President Vladimir Putin: Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Dear colleagues,
Allow me to wish you a warm welcome to the capital of Russia. I hope that you had the time not just to meet and exchange opinions on your work in the development of world megapolises, but also to feel the beauty of the capital of Russia, to feel the beauty of a city that all the citizens of my country are proud of, to feel the beauty of Moscow.
Your conference is taking place in a difficult time for us. Russia has just endured a series of brutal terrorist acts, including the monstrous tragedy in the Ossetian town of Beslan.
I would like to thank all the residents of capitals and megapolises of the world which you represent, for your support, sympathy and compassion, and thank you for the aid that we are now receiving from abroad. We see this as a show of solidarity in the face of the common threat of terrorism.
The tragic events in Beslan, in Jakarta, Madrid and Moscow, in Istanbul, New York and Washington, and in other cities of the planet confirm the fact that terrorists are united in a wide international network, and terrorism can only be conquered if the efforts of the entire international community are truly combined. I am certain that we must increase anti-terrorist cooperation in all areas and at all levels – both internationally – with the central coordinating role of the Untied Nations – and nationally, including at municipal level.
I think that the mayors of megapolises present here understand what I am talking about, because it is the residents of major cities who are the primary targets for attacks by terrorists. The front line of this war that has been forced upon us may pass through every street and every home. This war has no home front and no neutral zones. And in places where terrorists do not meet with the proper resistance, their bases and coordinating centres appear.
It must be admitted that the measures taken so far have not been adequate to the scale and destructive potential of international terrorism which undermines the very foundations of our civilisation. Today in the war on terrorism, we need to mobilise all the resources of the state, society and citizens, and in every country: none of them are insured against terrorist attacks.
We have long warned of this danger, but our voice has not always been heard, and in fact we have encountered double standards in the assessment of terrorism. Even today, these views that are destructive for peace and common security have not been overcome. There are still attempts to divide terrorists into “ours” and “theirs”, into “moderates” and “radicals”, i.e. there is still loopholes for terror, convenient loopholes in the public mind. There is still an indulgent, justificatory attitude towards murderers, which amounts to aiding terrorism.
I call on you all to remember the lessons of history. Let us remember 1938 and the Munich agreement. Of course, the situations are different; of course, the consequences that came about after the Second World War are different in scale. But the situation is very similar.
We must under no circumstances give in to the idea that by making concessions to criminals, we can gain anything, or hope that they will leave us in peace – this will not happen. Every concession to potential criminals leads to their aggression and a widening of their demands, and increases losses.
In Russia today, we are seriously preparing to act preventatively against terrorists. But we will do this in strict accordance with the law, the norms of the Constitution, and of course in strict accordance with the norms of international law, as ensuring the safety of citizens is not just the obligation of authorities at any level, but is the main criteria by which people today judge the effectiveness of their work.
Dear colleagues and friends,
Your conference is already coming to an end, and as far as I know, it was productive and businesslike. It could not have been otherwise, because the people gathered here are used to working efficiently, without empty talk, and are able to administer huge city economies with creativity and innovation. There is enormous responsibility and specific work on your shoulders. I well understand and feel your responsibility, as I have worked in a large city myself, Petersburg, which has a population of five million. You are the closest to the people, and are responsible for every detail.
I must say that diplomacy of cities is becoming an effective mechanism not just for solving socio-economic problems, but political problems as well. In this sense, the creation of the International organisation of cities and local authorities, the founding conference of which was held in Paris this year, is undoubtedly an important event. We welcome the creation of this forum and intend to assist its work however we can.
I also think the initiative advanced by the mayors of Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow, which the mayor of our capital, Mr. Luzhkov, just told me about was very beneficial and timely . This initiative is directed towards regular joint work in discussing urgent tasks faced by the major cities of Europe.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you for the extensive and beneficial work that you have devoted these days to. I would like to thank you for finding the opportunity to come to the capital of Russia, and choosing this as the place for your meeting.
I wish you success from all my heart.
All the best, and thank you very much for your attention.