Hadjimet Safaraliyev: “10-15 years are needed to restore what we have lost”

Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

Discussions on the integral Russian community are being conducted in various layers of the society. Members of the parliament take part in the discussion as well. The chairman of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities’ Affairs, Hadjimet Safaraliyev, told Vestnik Kavkaza about his view on his attitude to recent developments of the Russian life, including his native Dagestan.

-          A month ago WCIOM published a social poll, according to which many natives of the North Caucasus indentify themselves with Russia only at the seventh level. At first, they identify themselves as natives of a village, then as members of a clan, then as residents of a republic, and only after it, they feel like Russian citizens. What should be done to make a person feel like a part of this country first of all?

-          Such identification is not new. Rasul Gamzatov said: “In Dagestan I’m an Avar, in Moscow I’m a Dagestani, abroad I’m a Russian.” This is natural. The other question is whether a person is really what he thinks. It is important whether he feels like a Russian citizen, a Russian when he visits foreign countries. It can be provided only through education and culture.

If you live in a village and see nobody except for its residents, you come to a town and accept only negative counter-culture, and you are neither this nor that. But if you study your language and culture, Russian, you feel differently. I studied in Makhachkala. In high school we staged a dozen of plays on the Russian classic literature. We played various roles – Chatsky, Zheleznyak, Lubov Yarovaya – we had Soviet and pre-revolutionary characters. When you read, you realize the culture deeper. Lessons are one thing, participation in plays is absolutely different.

We are an integral part of the Russian culture, the Russian history. We should make this system alive. Russia has always provided us with education. Two groups of Russian teachers came to us – from the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories. And you see people know the Russian language well. It actually doesn’t depend on our will – everybody speaks Russian. In our republic we have various language and so use Russian for communication. In the Soviet times we had the best Russian Learning Center in the Soviet Union. The examples are simple. The scientific center was founded by scientists from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg. We had universities.

This should be provided not by a single order, but through an extend program with participation of regions. At first neighboring regions should be integrated together. It will be impossible without it. If we don’t do it, our end will be very sad. President of Russia understands it clearly and he has marked these things. We should do our best for forming the all-Russian identity. We all are Russian citizens, but everybody belongs to a certain ethnic group. But we are Russian citizens.

As your website is about the Caucasus, I would like to say that, firstly, roots should be remembered. If we look at the past, we will see how to behave at home, on a visit, in a foreign country, with other people, with the old, with the young, with children. There is an unspoken code. We have forgotten about it. We have stopped raising our children in a right course. Let’s come back to our roots and transfer it to the modern life. Children should understand that only knowledge can help them in their life.

Dagestan has always had a cult of knowledge. Dagestan had more schools before the revolution than any place in the Caucasus. We should promote it. We should return the Russian-speaking people to the republic. Unfortunately our society is poor now. There are few engineers, artists, technicians. They left because of the bad situation. We should provide conditions for their return.

I believe in the North Caucasus people should be mingled. We should be integrated everywhere – in Astrakhan, in Volgograd, in Dagestan. Peoples of the Caucasus should live in the Russian-Caucasus society. I think we can overcome stereotypes like “a Caucasian is an enemy.” People are smart, and we understand that our happiness is in our hands.

-          You are directly connected with Dagestan. What do you think about Abdulatipov’s team?

-          I estimate them positively. A lot was done in 100 days. It is difficult for him because the system has been establishing for years. And it is impossible to break it in 3 months. But his deeds, the taken direction made people support him because he fulfilled promises. We used to have heads of administrations, who set there for 15-20 years and did nothing. They were like khans – had guards, car trains, and so on. They didn’t feel people. It was difficult to dismiss them, but he did. Abdulatipov provided changes.

It was a serious step. And I like his “attacking” active work. He is a well-known person. In Russia he was a member of the Supreme Council. It is good for Dagestan because if a head is well-known, people in other regions say: “We know him. He was a deputy from Sratov. We know him, he was a head of the Assembly of Peoples of Russia.” It is a strong factor. Abdulatipov is smart and bold. People see it, and I think the most important thing is that intelligent people see it. Intelligent people will tell others about him better than a common parson from street. I think after the elections the team will change for 50% or more. There will be different targets which will demand different people with a different attitude. Our young people who are studying in Moscow should be involved into it. A modern view is required. We should prevent movement backward, we should move forward.

-          How can Dagestan be turned into a profitable republic? Are there any economic spheres which can make the republic take a rightful place?

-          There are three directions. First is winegrowing. We have gathered almost 400,000 tons. Winegrowing will encourage infrastructure – wine producing, the agricultural complex, and so on. We have constructing industry. It should be developed. Tourism should be seriously developed as well. We have 500 km of sand beaches, a wonderful sea. We should build this up. Moreover, there are knowledge-intensive technologies. Our average intellectual level is rather high, so, the technologies can be implemented. We have six universities, the academic center, branch institutes. We used to have assembly plants. Knowledge-intensive technologies will encourage development. We have plants, we can produce cars like in other regions. The existing plants should be reconsidered and get a program. If they don’t do, they should be reorganized. The potential exists, workers are present, we should return those who have left and develop the business. It is real.

First of all, we should develop agriculture. Our republic is famous for its meat and cattle. Wine producing and vegetable growing – opportunities are huge. Our republic is agricultural. We have oil. It is explored and we should continue this. There is oil on the shelf. It should be developed. Our republic is very rich. People will be wealthy, if the resources are used effectively. The climate is splendid, food is fresh. What do we need more? We should live and be happy. We have lived in such a way for years. But the 1990s ruined it, when crime captured everything. Today the republic experiences recovery. The authorities are dealing with it seriously, and the president controls many things personally. I think the result will be good.

The Olympic Games will be held soon, and we need order. We have the World Cup in 2018 and the country needs order. We have the academy of Anzhi. Several thousand children play football. It is a positive factor. Kerimov built a glass factory, and he will build another. I think 10-15 years are needed for restoration of what we have lost.

-          Are you happy with work with young people in the republic? Is it sufficient?

-          No, I am not happy with it, even though we have the committee on the youth affairs. Such facilities as the committee, the Ministry of Culture turn into organizations for conducting arrangements. But the point is in providing ideology. Conclusions after an event are more important than the event. We hold events, but get no effect. We should work with young people seriously. Our republic is young. Our permanent envoy under President provides very good work. All their arrangements have a certain target. If we send young people to study in other cities, we should control them.

We should present the republic as peaceful, fruitful, hospitable, developing region. Then, people will accept us. Recently my daughter has had wedding. Many people from Moscow and St. Peterburg came. They were charmed and wanted to come back again due to people, the attitude, the climate, opportunities, and so on.

People are like sea water which disinfects. Dirt gets into it, but water neutralizes it because sea contains acids and alkalis. People can do it as well. Our Dagestani and the Caucasian people are very smart. It will be alright.