The message reads, in part:
“It is symbolic that this new holiday, timed to coincide with the birthday of Rasul Gamzatov, an outstanding son of Daghestan and our multi-ethnic Fatherland, is being celebrated for the first time during the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.
Representatives of some 200 peoples and ethnic groups live together in friendship and harmony in our country. Their languages, unique customs and traditions are part of our common heritage and a true treasure of Russia. That is why the state gives priority to preserving our ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. We are developing specialised textbooks, supporting literature in national languages and schools of literary translation. We carry out educational, informational, outreach and creative projects that are in high demand.
I would like to emphasise that, while preserving our unique languages, we must remember that the Russian language serves as a common thread connecting all our peoples. To a great extent, it has shaped Russia as a unified multi-ethnic state and has contributed to the mutual enrichment of cultures, the development of neighbourly traditions and mutual understanding among our peoples for centuries.”