Interview by Maria Sidelnikova. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
In late October and early November, North Ossetia and Ingushetia remembered victims of the conflicts of autumn 1992. Today the process of normalization relations between two North Caucasian republics has gained its frame. The Program of joint activities on development of good-neighborly relations is being implemented.
The head of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov told Vestnik Kavkaza about the settlement process, the development program of the NCFD, and the role of the mass media in normalization of the situation in the region.
- How does the process of a normalization of relations between two peoples take place? Does the process of demarcation of boundaries mean a positive tendency?
- We have no such term as “demarcation of boundaries.” The Republic of North Ossetia adopted the law on local self-administration and defined its boundaries and included the Prigorodny district into the territory of North Ossetia long ago. We adopted the law on local self-administration in 2009 and defined our boundary too – the Nazranovski district neighboring the Prigorodny district. However, at one article of this law we remain the right for territorial rehabilitation of repressed peoples by political means. The parliament adopted the decision and it is included into the law. But people shouldn’t worry about this. A common person needs to live without noticing boundaries and nationalities.
The main problem today is settlement of refugees. The dynamics of relations between me and the North Ossetia authorities makes me think that we will settle the problem and people will return at home. Nobody will send people forcedly there, but the doors are open. Some people want to leave, they can leave; others want to stay in Ingushetia. We have to live like it was before 1992, neither Ingushs nor Ossetians should dominate.
Ingushs who live in North Ossetia should understand where they live and should follow the laws of the Russian Federation. The same requirements should fulfill Ossetians living in Ingushetia.
The program of socio-economic development in the Prigorodny district requires areas of a compact settlement – there are Ingush and Ossetian national territories in North Ossetia. The administration of North Ossetia agreed the program with us. I believe it will be adopted to establish working places in the compact settlement areas, as well as infrastructure as it is heavily damaged. There are other agreements signed between the authorities of Ingushetia and North Ossetia – arrangements for young people conducted by social organizations.
I think that incidents similar to a recent bomb explosion shouldn’t prevent approaching. I called Taimuraz Mamsurov after this terrorist attack, we came to the conclusion that if we are at the right path, such things are unavoidable, unfortunately. If we worsen the situation by ourselves, militants will have no need to commit attacks. They try to make the feathers fly. We have to be very careful and ignore provocations. At the same time we are responsible for those bastards who listen to hostile forces and commit bomb explosions. Ingushetia and North Ossetia cooperate closely on prevention such people. Cooperation is the only variant for us.
- The Program on Development of the NCFD should be adopted at the end of the year. What place does Ingushetia take in this document? And what do you think about the Program in general?
- Common people from other regions of Russia think: “The Caucasus gets everything, we get nothing.” But let’s consider the APRC summit in the Far East: 600 billion rubles were invested into infrastructure of the Far East. Nobody should feel offended as it is our country, our Russian region. When huge resources are invested into grand projects I feel nothing but pride. They built a bridge to the Russky Island. Previously they visited foreign countries to watch such bridges, but today we can see this miracle in Vladivostok. Another example is the highway to the Far East, which the Soviet Union couldn’t constructed, but modern Russia managed to do it. Of course, there are some defects but the strategic target was fulfilled. The same concerns the North Caucasus. Programs are being adopted and will be adopted on various regions, and the North Caucasus is not an exception.
Ingushetia is presented well in this program. It is necessary. Firstly, we are the most backward region among the North Caucasian republics. For example, neighboring republics have 150 cultural facilities in average, Ingushetia has only 17. Ingushetia has no Sports Palaces, no skating ring. We have no republican Culture Palace, as well as a drama theater. We lack many facilities which other constituents have.
Considering the situation, we propose our program. It requires that pupils will be taught at daytime in schools. Today children are going to school even at evening and classrooms are poorly equipped. There are buildings of 1898. Regarding kindergartens, we are coming to a good level and provide children with necessary spaces. Step by step we become equal to other republics of the North Caucasus.
I hope the program will be adopted and begin to be fulfilled. I always hear that common people from other regions are annoyed that the North Caucasus receives money…
- Yes, even some political activists expressed such views…
- But they have to watch the truth. Yes, some are thieves. We detect corruption in various housing associations, in the pension fund, and other directions. It is stupid to say that we have no corruption. But it happens everywhere. We are not passive. The republic’s budget is 15-16 billion. These resources are spent for salaries. They are targeted and cannot be stolen.
There are facts of fraud in construction business. However, the sums are not huge. Our law-enforcement agencies are working seriously on detection of corruption. The project is necessary for the North Caucasus. Serious sums are invested into establishing of working places and creating a good image of the North Caucasus.
- What is the role of the mass media in the normalization of the situation in the North Caucasus?
- It is a key role. The way the mass media act is the way our reality exists. I have recently read a press review. A person who was dismissed for corruption was forgotten in 6 months. Now the mass media is reporting that he is a nice and good person. It is ridiculous as I know what kind of person he is. But common people feel sympathy to him. In Russia people are kind and don’t remember evil.
Look at the opposition in Russia. Who was Nemtsov in due time? He was a first lobbyist who made a serious strike on the country’s economy using his position of the deputy chairman of the Russian government. Today he is speaking in front of people because they have forgotten who he used to be. They have forgotten how they cursed his team when starvation covered the country. Probably he has nice personal skills, but he is a bad politician if he behaves like this. Today he criticizes power. Neither he nor anyone who was in power at that time has the right to accuse the current authorities today. Everything depends on how the mass media will present the topic.
Secondly, our country has a peculiarity. Even if God comes down and tells people “This official is honest!”, nobody would believe it. An official is equal to a thief in our people’s minds. This idea is imposed by the media on people. The media has to change the ideology and show good officials. I think the mass media role is the most important.
