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Your Holiness, friends.

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Please accept my heartfelt greetings to the 22nd World 

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Russian People’s Council.

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You know, here is what I was thinking just now.

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A lot has changed in the life of our country and our people.

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This Kremlin hall that used to be unofficially known as the Palace 

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of Congresses is now hosting the Russian People’s Council.

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This is indeed a sign of fundamental change in our society.

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Established under the aegis of the Russian Orthodox Church,

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for the past 25 years, a quarter of a century,

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this forum has played a significant part in the public and social life 

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of Russia and the entire Russian-speaking world by actively promoting 

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solutions to social, educational and humanitarian problems,

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preserving the interethnic and interfaith accord,

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and educating young people based on the values 

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of patriotism and civic consciousness.

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It is important that representatives of all power branches 

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and different political forces as well as cultural activists,

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education professionals and the clergy of traditional religions take 

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part in the work of the council.

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At the same time, you never set narrow ethnic or other limits and are 

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always open for an interethnic,

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intercultural and interfaith dialogue.

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These traditions – the traditions of mutual understanding –

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have always strengthened our large family, the people of Russia.

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Let me also note your active support of our brothers abroad.

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I mentioned the importance of this work yesterday at the meeting 

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of the World Congress of Compatriots.

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In line with the council’s motto – created to unite –

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you do a lot for national consolidation.

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I am confident that only a unified and close-knit society is able 

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to face the most serious historical challenges,

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achieve real breakthroughs and amazing results,

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counter any pressure from the outside and protect our sovereignty 

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and spiritual and historical bonds.

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We can see what efforts are being taken today to “reformat” the world 

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and destroy the traditional values and the cultural and historical 

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spaces that have been forming for centuries.

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The goal is to create various bleak “protectorates,

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” because it is easier to rule peoples who are disconnected,

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have no national memory and are turned into simple vassals,

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and to use them as bargaining chips.

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Unfortunately, we can see this in many regions of the planet,

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including the post-Soviet space.

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Crude nationalism and anti-Russian sentiments are also used.

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Brazen and unbridled interventions are being made into 

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the life of the church.

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This policy can have very serious consequences. It is dangerous.

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I am confident that life will return everything to normal,

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because it is impossible to make people go against their faith,

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their traditions, their family and, ultimately,

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against truth, justice and common sense.

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Friends, both today's meeting and most discussions will be dedicated 

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to the civilizational development of Russia and the understanding 

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of its role in the current world order.

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These issues are undoubtedly very relevant today.

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It is now being decided how the world will look 

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in the future, in the coming decades.

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Will this be a world of monologue and the rule of force,

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or a world of dialogue and mutual respect? How well will technology 

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combine with ethical and moral values?

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There are more questions than answers so far.

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But there is one thing I am certain about: the voice of Russia will 

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resound with dignity and confidence in the future world.

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It is defined by both our tradition and internal spiritual culture,

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our identity and finally, by the history of our country as an authentic 

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civilisation, a unique one, but one which does not assertively 

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and aggressively claim its exceptionalism.

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Because it is impossible to imagine the history of humanity without 

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such unique civilisations as India, China, Western Europe,

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America and many others.

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It is really a multifaceted complexity where each facet 

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supplements and enriches the others.

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I would like to remind you of the words said by a prominent Russian 

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thinker of the 19th century, Nikolai Danilevsky: no civilisation can 

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call itself supreme, the most developed one.

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Today the understanding of the complexity of civilizational development 

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is the foundation for the multipolar world 

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and for defending the principles of international law.

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The weight, the influence of the poles on the common development,

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of course, will be determined by their economic, scientific, cultural,

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spiritual and human potential.

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This is why our common efforts are so important,

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for they are aimed at uniting, consolidating the work 

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of civil society and the state.

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This is what our ancestors called a council intellect,

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a council experience.

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I would like to thank Your Holiness for the big contribution 

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to the activity of the council,

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and its participants for the mission that you have been doing 

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for the past 25 years, a very important mission for our 

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society and the state.

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I wish you success.

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Thank you for your attention.