The government of Russia won't see a new ministry. President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed any idea of a revival of the Ministry for Ethnic Affairs, which had been heavily discussed in public circles.
After exacerbation of interethnic relations in Moscow and other cities of Russia, the problem of national unity became one of great importance. Medvedev believes that there is no need for multiplying the bureaucratic structure, as there are sufficient departments responsible for youth and ethnic policy at every level of power.
The Russian president suggests that regions should deal with the problem of national harmony and that interethnic affairs should be controlled directly by the governors. As for the federal government, it should develop appropriate educational programmes for schools and universities in the sphere of interethnic affairs; it should strive against illegal migration and prevent riots on the grounds of ethnic differences.
The next session of the State Council will probably see the last stage of development of a new concept of Russia's national policy. There are more than 160 ethnic groups in Russia. However, the country has no official document that would regulate the interethnic policy of the state. A similar document was adopted this June in Moscow. The capital is the first region of Russia to have justified an interethnic policy. This document is a concept of united principles, regulating almost all spheres of life concerning interethnic relations.
Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin drew the attention of the public to methods of dealing with this problem in the USSR. He stated that the Soviet Union managed to establish such a structure of society that was above interethnic and interconfessional relations. However, the basis for this structure was ideology. Today in Russia the only way to achieve harmony between peoples living in the country is to develop Russian patriotism.
For his part, Medvedev said that a revival of the Soviet past is hardly possible or reasonable. Russia is a different country, with different principles of government and other problems. The problem of interethnic policy is very important to our state. Time will tell what course our government will choose.
Evgeny Krishtalev. Exclusively to VK
