Transcript:

Dear friends,

Welcome to the conference in Salekhard for representatives of the indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

Today Russia's northern and Far Eastern territories are being actively explored. Oil, gas, and other minerals are extracted here. In this regard it is necessary to take effective measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests of the local population, to prioritise nature conservation programmes, preservation of traditional culture and development of folk crafts, and to instill love of the Motherland and respect for the history and spiritual values of their ancestors in the younger generation.

I hope that the conference will help resolve these important goals. I wish you productive dialogue, success, and all the very best.

Dmitry Medvedev