Valery Bayev: “One of serious tasks is return of the North Caucasus positive image”

Interview by Oleg Kusov. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Interesting guests are always welcomed by Vestnik Kavkaza. Oleg Kusov talks to them not only about the Caucasus. Take My Word is a program which is recorded in video, audio, and text formats. Today our guest is the vice-principal for investment affairs of the Moscow State Technical University (MAMI), Valery Bayev. 

- Valery, you were born, studied, and lived in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia. Vladikavkaz is one of the key cities of the Russian south. What is its peculiarity? 

- First of all, our city is multinational. There are representatives of more than 20 nationalities. The city had a rich history and well-structured, fundamental culture. What do I mean? We have one of the oldest theatres in the Caucasus. We have many cultural facilities which are demanded by the population.

- So the cultural layer is rich, isn’t it?

- It is quite large. Even in the recent past it was a big cultural layer which distinguished the city from its neighbors. I don’t know… Maybe it is because I was born in Vladikavkaz.

- The North Caucasus is one of the key places in Russia. There is a phrase: if the North Caucasus is not in Russia, there will be no Russia. Do you agree with this?

- You know I always wonder how people can discuss some separation of a region from our country. I don’t understand this…

- In the 1990s many people did it.

- But you must admit that it cannot be discussed seriously.

- Of course it is absurd.

- The Caucasus has been and will be an integral part, its own flesh and blood, of our country. And today I believe that one of the serious problems is the return of the North Caucasus’s image – as an interesting region with rich history, wonderful peoples who live there, beautiful culture and nature. I recall “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style,” a Russian movie of 1967. It seems to be a simple comedy, but it produces a wonderful impression and attitude toward the region. One of phrases of the movie said that the story could happen in any republic of the Caucasus.

- There is a fusion of clothes of various nations.

- Today we lack such an attitude toward the Caucasus, a cheerful attitude, but constructive, stating that it is an integral part of our big country. It is an absolutely interesting, original, peculiar, unique region. It would be great if our cultural activists could present the peculiarity, even using jokes and irony. It is taken appropriately. But the main idea is to create an image of warmth, kindness and good-neighborly relations. I would like to see something like that, including by those who live in the Caucasus. I would like our regions to cooperate more closely. You have mentioned Dagestan, there is Kabardino-Balkaria and other regions near North Ossetia. We could create a positive image together. It is a very acute topic today.

- Some young people are thinking now that you are telling fairytales. But the truth is that it was true, when we were young.

- Absolutely!

- There were tourist routes. Caucasian towns were full of tourists, not only Soviet, but also foreign, European tourists. And where has it gone? I understand why, and we shouldn’t discuss it a lot, as there were wars. But is there a chance to return it today? Do you think the creation of a positive image could take many decades?

- We often see that an active position by the mass media, including electronic ones, enables the situation to be changed in a short period of time. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. We often witness a situation where one can lose an information war, while winning an economic battle. We do face such matters. I think that by making certain efforts, supported by the state, we could use the huge serious resources of the mass media to turn the image of the North Caucasus in a positive way.

- And there is no need to invent something or tell false stories, as far as I understand the work.

- Oleg, we live in a world of conventionalities, like the rest of the world. And one and the same situation can be interpreted in different ways.

- “Kidnapping. Caucasian Style” – a woman was kidnapped! It is dangerous to visit such a region!

- Yes. But we could look at the situation in a different way. It is not terrorism or a crime in the common sense of the word. A bride is kidnapped only after she says “I do”, it is an act of mutual agreement. It is logical, as it is difficult to live with a person who is forced to join this or that family. And our ancestors understood this clearly. Another thing is that there is a situation causing illegal acts which are mentioned in the Criminal Code and certain punishments are required for them. Unfortunately, in recent times we hav been receiving negative information on the North Caucasus from the mass media. 8 or more events out of 10 which are broadcast by TV or other mass media in the North Caucasus are negative. We should eliminate this practice. I don’t want to say that there are no negative events, but a way of thinking influences the reality.

- Moreover, it doesn’t present a full picture.

- Yes. And considering the principle of conventionalities, we could create a world with no ways out. We would be limited by bad news and the worst news. Finally we would get stuck on it. And I think this is not good for our development.

- At the moment you are in the mass media which pays attention to positive events in the region primarily.

- It is great!

- We have invited you, as you think in the same way.

The full version of the interview with Valery Bayev see in “Video.”