#4
Vremya Novostei (addendum)
November 22, 2001
VLADIMIR PUTIN: STATES ARE JUDGED BY THE LEVEL OF
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
Excerpts from President Vladimir Putin's speech at the Civil Forum
Author: Vladimir Putin
[from WPS Monitoring Agency, www.wps.ru/e_index.html]
PRESIDENT PUTIN: "WE HAVE A FINE CHANCE OF MERGING THE RESOURCES OF THE STATE WITH THE ENERGY OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. WE SHOULD NOT GET CARRIED AWAY, BUT WE ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS ALREADY. THE TIME IS COMING WHEN BEING A RUSSIAN CITIZEN WILL BE PRESTIGIOUS."
I'd like to say that the assistance of the state in organizing this event was prompted by the awareness of the need for a dialogue and partnership between the government and civil society. We all know that various opinions were voiced when the Civil Forum was being prepared - there were fears that the state is out to establish control over civil society and make it controllable.
I think everyone understands - representatives of the government do too, believe me - that civil society cannot be established at the state's initiative, at the state's will, much less in accordance with the state's plans. Moreover, I consider attempts to form civil society in this manner unproductive, impossible, and even dangerous... Civil society should have its own foundation, it should feed on the spirit of freedom. Only then will it become civil society. No, our civil society is not yet formed but I do not think there is a country where civil society has been formed the way it should have been formed. This is a necessary and continuous process in democracies, and in Russia it is only beginning. We have to admit it.
I do not think anybody has a ready formula for generating a civil society, but the government as such may have one task only - to form the institutions maximally favorable for its development. This is the major and essentially the only task. There are representatives of various civil institutions here, different in goals and in what they expect from the state. Some are opponents of the government on vital issues of state policy. I consider this a normal phenomenon and actually helpful in a democracy. There cannot be a strong state or prosperous society without relations of true partnership between the state and society. A dialogue of the equals is what is needed here. We understand that effectiveness of the dialogue depends to a considerable extent on us, on the authorities in general and their representatives. It is because of it that we are prepared to take organizational and perhaps even legislative measures to establish an effective two-way connection between society and the state apparatus. We will try to do so at least. We are prepared to listen to you and to hear you. I believe that now that it is a period of opportunities for Russia and its citizens, this cooperation may become very productive. It is what the state needs.
We should make use of the chance together or we will surely find ourselves in backwaters of the civilization. I think that what you have been doing is sometimes even necessary, not just possible...
I know of the idea to establish an all-Russian staff reserve, and informational database to be used by the state, businesses, and institutions of civil society. I think the idea should be pondered on. The government need competent individuals from private structures who think in modern terms. Your assistance is of course invaluable in the court reforms. The reforms are difficult, they cannot be viewed as a departmental affair only. Citizens should voice their opinion, here and in the matter of making our penitentiary system more humane. The situation here is complicated, numerous problems have to be solved. We will do our best to make sure civil institutions are involved in decision-making on these and other serious problems.
A few words on cooperation of business communities. This cooperation is well organized now, even better perhaps than others. It is consolidated. Its structure represents social and business interests of Russian businessmen... As for our efforts to deregulate the economy, it should be a process of constructive cooperation with representatives of national business community. Their influence here cannot be disputed. I consider similar cooperation vital in the matter of human rights, within the context of religious and ethnic activism. This is of paramount importance for multi-ethnic Russia. I'm convinced that only civil society based on fully observed civil rights can become a reliable barrier to marginalization and extremism.
Sure, the list of spheres we can cooperate in is much longer than what I mentioned. We await your proposals and initiatives in a broad spectrum of questions. I'm not here to outline any agenda for you.
Delegates of the Forum! You know how seriously we have approached fortification of the state. There is, however, more to the state than the government. States are not judged only by political successes and economic development. First and foremost, states are judged by the level of individual liberty, by the influence wielded by civil society itself. There will never be a truly strong democratic state if society remains weak...
The ethical principles of society have an effect on the state apparatus and on results of its work. I'm convinced that the government will inevitably lose if it lacks a free society as a partner. Bureaucratization would have been the worst possible solution here. Copying state structures' methods of work will not be appropriate here. Civil society has different, more effective methods of operation. I think it only correct that they have been used in organization of the Civil Forum.
In concluding my address, I'd like to say that the Russian people have always been able to get together and overcome all difficulties. It is no less important, however, to learn to work calmly and systematically, particularly now that we have a fine chance of merging the resources of the state with the energy of a democratic society. We should not get carried away, but we are making some progress already. The time is coming when being a Russian citizen will be prestigious. Particularly since the notion of citizenship has always meant more than merely formal relations between individuals and the state...
I wish your Forum success. Thank you.
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