as a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country, which should give us a solid foundation for development.

Certainly there are problems, quite serious ones too. Unfortunately, we see that there is a lack of ability and sometimes even a reluctance to put things in order and find competent solutions. This lack of ability comes from the fact that we never knew such problems in the past because we lived in a single big country without any borders between us. Now we have borders and we have become separate countries. We have visa-free travel at present. We can consider the introduction of visas, but the question is, would this make things any better? Another problem is that the corruption that we rightly discussed here today could move from the markets to the borders instead. The issue is one of resolving the problems we have been talking about today in professional, competent and firm fashion.

I cannot but agree with the colleagues who say that we must improve our labour laws. This is indeed the case. What we are seeing, after all, is more like wild capitalism letting out another belch – forgive the crude metaphor – something not much different to the auctions for shares that were carried out with assets at one time. Using cheap migrant labour is above all an economic problem. But there is certainly a need for firm, consistent and civilised measures to put the situation in order. We can and must achieve results here.

I do not think that we have any problems we cannot overcome. They are all issues that can be resolved. But to do this, we first need to think and to set out our proposals. This is why we are meeting today.

I thank you very much for taking part not only in today’s meeting but also for your involvement in general in reflecting on these problems and looking for solutions. It probably won’t be possible to implement every proposal, but we will analyse them, sort through them and will give practical implementation to feasible ideas.

Thank you very much.

Instructions following meeting of Council for Interethnic Relations

2023-04-18T17:41:44+04:00

Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions following the February 19, 2013 meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations.

In particular, instructions to the Government of the Russian Federation concern additional measures to support the study of Russian as native language; government contracts for translating works of Russian literature into the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation; and the submission of proposals for moving the Schneerson library to the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre in Moscow.

The Government has been instructed to approve jointly with the regional authorities a list of events for 2013–2016 devoted to the Russian Language Day.

Instructions to various ministries and departments also concern public projects aimed at developing interethnic cooperation, strengthening interethnic harmony and civic unity; supporting and developing traditional sports and regularly holding a national festival of traditional sports; preparing standard Russian history textbooks for high schools; holding celebratory events in 2013–2025 honouring memorable dates devoted to the unity and common achievements of the peoples of Russia; and supporting the student volunteer movement to restore historical and cultural monuments of Russian peoples.

Meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov

2015-03-20T18:01:02+04:00

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov.

Mr Magomedov briefed the President on his working plans with regard to the subject he oversees, the interethnic relations, including tackling the tasks set forth at the meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations.

Meeting of Council for Interethnic Relations

2015-03-20T18:01:02+04:00

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations. The issues discussed included the implementation of the National Ethnic Policy Strategy through to 2025.

The meeting was attended by the senior staff of the Presidential Executive Office and federal bodies of executive power, the leaders of ethnic communities, heads of NGOs and representatives of the expert community.

The Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations was established following the Presidential Executive Order No 602 On Ensuring Interethnic Unity. The same Executive Order instructed the Presidential Executive Office and the Government to draft a National Ethnic Policy Strategy, which was approved last December.

The event took place at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre. Before the meeting, Vladimir Putin viewed the museum's expositions.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

I am sure that like me you have already visited the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre, where we are meeting today, and I am certain that it has not left anyone indifferent.

Israel has a similar museum, though a more modest one. In my opinion, our colleagues have succeeded in creating an outstanding institution, which will attract the interest of many people in our country of diverse ethnic backgrounds and will make an important contribution to addressing the issue we have gathered today to discuss.

The last time we met was last August in Saransk, when we agreed to discuss current issues and our general approach, our strategies in the work for which this centre was established.

I would like to reiterate that our core objective is to enhance peace and harmony in the multiethnic Russian society, so that our people feel that they are citizens of a single country regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs.

”Our core objective is to enhance peace and harmony in the multiethnic Russian society, so that our people feel that they are citizens of a single country regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs.“

I see this as key to the sustainable and successful development of our nation. This approach was laid out in the new National Ethnic Policy Strategy. This document was adopted in December 2012 following a broad public discussion.

Currently the Government is drafting a plan to implement the Strategy. However, we have a great deal to achieve to make it work and to make sure that it does not remain a kind of declaration of intent. In this regard I would like to draw your attention to several points.

First. The Russian language, our national language, is the fundamental basis of national unity in our country as the language of interethnic communication. It shapes a common civic, cultural and educational environment, and every citizen of the Russian Federation must speak this language, and speak it well. However, in order for people to study the Russian language, it is essential to create the necessary conditions for this and to improve them continuously.

Much has already been achieved as part of the federal targeted programme the Russian Language 2011–2015. In total, 2.5 billion rubles [about 83 million] will be allocated for this purpose by 2015. But it would not be right to rely exclusively on this one programme. We must increase support for Russian as a native language and to promote it at the federal level and in all regions without exception.

Our focus on the Russian language seems to be such a natural thing but it may sometimes appear that we underestimate its significance for our nation and for our state. People often take it for granted and think that it will always exist and develop of its own accord.

However, if we take a look at some remote communities on the outskirts of the Russian Federation, I am not at all sure that we will find the same knowledge of the language there as in big cities. Meanwhile, this situation is destroying our country and creating problems for people because they want to study and work in areas where Russian language is in demand. There are many other aspects of this process that I will not go into now.

”The Russian language, our national language, is the fundamental basis of national unity in our country as the language of interethnic communication. It shapes a common civic, cultural and educational environment.“

Let me remind you that we celebrate the Russian Language Day every year on Alexander Pushkin’s birthday. But this event is not marked at the level that it deserves. Many people don’t even know that such a holiday even exists.

I think the Government should submit some considered proposals on ways to mark the Russian Language Day in 2013 and in the future; not perfunctory, but meaningful suggestions to commensurate to the scale and significance of the issue. I hope that the Council will also join in these efforts.

The second point is the role of schools in shaping the culture of interethnic relations and strengthening mutual respect between them. This requires systemic, integrated and creative efforts, which must meet children’s interests and needs, and be consistent with modern reality. I emphasise that formal moralising is totally unacceptable and ineffective here, and can sometimes even be counterproductive.

Perhaps we should think about introducing common history textbooks for Russian secondary schools, designed for different ages but built into a single concept and following a single logic of continuous Russian history, the relations between all its stages and respect towards all the episodes of our past. Naturally, specific examples must be used to demonstrate that Russia’s destiny was built on a union of different peoples, traditions and cultures.

I should add that school textbooks must be written in good Russian (I started with this point), and must be free from internal contradictions and ambiguities. This should be a mandatory requirement for all teaching materials.

It would be best if the work on the history textbooks that will be used by schools nationwide involves experts not only from the Education Ministry but also from the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as two of the oldest Russian public associations that are now resuming their activities: the Historical Society and the Society for Military History.

Next. Today Russia has 989 registered ethnic cultural autonomies. In addition, there are numerous ethnic associations, unions and regional associations. All these organisations have tremendous humanitarian potential and can become an effective platform for ethnic and cultural exchange.

I stress that in accordance with the new provisions of Federal Law On Non-Profit Organisations, such entities are now eligible for state aid as socially oriented non-profit organisations.

Moreover, I believe the presidential grants to be awarded in 2013 and subsequent years must include funding for projects aimed at improving interethnic relations.

This practice must be introduced at the regional level, where Governors should institute their own forms of grant support.

”It is important for us to decide on providing state support for the projects related to national history. Everyone must learn the true story of our country’s unification, the joining of Russian lands into a single powerful multiethnic state, and not all kinds of pseudo-scientific, biased speculations on the subject.“

In general, it is important for us to decide on providing state support for the projects related to national history. Everyone must learn the true story of our country’s unification, the joining of Russian lands into a single powerful multiethnic state, and not all kinds of pseudo-scientific, biased speculations on the subject.

Many countries evolved in different ways, but the vast majority of modern civilised countries are seeking integration because it is an opportunity to radically increase competitiveness and survival of individual nations in the modern conditions.

Russia is no exception, and that is especially true since we all live within a single state. We must cherish and multiply this source of strength, but we must do it through subtle, effective modern methods, and people must understand that all these efforts are to their benefit.

We must involve experts in this work, who will compile a list of historical dates related to the unity of the peoples of Russia and put together a calendar of events for at least the period from 2013 to 2025, widely publicise these events in the media and academic publications, as well as in educational and cultural spheres.

We should support the efforts of the student volunteer movement to revive the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation, hold conferences on history, ethnology and ethnopolitics for students and young researchers together with the institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Education, and so on.

Naturally, we must also support creative projects aimed at strengthening the unity of the peoples of Russia, our historical and cultural identity: films, documentaries and animated films, and radio and television programmes.

I want to emphasise that the state should not support blatant propaganda but choose truly outstanding, subtle, talented works – then and only then will we get a result. One good example that I have talked about many times in the past is the My Planet TV channel, which is being launched by National State Television and Radio Company jointly with the Russian Geographical Society.

I ask the Government to analyse these issues and to consider a package of measures to foster strong interethnic relations through the media and the Internet.

Fourth. The federal programme Strengthening the Unity of the Russian Nation and the Ethnic and Cultural Development of the Peoples of Russia should become a significant resource for the support of public initiatives. The programme for 2014–2018 is currently being drafted by the Government.

In addition, it is important to involve the business community and private sponsors in humanitarian projects. I suggest that today we talk about different ways of implementing this.

Fifth. Our civic chambers operating at different levels also have great potential. Together with state and municipal civic councils, they could promote a dialogue between the Government and civil society on the implementation of national policies.

”We must strive for our national sports to be included in the Olympic disciplines. Most importantly, they must become popular in Russia and develop as mass, widely available activities.“

Finally, the sixth. In the near future Russia will host several major sporting and political events. In sports, Kazan will host the XXVII World Summer Universiade this summer, the XXII Olympic Winter Games will be held in February 2014 followed by the Paralympics.

These events will certainly give a strong new impetus to the development of sport in our country, both professional and amateur sports. It is extremely important that all these positive changes have an impact on our national sports, reflecting the culture and the spirit of the peoples of Russia.

I would like to note that today the Sports Ministry’s official register contains only five such sports, as if there are no others. In fact, there are more than sixty of them, and over 85,000 people are involved in them – this is only the official figure, and I am sure that the real number is much higher. Let’s not forget that all the world famous Olympic sports started out as purely national disciplines.

Naturally, we must strive for our national sports to be included in the Olympic disciplines. Most importantly, they must become popular in Russia and develop as mass, widely available activities.

Let's start our discussion. Thank you for your attention.

<…>

(On the issue of the Schneerson Library): I am sorry to see that the debate over this issue has reached a confrontational level following what I think were unlawful decisions made by another country’s courts. The Schneerson Library does not belong to any particular Jewish community. It belongs to the Russian Jewish community too, and indeed to the Russian Federation above all. We would not like to see the situation end up in a dead end.

I want to make it clear that the Schneerson Library is not a single entity. From the legal point of view it consists of two parts. As I understand it, one part of this library was collected by a collector, well, in one sense anyway, he was a clergyman but also a collector and he put this part of the library together in Russia in the nineteenth century. This part of the library was nationalised following a decision by the Council of People’s Commissars [the government] of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic immediately following the revolution in 1917. This is a very important aspect of the whole problem because if we agree to hand over Russian property to someone else – and the library was declared to be Russian property – we would open a Pandora’s Box.

I am not discussing now whether the Soviet government was right or wrong when it nationalised a huge amount of property after the 1917 revolution, but almost 100 years have passed since then and we live today with the circumstances that resulted. If we were to open this Pandora’s Box now and start satisfying these sorts of claims there would be no end to them and no telling what the consequences might be. Maybe the time will come when we would be able to do this, but I think that right now we are absolutely not ready for this and it would be impossible.

The second part of the library was brought from Germany as war trophies, and as you know, decisions on trophy goods taken out of Germany have already been made. Of course we would like to find a solution that would above all benefit those with an interest in these spiritual treasures. What sort of solution could we envisage?

We are here right now at the Jewish Tolerance Centre, and we could think of a way of housing the library here, say, at Russia’s Jewish Tolerance Centre. I would be ready to send the relevant instructions to the Government and the Ministry of Culture. As for the legal aspects of organising this, it would be a matter for the experts to discuss. In any case, we could guarantee full access to the library for all who wish to use it. I think this would be a big step forward and a means of reaching a solution with those who really do want to settle the issue and not use it as a pretext for stirring passions and provoking confrontation.

If we could all sit down together, together with members of Russian Jewish organisations and representatives of the Hassidic community in the USA, and try to settle the issue – really try to settle it instead of aggravating it – I am sure that we would find a solution.

<…>

Meeting of Council for Interethnic Relations

2015-03-20T18:01:15+04:00

Vladimir Putin held the first meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations in Saransk.

The Council includes representatives from all of Russia’s ethnic and cultural associations, scientific and expert communities, and heads of federal government agencies.

Before the meeting, the President took part in celebrations marking the 1000^th anniversary of the unity of the Mordovian people with the peoples of the Russian state.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues, friends,

I welcome you all to Saransk. We all know that a big celebration is underway here at the moment to mark the 1000^th anniversary of the unity of the Mordovian people with the Russian people, with other peoples of Russia. I spoke about this just before at the public event. I think this is an important national event given that we live in a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country. Most important of all though, is that over the many centuries of life together, we have not lost the greatest pillars in the foundation of our life and the life of each of our peoples. We have not lost our national culture, language and traditions. Russia has always been famed for and proud of its cultural diversity, and this has always been the source of its strength. It is crucially important that we have managed to preserve this diversity through the centuries.

We are not at a public meeting now, but at a more down to earth event, and so I will allow myself to give a few figures.

According to the 2010 national census results, there are 193 peoples and ethnic groups in Russia today speaking 171 languages. Of these languages, 89 are taught in the state school system. I think I can confidently say that no European country offers such a level of protection of citizens’ ethno-cultural rights.

It is symbolic that the Council for Interethnic Relations should be holding its first meeting here amidst this festive celebratory atmosphere. The Council was established, as you recall, in June, with the main task of serving as an effective mechanism for cooperation between the state authorities and the public in this very sensitive and very important area.

This Council must become a forum where we can discuss frankly the current issues in interethnic relations, without having to smooth over the thornier edges. We need to draw people representing all of the various public and political forces into these discussions, not reject anyone, and study and analyse the competing proposals, except for blatantly extremist proposals.

All reasonable and substantive ideas should be incorporated into the work to develop modern policy approaches that will help us to achieve and strengthen interethnic harmony and peace.

”Our country has traditionally always had regional diversity, ethno-cultural and religious diversity, and over the centuries this has been preserved, not suppressed. This diversity’s continued preservation today is not just the guarantee that Russia’s statehood has a solid foundation, but is also our great competitive advantage.“

I hope that the non-governmental organisations and national-cultural autonomous regions that you head will be active partners and show interest in working together with the state institutions.

Today, we need to outline the main strategic directions for our work together. Let me say what I see as the main priorities on which we should focus our attention.

First, we must strengthen Russia as a unique world civilisation. We must remember that our country has traditionally always had regional diversity, ethno-cultural and religious diversity, and over the centuries this has been preserved, not suppressed. This diversity’s continued preservation today is not just the guarantee that Russia’s statehood has a solid foundation, but is also our great competitive advantage. No other country in the world has such a wealth of peoples and languages. In Europe, for sure, no country can match us here, and I think even in the United States it is so. True, the USA is a land of immigrants, but still, I think that no other country has Russia’s diversity.

At the same time, we are fully justified in speaking of the key cementing role played by the Russian language and by the Russian people and its great culture.

Let me make the point clear that neither religion nor ethnicity must divide Russia’s peoples and citizens. On the contrary, we must create the environment that gives equal opportunities to all of our citizens. We are all citizens of this country and we are all absolutely equal in rights.

This brings me to my second priority: we need to strengthen our multi-ethnic people’s sense of civic unity. Lately, I, and my colleagues, so I am told, have made frequent reference to the Soviet period.

Let me say that nostalgia for the past is perfectly explainable. We must take into account the positive experience built up over past decades. I add — given that I myself have made public reference to the Soviet period — that we must take care at the same time not to idealise anything, and this includes the Soviet Union’s interethnic relations policies. Looking back at the project to forge a “new historic community” – the “Soviet people”, we can say that this project was never completed, and not everyone accepted it. There will never be complete and total agreement on such issues.

”The values of interethnic harmony were not a gift from our ancestors that will last forever. Such traditions must be constantly maintained. And this requires the highest level of attention from the government and our society, as well as some fairly meticulous day-to-day work.“

But the most important thing of all, on which we should focus today, is the need for qualitatively new approaches that take into account modern developments in society, in government, in our country and the world. Of course it is not possible to mechanically reproduce something from the past, and sometimes it is counterproductive to try to do so. Whatever the case, the result will not be effective. But we must nevertheless assess the past for the positive experience it offers and take this into account.

The complex, multidimensional problem we are working on today cannot be resolved with an executive order or a law, although naturally, a corresponding regulatory framework must be created. We will nevertheless need a great deal of time, effort, analytical work, discussions and reflection. I believe the Council should make a sizable, possibly decisive contribution to this process, and here, I count on your active help.

The third priority is harmonising interethnic relations and preventing interethnic conflicts. Russia’s unified territory has been built over the course of centuries, as I have already stated twice today. However, the values of interethnic harmony were not a gift from our ancestors that will last forever. Such traditions must be constantly maintained. Moreover, life moves forward; new challenges, risks and threats arise. And this requires the highest level of attention from the government and our society, as well as some fairly meticulous day-to-day work.

Let me stress that we do not have the right to ignore any negative tendencies that occur in this sphere, and we must understand that conflicts may not only weaken the state, but also destroy its very foundations. Today, more and more often, under the guise of developing democracy and freedom, various nationalist groups are raising their heads. They participate in rallies, work on the Internet and among teenagers and students, using slogans of “Russian,” “Tatar,” “Caucasus,” or other “regional” nationalism. In essence, they are all pushing and provoking separatist tendencies inside our nation. It is important to suppress this dangerous influence. And together, we must make tolerance, respect toward the culture and way of life of other individuals, other peoples, other ethnicities one of the key notions in our society.

I ask the Council members to present suggestions on how to organise work in this direction at universities, schools and preschools. This is particularly relevant for major cities and regions that have large ethnic and cultural communities of working migrants.

”Supporting interethnic harmony, assuring prompt and competent resolution of potential conflicts, promoting dialogue between members of different communities and advocating tolerance must become a priority at all levels of government.“

Furthermore, we can see that often, the root of conflicts occurring seemingly on an ethnic basis is something entirely different – citizens’ distrust of the authorities and government. The widely known events in Kondopoga, Sagra, and Manezhnaya Square in Moscow are, first and foremost, the result of inaction by law enforcement agencies and irresponsible bureaucrats. Corruption and prejudice among representatives of state bodies, and their inability to provide justice and defend people’s interests, are fuelling ethnic conflicts and tension; and for some people, it is directly advantageous to channel citizens’ indignation over injustice and transform it into interethnic conflicts.

I want to emphasise that supporting interethnic harmony, assuring prompt and competent resolution of potential conflicts, promoting dialogue between members of different communities and advocating tolerance must become a priority at all levels of government – particularly, to a large extent, municipal governments. It is at the local level, in specific cities, towns and villages, that the absolute majority of potential conflict situations and problems occur. And it is there that we can and must effectively resolve them, or better yet, timely and adequately react to them and prevent them.

I also ask you to give interethnic issues close, special attention – actually, I will not only ask but also give corresponding instructions to the presidential plenipotentiary envoys in the federal districts. Clearly, it is also imperative to have citizen oversight. I feel that such mechanisms can be created with the help of our Council. I believe the Council can initiate expert evaluations of legislation and key decisions in interethnic relations. To do this, cooperation with the State Duma, regional parliaments, and relevant ministries and departments would be expedient.

The next challenge is to ensure the successful integration and adaptation of foreign and domestic migrants. Migration plays a significant role in many nations around the world. Russia is no exception. We are already in second place after the United States in terms of the number of migrants coming here, and like other nations, we have encountered problems with interethnic tension. That is why, to make use of the positive potential the migration has – and that potential is great, — we must modernise the entire system of migration management.

”Migration plays a significant role in many nations around the world. Russia is no exception. It is very important to create adequate conditions for integrating migrants, defending their rights and freedoms and assuring their social protection. At the same time, the migrants must also abide by Russian laws and migration rules, respect our traditions, culture, and rules of behaviour of the regions they are coming to.“

It is very important to create adequate conditions for integrating migrants, defending their rights and freedoms and assuring their social protection. At the same time, the migrants must also abide by Russian laws and migration rules, respect our traditions, culture, and rules of behaviour of the regions they are coming to. Only this kind of mutual respect can give us harmony, rather than create close ethnic groups.

Let me stress that the ethnic communities themselves should play a particular role in migrants’ adaptation, taking migrants under their patronage, providing social support and, most importantly, using the infrastructure of their cultural and educational centres to teach their compatriots about the traditions and customs of the region where they come to live and work. Naturally, they will need support from the government as well, and here, we do need a dialogue between the various structures of civil society and government.

Russia strives to ensure the cultural integration of migrants, to accelerate their assimilation based on our nation’s culture. Thus, we need to specify objectives to the Government and regional leaders to create a network of state bridging programmes for migrant workers and their children. And our Council could participate in this work.

I ask you to get involved in putting together a reading list of 100 books recommended for schoolchildren and university students outside the mandatory school curriculum. It should include works that touch on the traditions of mutual respect between different peoples and ethnic groups that have historically resided within the Russian Federation’s territory.

Colleagues,

Managing interethnic relations is a challenge for governmental and social structures. And the national policy strategy that we will need to develop and adopt should not be formed in isolation, exclusively on a bureaucratic level. It is very important for it to be based on extensive public discussion, including within the framework of our Council. Gathered here are highly qualified specialists and respected leaders of ethnic associations who could take charge of this process and actively participate in it.

* * *

”The national policy strategy should not be formed in isolation, exclusively on a bureaucratic level. It is very important for it to be based on extensive public discussion.“

Vladimir Putin: This is a very solid gathering today. You are all experienced people fully immersed in the issue and the substance it entails. But I do not want us to meet simply once or twice a year, discuss things and then go our separate ways. I hope very much, as I said at the start, that we can put the potential of everyone here to good use so as to resolve this issue of such importance and sensitivity for our country – the issue of strengthening interethnic relations.

The speakers today talked about establishing the Council’s working mechanisms, and we will most certainly discuss setting up specific working groups for the different areas. The heads of these working groups will form the Council’s board, which will meet more regularly and discuss in closer focus the various aspects of this big and multifaceted issue.

Comment: Together with the ministers.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, together with the ministers. By the way, some ministers are here today, but we will also invite other ministers with whom you think we should discuss matters that come under their responsibility. I am sure that the heads of our ministries and agencies will be happy to take part in this work because it will also provide them with a form of feedback on their ministries’ and agencies’ work and on the actual situation at the practical level, thus enabling us to make adjustments to the government’s work.

And finally, I want to thank all of you for agreeing to take part in this work together. Thank you everyone.

Presidential instructions following a meeting with Council for Interethnic Relations

2015-03-20T18:01:19+04:00

Vladimir Putin approved a list of instructions issued following a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky was instructed to consider holding a yearly national folk festival Together We are Russia and to submit corresponding suggestions.

Communications and Mass Media Minister Nikolai Nikiforov was instructed to submit suggestions on launching a television programme on the history, culture and traditions of different peoples in Russia to be broadcasted on a federal television channel.

Meeting with members of the Council for Interethnic Relations

2015-03-20T18:01:23+04:00

The Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations was established on June 7 by the Presidential Executive Order.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, everyone,

As you know, I have signed an executive order establishing the Presidential Council fro Interethnic Relations. The composition of the Council has been approved. I would like to note that the majority of the Council’s members are not government officials but civil society representatives, heads of national and nongovernmental organisations, experts and academics.

I believe this approach is logical and I think you will agree with me because the issues of interethnic development, interethnic harmony, require an open and broad approach that is at the same time extremely delicate and competent. The Council has become a platform for professional discussions that will help us arrive at strategic and substantive national policy decisions.

At the same time the Council is called upon to serve as a feedback mechanism: its members must be in constant contact with national associations, diasporas and the federal and regional authorities to give an objective and reliable assessment and to bring your conclusions to the agencies that will then be able to provide a timely response to potential risks and threats that can cause ethnic conflicts.

I think it is important that we begin this work without further delays. The period of parliamentary and presidential elections and elections to the federal government agencies has come to an end. As you know, I devoted a great deal of attention to this issue in my election programme. I believe this is one of the key priorities for Russia’s welfare and its future.

There are several points that I believe deserve our special attention.

”The issues of interethnic development, interethnic harmony, require an open and broad approach that is at the same time extremely delicate and competent.“

First, I ask all Council members to take an active part in the effort on drafting the National Strategy for the Russian State Policy. This document must be finalised by the end of this year. Naturally, it will be adopted only after a broad public debate.

It is essential to take all the details into account when drafting the Strategy: the issues of education, information regarding historical events, culture, promoting Russian and other languages of the peoples in our country. This is a very sensitive issue and it is vitally important. We have always been proud of our cultural diversity, which is the backbone of our multi-ethnic nation. It rests not on one, two or three pillars but on a great multitude of pillars. Therefore, we must treat our heritage with the utmost care.

Unfortunately, there are problems in this area and we have people here who have been working with these issues for many years and you know for yourselves that entire languages are disappearing. It would seem a language is something eternal but that is not so. In the previous decades, even in Soviet times, despite the criticism of that period, and there is a great deal that deserves criticism, but I know firsthand that a lot of attention and funds were allocated to support the publication of magazines and books in minority languages, and this caring attitude made it possible to keep the cultures of small nations alive. Unfortunately, much has been lost in recent years.

Second, I have already talked about the importance of mechanisms to monitor the situation in the sphere of interethnic relations, including those that will reveal the inefficiency, incompetence and lack of responsibility among some government officials, who violate people’s individual rights and interests. As we know, it is the injustice, corruption and outright prejudice that often become a breeding ground for interethnic tensions, and unfortunately, some people like to stir up ethnic tensions. So I would ask Council members to interact with human rights organisations and other civil society institutions. Together we must adjust the mechanisms for the prevention of potential conflicts and dispute resolution in cases that have an ethnic aspect.

Third. I will ask Council members to join in the examination of the legislation on ethnic and migration policy. In particular, this applies to draft laws aimed at increasing the liability for violations of migration legislation. Our legislation must be clear and undemanding for respectable citizens, including those who come to Russia from abroad, and hard on those who ignore our laws and cultural and behavioural norms accepted in Russian society.

”Together we must adjust the mechanisms for the prevention of potential conflicts and dispute resolution in cases that have an ethnic aspect.“

Finally, I hope that the Council will play a constructive role in developing interethnic, inter-faith and intercultural dialogue, in promoting society’s consolidation around a principled position – a decisive rejection of any manifestations of separatism, national and religious extremism and radicalism.

In conclusion, I would like to stress once again: national accord, strong interethnic ties, peace and harmony are defining issues for our society and for the integrity of the Russian state. In fact, it is a foundation for a stable and sovereign Russia, for tackling long-term challenges in the economy, social sphere, nation-building and foreign policy. Every step taken in the field of interethnic relations must be meticulously verified, accepted by society and effectively implemented. The cost of errors and inconsistent actions is extremely high. Therefore, I have great hopes for our common, intense and highly meaningful work.

I have known many of you for a very long time, for many years, as very decent people, champions of efforts in this area of our public life, who know the problem well. That is all I wanted to say at the outset. Once again I want to emphasise that I have great hopes for our effective joint efforts.

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I think it was a very good idea we heard just now on establishing a festival showcasing folk arts of different Russian regions and ethnic groups.

”National accord, strong interethnic ties, peace and harmony are defining issues for our society and for the integrity of the Russian state. It is a foundation for a stable and sovereign Russia, for tackling long-term challenges in the economy, social sphere, nation-building and foreign policy.“

Udmurtian grandmothers, as you know, gave a striking demonstration recently of how much attention this can attract and how close it is to the hearts of all people in Russia. And I am sure that everybody, regardless of their ethnic background, watched not just with curiosity but also with great enthusiasm the way these grannies from Udmurtia represented our multinational country at an international cultural event that had never witnessed such performances. Therefore, I think we could use this experience to realise your proposal. Let's think about it and write it up it in the near future.

In general, I think we are on the right path. I very much hope that all members of the Council will work actively. It is already clear that you have a lot of ideas and proposals and your assessments are profound and absolutely correct. I am confident that we will be able to achieve a great deal together in culture and in improving administrative procedures.

What is very important, and I would like to return to this issue one more time and focus your attention on this, our legislation must be fully in line with and adequate to the challenges and threats we face – in fact, not just Russia but all the other countries, too. This does not mean that we should simply toughen legislation but it must be adequate to the threats we face.

Somewhere legislation may be tightened, but in any case it is vital that such laws must be debated by the public and that representatives of various nations and ethnic groups participate in improving Russian legislation. We must make sure that people living in any part of the country, including the indigenous nations and those who have moved to those areas, realise that all civil society organisations have taken part in adopting relevant laws, that they have expressed their opinions and consider the adoption of such legal acts to be timely and appropriate for present day demands.

This is very important, and our efforts should be directed at ensuring that society accepts the laws and the improvement to the current legislation that are necessary not only to make us feel more confident and stable, but also to build the prosperity of our country. I am certain that our efforts will be successful.

Council for Interethnic Relations has been established

2015-03-20T18:01:23+04:00

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Council for Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation.

The Council’s objective is to improve state policy in the field of interethnic relations. The Presidential executive order also approves the Council’s regulations and its composition.

Under the regulations, the Council is a Presidential consultative and advisory body, established to ensure cooperation between the federal state power bodies, bodies of state power in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local authorities, public associations, and academic and other organisations in addressing issues related to implementation of the state policy of the Russian Federation.

The Council’s main responsibilities are to review the conceptual framework, goals and targets of the state policy, to determine the methods, forms and stages of its implementation, to discuss the practical implementation of the state policy, to draft proposals for the President with regard to state policy priorities, to ensure cooperation between the federal and regional state bodies, local governments, NGOs, and academic and other organisations on issues of interethnic relations.