#3
strana.ru
June 13, 2002
Vladimir Putin: Russia Does Not Aspire to Be Special (Strana.ru)
We simply have a duty to achieve real results of reforms, the president said
By Maria Arzumanova

What and how we do today is crucial not only for the quality of our life in the near future but also for what kind of country Russia will be and what it will be able to do for the world and for her own people in the 21st century, Vladimir Putin said at the ceremonial reception marking the Day of Russia in St. Andrew's Hall of the Kremlin Great Palace.

The President of the Russian Federation said this: "We simply have a duty to achieve real results of reforms, which took place in the last few most difficult years." In his words, it is necessary to strive for economic growth, business advancement, creation of new jobs, everything, which will "give people an opportunity to live and work like human beings." Any initiatives today must be tested "for social suitableness."

"Russia does not aspire to be special in any way. But she does aspire to a place in the world and to an attitude to herself, which correspond to her rich history, the creative potential of the people and the huge size of our great country. We are building a truly democratic society for ourselves and we want to be active participants in a multi-polar world order," Vladimir Putin said.

In evaluating results of the past years, during which Russia had developed "the space of democracy and market relations," the president stressed that "it was a difficult and unexplored path." The last ten years proved "a difficult trial for most people, many vital problems got aggravated to the extreme, some of them took on a delayed character." The time had come today to deal with them, he emphasized. At the same time, he pointed out, achievements in the area of creation of the foundations "of what is in principle a different state and public system" were obvious. Conditions had been created during that time for "the state's free economic development." For the first time in many decades "we are not involved in conflicts or confrontation either with the world as a whole or with separate countries." But "we must yet learn how to defend our positions and win in the fierce competition, which reigns in the world and primarily in the international markets."

Changes, which Russia had gone through, were due to start paying off, were due to work for society, for the citizens, Vladimir Putin stressed.

Indicating that Russia was a federated state and that the reception was being attended by the heads of almost all regions of the country, Vladimir Putin stated that "Russia's main success is being accomplished in its territories." The more successful people's life in the regions, the more "significant and important" the occasion celebrated today, the president said.

Vladimir Putin suggested a toast "to the people of Russia, to peace and accord, to Russia!"

The ceremonial reception was attended by the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, and wife Nayina Yeltsina, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksiy II, presidential chief of staff Alexander Voloshin, and representatives of Russian business and political elite.

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