Alexander Khloponin on the problems of the North Caucasus

Today the preliminary date of Dmitry Medvedev's third address to the Federal Assembly was announced. According to "Vedomosti", the President will make it on the 22nd of November. The previous address of the head of the state was a year ago on the 12th of November 2009, when the President stated a significant idea for the North Caucasus of appointing an official responsible for the North Caucasus. The Federal District was founded soon thereafter. Alexander Khloponin became
plenipotentiary presidential envoy to the North Caucasian Federal District and vice-prime minister of the federal government. On the 12th of November "Kommersant" published an interview with Mr Khloponin. Here are some extracts from it.

On elites.
We have consolidated the elites of the North Caucasus, at least the heads of the republics. Today we understand each other and realize what goals need to be achieved. It is clear that all constituents of the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD) have comprehended that there are should be no dependence on the federal budget. The Caucasus is not a poor territory that should beg with hat in hand, and the federal budget is not a means of buying off the problems of the North Caucasus, spending huge sums of money on unreasonable things. Some leaders used to think: you give us money, we maintain a stable situation. The sources of such ideas are rooted deep in history. They were caused by the difficult situation in the Caucasus in the 1990s. Today all regions understand that they should develop their territories by themselves, as the Caucasus shifts from a territory of tension to a territory of tolerance, peace and transparency for business. I am also glad that the population has begun to realize that power is based not on the clan system, but on open dialogue with society.

On the strategy of NCFD development.
For the first time a strategy was developed, not by republics and then sent to federal government, but vice versa. In the past the republics said what they wanted and the government adapted to their wishes in the strategy, which was barely fulfilled. Our current strategy tells the North Caucasus what we want from it. There are clear figures, standards and requirements: to create 400,000 jobs by 2025, decrease the level of unemployment from 16% to 5%, reach an annual GRP growth rate of 7.7% and achieve fourfold profits in regional budgets. The next document to adopt will be an implementation programme. It is a list of particular actions and conditions for each republic with the appointment of responsible persons at federal and regional levels. To improve effective use of federal budget resources, we decided to found a territorial branch of the federal ministry in the North Caucasus. Today, the deputy minister for regional development of the North Caucasus is located in the North Caucasus and has wide functions and powers. His main functions are distribution of federally-dedicated
programmes and improvement of effectiveness and transparency. A governmental committee was established in order to regulate decisions. At governmental level the committee is headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Every four months we will report on progress and decide what should be changed. The first meeting of the committee will take place in late November - early December.

On information policy.
Let's talk about information space. It is like a two-way road. On the one hand, it is a set of instrumentalities through which you can transfer information. What is instrumentality? It is virtual space, in which we should work very hard, set up useful web-sites, because today young people do not watch TV or read newspapers. The Internet is a weapon in the hands of our opponents, who are trying to seduce our youth from the right path. No matter how deep our work with cultural workers, educated people or spiritual leaders is, the Internet is a complicated space where we should work hard.

On youth policy.
Today young people are said to be a source for the extremist base in the Caucasus. We wouldn?t say so. I meet with young people from different republics and of different origins. They say "put our parents at ease, we want communicate with each other, provide us with comfortable conditions". We need to work with them, to fulfil grant projects, to develop the social and cultural sphere. Today youth policy is only a name. Only young people can decide what this policy should be, we cannot impose our ideas on them. We can only motivate them to consolide and provide them with comfortable conditions. That is the goal of youth policy in the Caucasus.

On education standards.
Today each republic interprets its history in its own way. Nevertheless, they are included in the Russian Federation. I've read a textbook for the fifth grade and I couldn't understand what country it was written about. Textbooks only provoke interethnic enmity. We shouldn?t ignore this problem either.

On the clan system.
Do you think it is right, in a settlement where only the Mukhamedovs live, to appoint an outsider to a higher position? The myth of the clan system is exaggerated. When people are bound with each other by national and folk ties it is not so bad. There are ethnic characteristics. The Caucasus is a mix of ethnic groups and the relations between them. We should consider the interests of all of them. However, I think this is a throwback, we should gradually get over it. For me, a clan system is a union of people of different origins with a mercenary motive. I will strive against it.

On dialogue with the population.
The population should be more conscientious and cooperate with the authorities and law-enforcement agencies. If you see something suspicious, it is better to tell than later have another terrorist act. Meanwhile, the officers of the law-enforcement agencies shouldn't fail and betray their country and give information away.

On investments.
First of all we should cooperate with the Caucasians living in other regions of Russia. For example, in Moscow. Soon I will meet with them. I believe that they are patriots in fact, not in word, they can show potential investors that the Caucasus is a profitable territory. Foreign investors refuse to give money, because our own businessmen don't do it. Perhaps the reason is a negative experience. However, they have interesting ideas. Major business should demonstrate its concern.

On migration.
It is obvious that migration from the Caucasus to the European part of Russia exists. People move to the regions where they can work and fulfil themselves as professionals. I don?t think it is reasonable to keep all the young people of the Caucasus here only. The Caucasus provides the whole of Russia with talented young people. However, our region should also develop new technologies and spheres. Young people should have different opportunities, including working abroad. We can't develop our economy without migration flows. I support the idea of the foundation of a ministry for migration policy.

On the security system.
The security system is a complex question. It concerns cooperation between the authorities and non-governmental organizations, young people and religious institutes. Heads of the constituent bodies should inter-relate with the population. Law-enforcement agencies can't work without cooperating with society and social institutions. Mistrust of the administration causes failures of anti-extremist and anti-terrorist operations.

On the Caucasus.
It is an indispensable part of the Russian Federation. But first of all it is a boundary, a territory that protects our country in the Caucasus and the Middle East. The Caucasus has its own peculiar traditions. Men deal with problems on their own and in their families. Women wear nihabs. However, I don?t believe in the total Islamisation of the Caucasus, the Caucasus is tolerant towards all religions. I respect Islam and its followers. We should support and develop local traditions, for example, respect towards the elderly and care for children. There are no orphanages or homes for the elderly in the Caucasus. We should learn from them.