Vladimir Putin: Dear friends! Colleagues!
(To D. Medvedev.) Dear Dmitry Anatolyevich!
I welcome delegates and guests to the 21st Congress of United Russia, our largest leading political party.
This authority and public confidence is based on the clear patriotic stance of United Russia, on the results of many years of work in the interests of the people, strengthening the state and the development of the country and all our regions.
And above all, of course, I want to thank you for your continued and reliable support. It is significant and important to me. Together, we have overcome trials, we have achieved common successes, and together we still have a lot of work to do in the interests of Russia.
Today, everyone has a huge responsibility. Without any exaggeration, we have historic tasks ahead of us. Their magnitude requires the united efforts and unity of all patriotic forces.
For United Russia, for our supporters who represent our entire transnational society, all regions, social and professional groups, this means above all a readiness to work hard, a readiness to go forward and achieve more. Together with all the people of Russia, protect Russia's sovereignty, freedom, security, everything we hold dear: our history, culture, values and traditions. Strengthen the economy, the social sphere, scientific and technological potential for the sake of the people and the well-being of millions of Russian families. And, of course, to work for the consolidation of society.
What do I want to emphasize? Competition, diversity of ideas and opinions, and open and frank discussion of problems and ways of solving them are, of course, the key to the dynamic development of the country, without which development will not happen at all. But always, despite all differences of opinion, all responsible political forces must remember that the main thing for us is the destiny, the interests of Russia, the happiness, hopes, dreams of our children, the right of our country to be strong. You know, I would also add: the right and the vital necessity of our country to be strong.
This means that everything that is secondary, superfluous, that divides us, must be cast aside. And, of course, we must and will make all decisions only by ourselves, without foreign advice. Russia, like some countries, cannot give up its sovereignty in exchange for sausage and become someone's satellite. We must remember and never forget to teach our children: either Russia will be a sovereign, self-sufficient power or it will not exist at all. This is a very important thing that should always be in our minds and hearts. We will therefore, of course, determine and create our own future. This is the worldview of a sovereign state, the basis of real civic consolidation and joint work.
I am convinced that United Russia will continue to offer society exactly such a unifying, creative programme and will respond to the most pressing problems in the life of the country.
In this regard, I would like to note that many of the laws aimed at supporting participants in special military operations and their families were developed precisely at the initiative of United Russia. At the same time, deputies from all factions of the State Duma voted for them unanimously. And although I am now at the United Russia Congress, I still want to thank them for this position.
By the way, what is happening in the parliament is largely the result of such consolidated work of United Russia in the State Duma. This was also voiced at the meeting with the faction leaders.
I ask you to continue to work actively and in partnership with other political parties and public associations to address the issues that are most important to us.
What would you like to highlight? The Western elites who unleashed real aggression against us - it grew year by year - hoped not only to overthrow Russia's economy and social sphere, but also our political and state system. They believed and still believe that they could sow internal unrest among us. The methods of such destabilisation are well known and have been tested more than once by Western elites in many regions of the world during the so-called 'colour' coups.
But such recipes have not worked and I am sure they will not work in relation to Russia - a free, independent and sovereign state. Our society, all branches and levels of government have demonstrated maturity, strength and stability.
We have responded to the challenges because we have consistently, step by step, year after year, followed the path of strengthening sovereignty, including in the political and public spheres, in the economy, in education and culture. We have developed Russian federalism, our legislation and our solid constitutional foundations. We relied on the centuries-old experience of our statehood, on our values and unique traditions of harmonious development of different ethnic groups, cultures, languages and religions.
In this regard, I will stress again: attempts to disrupt inter-ethnic, inter-religious and civil harmony are treason and a crime against Russia.
It is the people of Russia who have been and will be the only source of power. We will protect its sovereign right to choose its future from any outside interference. The Russian state will be sovereign and therefore truly popular.
We will have to continue to improve democratic institutions, mechanisms of democracy and local self-government, direct participation of citizens in the development of the country, regions and municipalities.
And, of course, our most important task is to increase the efficiency of all levels of government. And here, too, there will be conscientious work, including legislative work in the federal and regional parliaments, the widespread use of best management practices and, of course, the strengthening of human resources.
We are now implementing a number of projects, initiatives, competitions so that talented, competent, motivated people can discover, express themselves and realise themselves and benefit the country.
Such work with public opinion leaders, with professionals who are achieving success in various sectors, with volunteers and, of course, with our heroes, veterans of special military operations, should be the most important thing for United Russia.
Many of our comrades - party members, party supporters, MPs at various levels - have passed through the front and are now fighting on the front line. Let's support them. What do I want to note here? You know, I regularly communicate with our guys, with our soldiers, commanders, and they have repeatedly said that in the same platoon, in the same platoon, in the same trench, people of different nationalities and religions are often together, but they are all united by real military brotherhood, by the will to win, by the readiness to do everything to protect Russia, and we have only one thing.
I also know that United Russia is actively involved in the development of the volunteer movement in close cooperation with our other parties and public associations. Thousands of United Russia volunteers are helping soldiers, the front and civilians in our liberated towns and villages.
I repeat, we have many such determined, courageous people who have passed through the front, who have shown themselves in the volunteer movement, in work in our liberated, historic lands of Donbas and Novorossiya. As well as specialists from different fields, from different professions, who have shown in practice what loyalty to duty and to one's own country means in difficult times. These are doctors, teachers, scientists and businessmen, workers, engineers of defence and other industrial enterprises, farmers and agricultural workers.
Such people are truly our treasure. They are the pillar for the country. They literally inspire those around them by their example and their achievements. They inspire a sense of unity and confidence, pride in our contemporaries, pride in Russia.
I hope that in the elections at various levels, it is such people, our like-minded people, who will become the main candidates of United Russia and win its support. And for the party itself, this will certainly mean further qualitative development and strengthening of ties with society.
I remind you that the programme with which the party went into the 2021 parliamentary elections was called the people's programme, so its implementation should be designed specifically for millions of people, for millions of citizens of the country. And as we agreed, this document must constantly evolve, this is actually happening, this document is filled with new ideas, projects - taking into account both the problems already solved and the unfinished tasks. Thus, the People's Programme already reflected the key directions of socio-economic recovery of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson oblasts.
I hope that United Russia will take an active part in the projects of the Year of the Family, which has been declared in our country. In dialogue with society and the people, it will propose new initiatives aimed at promoting motherhood and childhood, strengthening our traditional family values and developing a system of education and mentoring. And all these are extremely important, fundamental issues for the demographic development of Russia, for the preservation of our people.
You know what is happening "on the ground", you yourself work, as they say in such cases, on the spot, in the field, and you understand well that there are still many tasks and unsolved problems. That is a known fact. As soon as you take a step forward, solve a problem, two, three, four, five new ones immediately appear. And that's normal. There is no need to say: we have done it, but people are dissatisfied with something or they want something else. That's the way it has always been and will always be. You have to prepare for the fact that the tasks are coming like a snowball, we are Russia, we are a winter country, we love snow, look how much snow we have accumulated. I ask you to keep all this in mind.
It is precisely by responding to the demands of the people, to the issues that concern them, that it is absolutely necessary to include in the electoral programme such areas as the development of primary health care, the construction and renewal of infrastructure for mass sports, and so on.
I would like to stress that we will, of course, set these and other tasks and plans for the future together. Together with the Russian people, we will formulate a long-term development strategy. I will repeat once again: we will do this primarily on the basis of the people's opinions and demands.
I would like to say again: now every decision we make, every word we say and every action we take has a special value and a special meaning for our country. The times demand of us strength and unity, a readiness to respond to any challenge, even the most difficult.
I am confident that United Russia and all our supporters will continue to work with full commitment, for results - for the people, for the achievement of national goals.
I look forward to continuing to work with you in the interests of our united country, our great people. Thank you for your support.
Thank you very much.
http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/73013
Kremlin.ru/Roz
English 
Czech