Presentation by President V. Putin at meeting of representatives from Northern Territories in Russia
Salekhard,
Center
of
National
Cultures
29
April
2
004
Distinguished
Friends!
Efforts
to
study
and
search
for
solutions
concerning
the
North
of
Russia
have
already
started
yesterday.
I
am
pleased
to
have
the
opportunity
to
meet
representatives
of
various
organizations
and
associations
,
and
with
all
those
who
care
for
the
Russian
North.
But
first
of
all
I
want
to
thank
the
“northerners”
for
their
efforts
,
their
creativity
and
of
course
their
persistence
,
because
by
not
giving
in
to
the
extreme
conditions
,
you
are
working
for
the
good
of
your
country
and
are
achieving
success.
At
the
Presidium
of
the
State
Council
yesterday
,
we
discussed
the
type
of
state
policy
best
suited
for
the
conditions
we
now
face
in
the
North
of
Russia:
a
policy
capable
of
satisfying
the
needs
of
the
day
and
in
turn
will
make
it
possible
to
bring
to
light the
potential
and
competitive
advantages
under
new
social
and
economic
circumstances.
We
talked
about
the
great abundance of
natural
resources
and
the
spacious
territory,
in
other
words
a
unique
chance
and
significant
means
for
a
long-term
ascent
to
be
felt
not
only
in
the
northern
territories
of
Russia
but
throughout
our
entire
nation, while at the same time promoting
sustainable
development
of
the
northern
regions,
and an
increase
in
the
well-being
of
the
millions
of
people
residing
here.
It
goes
without
saying
that
it
has
never
been
easy
to
inhabit
the
northern
corners
of
our
country:
north
is
north
and
the
numerous
problems
we
are
faced
with
such
as
the
state
of
the
health
system,
education,
and
housing
systems
are
felt
even
more
severely
here
in
view
of
the
specific
character
of
nature
and
climate
in
comparison
to
other
regions
in
Russia.
They
are
simply
more
difficult
to
resolve.
We
are
also
aware
of
the
disparity
in
our
complicated
demographic
processes,
the
inconsistency
within
the
labor
market,
the
biased
development
in
the
economy,
crises
in
vulnerable
ecosystems.
All
these
subjects
were
the
topic
of
our
discussion
yesterday.
It
is
quite
obvious
that
these
existing
problems
cannot
be
eliminated
solely
by
redistribution
of
finances
even
though
this
also
is
a
problem
to
be
reviewed
separately.
And
our
task
is
to
arrange
the
work
in
such
a
manner
that
even while the state provides the
required
forms
of
state
support,
new
solutions
based
on
effective
market
mechanisms will be sought.
Not
only
our
own
experience
but
international
experience
is
witness
to
the
fact
that
such
solutions
are
possible
and
they
exist.
I
also
know
that
there
are
many
who
are
occupied
with
this
matter
in
the
regions
of
the
North.
We
have just
been
to
the
data
bank
with
the
governor
at
the
center
where
the
entire
data
on
the
NAO
is
stored
using
computer
engineering.
A
praiseworthy
model
to
be
copied
by
other
regions
in
the
country.
I
also
want
to
say
that
if we want to achieve economic development, the
federal
authorities
must
first
cope
with
the
infrastructure
problems
in
the
northern
territories
. This is
indeed
a
long-term
project.
Already
at
this
stage,
together
with
the
regions
we
must
start
looking
for
mechanisms
capable
of
providing
the
population
in
northern
territories
with
access
to
the
blessings
of
civilization.
There
must
also
be
a
guarantee
that
competent
and
qualified
services
are
available
to
provide
the
population
in
the
northern
territories
with
access
to
all
the
material
wealth
of
civilization
and
which
ensures them an
opportunity
to
make
use
of
competent
and
qualified
services
in
the
social, transport, medical
and
educational
spheres.
People living
and
working
in
the
North
must
not
feel
cut
off
from
the
country
– these people must
have
a
bright
outlook,
and
not
just
for
themselves, but also for
their
children.
A
system
is
required
that
operates
based
on
diverse forms of production
implemented
using
natural
resources.
This
kind
of
policy
is
directly
connected
to
creating
new
jobs.
At
the
same
time
care
must
be
taken
to
maintain
the
ecological
balance
of
the
northern
flora
and
fauna.
We
are
well
aware
of
its
vulnerable
nature.
Another
question
which
worries
the
“northerners”
is
state
guarantees
and
compensations.
We
spoke
of
this
also
yesterday
in
great
detail,
and
not
without
becoming
emotionally
involved.
The
government
will
continue
to execute the
social
responsibilities
it
has previously
taken
upon
itself.
I
should
like
to
confirm
this.
This
deals
rather
with
housing
subsidies,
“northern”
pensions
and
wages,
state
housing
certificates,
and relocation? repatriation?
programs
in
northern territories
.
The
time
has
come
to
renew
our economic
and
legal
foundation, the
traditional
ways
of
making
a
living.
For
the
indigenous
peoples
of
the
North
this
is
not
just
a
production
method
–
it
is
the
basis
of
their
spiritual
being,
the
very
social
and
economic
structure,
a preservation
of
a
unique
culture
of
the
indigenous
peoples
of
the
North.
It was a pleasure for me to take a
look
around
one
of
the
settlements.
Representatives
of
the
indigenous
peoples
of
the
North
live
there,
not
far
from
Salekhard.
I
must
say
it
was
enjoyable
to
see
one
of
these
settlements
and
how
people
live
in
them.
Hopefully
this
was
not
the
only
such
settlement
of
this
type
in
the
North.
We
do
not
have
the
right
to
allow the
original,
national
and
cultural
wealth
of
all
the
peoples
living
here to be lost.
Once
again
I
must
emphasize
– as
I
have
so
often
stated
– that
Russia
’s greatest wealth
is
not
even
oil
and
gas
but
the versatility inherent in the cultures of
peoples
of
the
Russian
Federation
.
I
presume
that
now
it
is
of
utmost
importance
to
use
the
possibilities
of
the
Institute
for
Territorial
Self-governing
of
the
Indigenous
Peoples
of
the
North.
A
basis
for
this
development
has
been
put
into
the
new
legislature
on
local
self-government.
The
municipal
establishments
will
play
an especially
significant
part
in
the
development
of
the
economic, cultural,
social
and
communal
spheres. And really, the preparations for this crucial task need
to
start
locally.
We
arrive
at
the
final
decisions
concerning these
questions.
Not
everything
has
been
carried
out
in full, and
here
I
agree
with
the
leaders
of
the
regions,
but
in
the
long run
it
is
we
who
must
make
the
final
decision.
In
conclusion
I
want
to
emphasize
once
again:
the
Russian
North
–
that
is
our
enormous
and
common
wealth.
It
is
a
our
common
heritage
that
will
be
of
service
to
our
grandchildren
and
our
great-grandchildren.
And
that
is
why
we must not
only
use
it
carefully
and
in
a
calculated
manner
but
also
strive to augment
it.
Finally,
the
North
has
always
been
a
sort
of
rating
system
for
courage,
partnership
and
mutual
cooperation.
In
this
place
people
lived
and
worked
side
by
side
in
peace
and
friendship regardless
of
the
many
nationalities
and
religions.
It
pleases
me
to
see
also
at
our
conference
representatives
of
the
most
varied
confessions.
I
am
quite
sure
that
with
such
valuable
human
capital
we
can
achieve
very
,
very
much.
And
in
particular
let
us
help
the
Russian
North
so
that
they
may
obtain
a
new
license
for
their
development.
Thank
you
for
your
attention.
This
is
all
I
wanted
to
say
at the
beginning
of
today’s
meeting.
I
am
convinced
there
will
be
many
interesting
presentations.
Press_office@prpres.gov.ru
(c)
PRESIDENT.KREMLIN.RU
The
official
internet
–
diplomatic
corps
of
the
President
of
Russia