Vladimir Putin’s opening remarks:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, today we will hold the second meeting of the steering committee charged with organising the celebration of the 1,000^th anniversary of the unification of the Mordovian and Russian peoples. These celebrations will be held in late summer or early autumn of 2012 – we just discussed it with Mr Merkushkin [head of the Republic of Mordovia Nikolai Merkushkin].

We have already identified the festivities and the key goals we will work on. The action plan has been adopted and is being carried out. This is why I believe that it is very useful to meet here in Saransk and discuss what progress is being made and what needs to be done to ensure that the anniversary is marked at a proper level.

I consider it appropriate that while preparing for this anniversary we traditionally pay much attention to developing the region and improving its social infrastructure; that is we have focused our resources on the most topical issues for local residents. This is the approach we used in St Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan and other Russian regions when preparing for and holding similar events.

Significant funds are being set aside for the festivities in Mordovia. The federal budget alone will allocate an additional 18 billion roubles for these purposes and these funds should be used with maximum efficiency for the benefit of the republic’s residents.

I would like to say that recently the government adopted a resolution on co-financing the construction of four sports facilities in Saransk. All these have been included in the celebrations programme and the republic will additionally receive 1.7 billion roubles to this end this year.

I’m referring to the children’s and youth Olympic reserve sports school for winter sports, water sports stadium, the Olympic training centre for racewalking –Mordovia is ahead of pack, globally in this type of sports – and the Yubileiny football stadium. Other issues and social projects are under consideration.

Going back to the festivities plan, I would like to emphasise that it is important that federal and regional authorities coordinate their efforts. Naturally, civil society institutions should be more actively involved in this work, including youth, veteran, environmental and educational organisations, ethnic and cultural associations and everyone who is interested in this process and this work.

In this respect, there is another topical and important issue. The upcoming festivities should be filled with the idea of reinforcing mutual trust, respect and friendship that have been supporting the unity of our multiethnic country for many centuries. The Mordovian and other Russian peoples are closely bound by their history and enormous shared heritage.

It is crucial that current and future generations understand this and appreciate everything we have amassed over centuries. This is why we will continue giving much attention to educational projects. Forums, exhibitions and folk art festivals are held to help people discover the richness and diversity of the Mordovian culture. These events are held to preserve and develop the ethnic traditions and the local language.

I am certain that together we will do our best so that the 1,000^th anniversary of the unification of the Mordovian and Russian peoples is marked properly.

Mr Merkushkin, please, you have the floor.