Russia
Key Points of Vladimir Putin's Annual State of the Nation Address



On December 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual state of the nation address to the Federal Assembly, both chambers of Russia's parliament. The address is a document which outlines the President's positions on major policy directions not only for the coming year, but also in the longer term.

Position on the Ukrainian Crisis and Crimea's Unification with Russia

Russia has the right to pursue its own line of development, Putin said. "This applies to Ukraine as well," he said. He called hypocritical the use of the human rights issue to cover up the coup d'etat in Ukraine.

Putin recalled the Crimean referendum and the reunification of the republic with Russia. The reunification, he said, is a major historic event. Crimea has and will always have significance for Russia.

On U.S. Influence

Speaking about relations with the U.S. and Europe, Putin said Russia is guided by interests rather than sentiment in dealing with its partners.

Addressing the way Russia's dialogue with Europe and the U.S. on Ukraine is developing, the President said, "It is not by chance that I have mentioned our American friends, as they have always been influencing our relations with neighbours directly or behind-the-scenes."

"Even if some European countries have forgotten about their national pride long ago and consider sovereignty to be a great luxury, real state sovereignty is an absolutely essential condition for Russia's existence," Putin said.

On Sanctions

"Of course, sanctions are harmful, but they are harmful for everyone, including those who initiate them," Putin stressed. The Russian president said sanctions and restrictions also provide motivation to achieve set aims. Putin said the sanctions are not just a "nervous reaction of the United States and its allies" to Russia's behaviour in connection with events in Ukraine and not due to "the Crimean spring."

"The policy of containment was not invented yesterday. It has been carried out against this country for many many years -- always, one might say. For decades if not centuries," Putin said.

"Each time someone believes Russia has become too strong, and independent, these tools are used immediately," the Russian leader said.

Russia isn't going to end relations with Europe or America. In any case, Putin said, Russia has many strategic friends and partners in the world. The country will be open for the world and for attracting investments from abroad for joint projects, the president said. He set a task of increasing outside investment in the Russian economy to 25 per cent of the GDP by 2018.

On Import Substitution

Reasonable import substitution is Russia's strategic goal in the near future, Vladimir Putin said in his address. Russia should get rid of dependency on foreign equipment, including for oil drilling in the Arctic, he said. Putin stated that when foreign companies buy equipment abroad, it doesn't do Russia any good and that they should use local products. If Russia buys anything abroad, the products have to be unique. Putin set the task of creating conditions for small- and medium-sized enterprises to take part in government procurement programs.

On Foreign Support for Terrorism in Russia and Disequilibrum in the World

Since 2002, when the U.S. abandoned the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, there's been a threat of strategic disequilibrium in the world, and Vladimir Putin said; "I think this is harmful for the United States as well, because it creates the dangerous illusion of invincibility."

He noted Russia isn't going to get involved in the arms race though it will do its best to provide for its security. The president added that Russia has unconventional solutions. "We are strong because we are right," he said.

It's useless to try talking to Russia from a position of strength, Putin said. "We remember the countries that supported the terrorists in Russia ...and those people are making trouble today in Chechnya," Putin said. The terrorists, according to the president, still receive support from abroad. "Those countries want the Yugoslavian scenario to happen in Russia," he said. They will fail as Hitler failed he stated.

On Government Spending

The Defence Ministry should create a new system for control of budget spending, the President stated noting that "Improper spending in the sphere of defence can be considered a threat to national security."

He said all budget corporations should have a common treasury, and all companies with large state participation should reduce their costs several per cent each year.

On Industry Modernization

Putin said Russia is capable of modernizing its economy and being a world leader in certain industries. To achieve this, Russia has to use internal resources, like the Academy of Sciences, and attract Russian nationals from abroad. By 2020 half of Russian colleges should have training courses for the 50 most common professions, he said.

On Demographics and Care for the Disabled

Russian demography programs have proven efficient and the programs will be extended to the Crimea, Putin reported.

"The country's population is almost 144 million people, that's 8 million more than the UN outlook," Putin said. Russia has a life expectancy of over 71 years and has good possibilities to increase it to 74, he continued.

Putin thanked the Russian athletes for their participation in the Sochi Paralympic Games. Russia should increase support for the disabled, the president said, including among other things, professional training, and the production of specific goods.

(ItarTass. TML Weekly No. 1, January 3, 2015)