by Lady Michelle-Jennifer Santos, Founder & Publisher and the Kremlin, Moscow
Dec. 12, 2012 (TSR) – Vladimir Putin made his annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly at the St George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace outlining his priority targets for Russia’s national political and economic development.
Celebrating Russia’s Constitution Day, the event was attended by the members of the Council of Federation, State Duma and Government, Presidents of the Constitutional, Supreme and Higher Arbitration Court, heads of the constitutional entities, chairpersons of regional legislative assemblies, heads of traditional faiths, public figures and executives of major media outlets.
President Putin highlighted several fundamental issues that are vitally important for Russia’s present and future.
In his speech, the Russian President stressed that the coming years will be decisive and perhaps even ground-breaking not only for Russia, but also for the entire world, which is entering an era of dramatic changes and possibly even shocks. He also noted that global development is becoming increasingly unequal, which may give rise to new economic, geopolitical and ethnic conflicts. Competition for resources is becoming tougher and a great deal will depend not only on the economic potential but also on the will of each nation, its internal energy and ability to move forward and change.
The President emphasized that Russia must be a sovereign and influential nation amid a new balance of economic, civilizational and military forces in the 21st century. It must not only develop with confidence, but also preserve its national and spiritual identity, its sense of national unity. In this regard, the President noted the rise of civic engagement in the country. Vladimir Putin sees civil responsibility and patriotism as a consolidating force behind Russian politics.
Next, he also focused on addressing demographic issues, noting that demographic programs adopted in the past decade have been effective. He states that Russia’s population has not only stabilized but also began to grow. He then continued to outline the main directions of further growth, including the creation and implementation of regional demographic programs. Putin says he believes families with three children should become the standard in Russia.
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We must be and remain Russia.
– Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
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The President also touched on the issue of creating quality new jobs that will be the driving force behind growth of wages and well-being, the revival of engineering schools and professional training.
Speaking of the social sphere, which employs highly educated and qualified people, the so-called creative class of doctors, school and university teaching staff, scientists and culture professionals, Vladimir Putin recalled that the Presidential executive orders he signed in May stipulate wage increase for each category of employees in these fields, and instructed the heads of the federal and regional authorities to mobilize all available resources to achieve this goal.
It is also necessary, Putin stressed, to strengthen the spiritual and moral fabric of society. Issues of secondary education, culture and youth policy take on special importance in this regard as they are responsible for shaping a balanced, moral and responsible citizen of Russia. It is essential to give every support to the institutions that have enshrined Russian traditional values and have historically proven their ability to pass them on from generation to generation.
The President also spoke about the revival of national consciousness, the development of Russia as a multinational state and the inadmissibility of any manifestations of nationalism and chauvinism, which cause the greatest damage to the nation and the ethnic group whose interests the nationalists claim to be defending. Vladimir Putin made several proposals in the field of immigration policy, including on such issues as granting Russian citizenship and the fight against illegal immigration, as well as the development of distance education in Russian that would be available to everyone in the world.
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You cannot live without having regard for others, without helping the weak, without extending your responsibility beyond the responsibility of your family or profession.
– Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
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“Democracy is the only political choice for Russia”, the President said. But “Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people, with our own traditions of self-rule, and not the fulfilment of standards imposed on us from the outside. The framework of the state and society must not be affected, the continuity of national development must not be disrupted, national sovereignty and the rights and freedoms of our citizens must never be questioned. Moreover, democracy is the ability not only to choose the government, but also to constantly monitor the government and evaluate the results of its work.”
In his Address, the President formulated a set of rules of fair political competition.
“Russia is characterized by a tradition of a strong state”, the President said, citing poor performance of state agencies and corruption as the main problems in this area. Putin listed his proposed key principles for a new model of public administration, including the new forms and methods of control, effective motivation of municipal officials and the introduction of certain restrictions concerning, in particular, foreign accounts, assets and real estate.
The Russian head of state also made a number of proposals with regard to the fight against corruption, including the development of public control mechanisms.
Talking about the economy, he also highlighted the importance of moving away from a commodity-based economic model and overcoming the economy’s dependence on financial and commodity markets in other countries, as well as some issues of jurisdiction and administrative proceedings. Putin suggested that the Government and the Central Bank consider new mechanisms for financing the economy and further reducing inflation and that the Russian tax system must correspond to the needs of economic restructuring.
“It is essential to stimulate investment and development, shifting the tax burden towards consumption, including excise goods and expensive real estate”, the President stressed.
Putin also asked the Government leaders to adopt a roadmap for enhancing competition as part of its efforts on the national entrepreneurial initiative and to begin its implementation next year.
He also mentioned the issues of food security, the environment, industry modernization, development of science and technology, requiring the full use of the unprecedented funds allocated for defense procurement and modernization of the defense industry.
“We also need an investment map of Russia”, the President said, “providing investors with clear information on the regions where it is more profitable to work, to set up production facilities, and what forms of state support will be available to businesses in the near future.”
In the international part of the Address, Vladimir Putin stressed the multipolar nature of the modern world, noting that Russia stands for the principles of coherent and collective efforts in addressing challenges facing the world today and can propose projects that will unite nations and regions. He confirmed Russia’s intention to move towards closer integration with its immediate neighbors. He further stressed that the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are already working effectively, and that efforts have begun on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union, to which he claims that it will be achieved.
HERE IS THE TRANSCRIPT:
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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Citizens of Russia,
Federation Council members and State Duma deputies,
Recently, just a few months ago, in the articles written during the presidential election campaign and then in the executive orders signed in May 2012 I set out our position and our short and medium term plans. They covered all areas of our work and our lives: the economy, social sphere, domestic policy, international affairs and security issues. These documents describe our plans in detail, sometimes citing specific figures and deadlines. Some of them are already being implemented, for example raising teachers’ wages and some other tasks. We have put together the required regulatory framework with regard to all other items on our agenda. The work has begun. I want to assure all citizens of our country that it will continue; we will tackle all the tasks we have set without fail. The commission that was created specifically for this purpose will monitor these efforts.
Today, in my first Address to the Federal Assembly since being elected President, I will not speak in detail about those plans. It is too early to talk about any substantial adjustments but there are several points I would like to make in this regard.
I would like to highlight some of the key aspects of our progress, questions that are fundamental for Russia’s present and future not only in the medium but also in the long term, the most basic issues for each and every one of us.
A great deal has been achieved in the first twelve years of the new century. The stage of national reconstruction and strengthening, which is enormous in its importance, has been completed. Our task now is to build a rich and prosperous Russia. I would like all of us to understand clearly that the coming years will be decisive and perhaps even ground-breaking not only for us, but for the entire world as it enters a period of transition and possibly even shocks.
Global development is becoming increasingly unequal. This creates a fertile ground for new economic, geopolitical and ethnic conflicts. Competition for resources is becoming more intense. And I can assure you and want to emphasise that this competition will not be limited only to metals, oil and gas, but above all will focus on human resources and intelligence. Who will take the lead and who will remain outsiders and inevitably lose their independence will depend not only on the economic potential, but primarily on the will of each nation, on its inner energy which Lev Gumilev termed “passionarity”: the ability to move forward and to embrace change.
People in countries with developed economies and many countries with developing economies have become used to constant consumption growth, the expansion of life and cultural opportunities. That is good but it is possible to ensure the continuation of such growth in the modern world only through the introduction of a new technological order, and that is a great obstacle in many parts of the world. A country that is unable to secure its place among the developers of new innovative technologies is not just doomed to dependence: the share of the global “pie” which will benefit its businesses and citizens will be much smaller than that of the leaders. See how the revenue is distributed today between those who produce intellectual products and the consumers of the end product. The share is 15% and 75-80%.
In the 21st century amid a new balance of economic, civilisational and military forces Russia must be a sovereign and influential country. We should not just develop with confidence, but also preserve our national and spiritual identity, not lose our sense of national unity. We must be and remain Russia.
After 70 years of the Soviet period, Russian people went through a period when the importance of their private interests regained its relevance. That was a necessary and natural stage. However, working for one’s own interests has its limits. Prosperity cannot be achieved if chaos, disorder and insecurity reign beyond the walls of your house. You cannot live without having regard for others, without helping the weak, without extending your responsibility beyond the responsibility of your family or profession. Today more and more people in our country understand this. This has lead to the rise of civic engagement. People begin to relate their own lives and work with caring for others, with the aspirations of the entire nation and the interests of the state.
Today is December 12, the Constitution Day, and I would like to say a few words about the values that are rooted in the fundamental law of our country. The nation-wide responsibility for our country to the present and future generations is hailed by the Constitution as a fundamental principle of the Russian state. It is in civil responsibility and patriotism that I see the consolidating force behind our policy.
To be continued
