Radik Vakhitov, Ministry of External Affairs in Kazan: ‘People from Tatarstan are also fighting for ISIS’

As experts note, the role of Russia in the solution of global international problems, according to the results in 2015, noticeably grew. Out active participation in the solution of the domestic crisis in Ukraine and success in the operation in Syria are given as an evidence of this statement. Do you agree with it? What last year's external political events did you pay attention to?

Nowadays international terrorism and extremism are possibly the most serious challenges and threats. The operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which started in answer to the address of the official Syrian authority, demonstrated the readiness of our country to organize a rebuff to the unprecedented scale of acts of the international terrorism – to the acts of the so-called Islamic State (Editor's Note: the organization banned on the territory of Russia) in the Near East, which have an impact on people's life throughout the world, including the West. The latest terrorist attacks in the city of Brussels prove it and demonstrate the necessity of joining efforts of all countries in the fight against this barbarism.

As the Russian party stated and proved it many times by its actions, the main purpose of our operation in Syria was exactly an attack on terrorism. It should be taken into account that in this case, we were speaking about a long-range fight with terrorists close to our borders. This way, Russia set a screen to the distribution of the terrorist threat on its territory because it is no secret that there are Russians, including people from Tatarstan, who are fighting for ISIS in Syria.

'As the Russian party stated and proved it many times by its actions, the main purpose of our operation in Syria was exactly an attack on terrorism.' Photo: tvc.ru

Recently the head of the state publicly stated the results of the operation. Thanks to a well-coordinated hard work, the Russian Aerospace Forces managed to turn the tide root and branch. We did not let the terrorist threat grow; bandits' hideouts, their arm and ammunition dumps were destroyed, oil smuggling routes, where terrorists received the main financial energy, were blocked. The most important thing is that we created conditions for the start of the peace process. As the President of Russia Vladimir Putin noted at the state award ceremony of the participants of the operation in Syria, 'Russian soldiers opened this way to peace. Our country demonstrated its undebatable leaderships, will and responsibility'. Russian diplomats are still putting a lot of effort into the mobilization of the international community in the fight against ISIS. Issues on the suppression of the financing of terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq, including by means of the illegal sale of oil transported to the neighbouring countries, are being worked out.

The role of our diplomacy in the strengthening peace process in Syria is leading.

As for the situation in Ukraine, energetic consecutive efforts of Russia, which is interested in help with regulation of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine, enabled to avoid its escalation in general. The decision to prolong the action of Minsk-2 holds out a hope for a resolution of the Ukrainian domestic crisis in a positive way.

Moreover, our country – and it is admitted by everyone – made a huge contribution to the creation of the conceptual foundation of the regulation of Iraqi nuclear programme, elaboration of practical decisions, which were established to prove the realization of the reached agreements.

What tasks does the Russian diplomacy have in this day and age?

The key tasks are present in the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation approved by Putin in 2013. Consolidation of peace, maintenance of the global and regional stability and security, solid and authoritative position of Russia in the world society, promotion of external political priorities of our country are among them.

'The most important thing is that we created conditions for the start of the peace process. As the President of Russia Vladimir Putin noted at the state award ceremony of the participants of the operation in Syria, 'Russian soldiers opened this way to peace. Our country demonstrated its undebatable leaderships, will and responsibility.' Photo: kremlin.ru

The economic block is another very important block. It is key directions like the development of a mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners, creation of favourable external conditions for the sustainable and dynamic development of the Russian economy, diplomatic accompaniment of interests of Russian economic operators abroad.

And, undoubtedly, the efforts of our representatives on comprehensive protection of rights and legal interests of citizens of Russia and compatriots living abroad, distribution and consolidation of the position of the Russian language, popularization of cultural achievements of peoples of Russia are worthy of a special mention.

Despite a development of negative tendencies in external affairs in recent years, consolidation of factors of instability in the world economy, continuing process of transformation of the international system, Russia is still actively pursuing the external political course based on adherence to the international law and collective ways in solution of arising problems following the principles of equal rights and taking into account the interests of all members of the international community.

In Tatarstan, there is a serious concern for the future of the Turkish investment in the economy of the republic because of worsening bilateral relationships. Do you see any prospects in these relationships?

Russia-Turkey relationships are not being the best for well-known reasons. In addition, the Russian administration emphasizes that our attitude to the Turkish people has not changed. This friendship is based on a long-time history of co-residence, common cultural, humanitarian and economic projects.

'Restrictions did not touch nine organizations whose factories are situated in Tatarstan.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

A number of restrictive measures were taken at federal level towards economic entities of the Republic of Turkey that are running a business on the territory of the Russian Federation in answer to the unfriendly act of the Turkish party. However, as it is known, restrictions did not touch nine organizations whose factories are situated in Tatarstan. This decision was made by the Government of Russia taking account the offers of the bodies of the governmental authority of the Republic of Tatarstan in order to secure from possible negative consequences of their imposition.

This list includes enterprises in Yelabuga in particular like Coşkunöz Alabuga, Amara, Design Rus, RM-stroy, Hayat Kimya and also Ford Sollers Holding (Naberezhnye Chelny) and Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry (Alabuga SEZ). What is more, two organizations from Kazan are on the list – Gemont and Polistroykapital.

Consequently, the main Turkish investors in the republic will continue their work. Moreover, some of them announce a launch of new stages of their factories in 2016.

Signals coming from the Russian authority illustrate the tune to the preservation of the already existing friendship between our citizens, people, and positive humanitarian and educational links. I suppose that there are still all possibilities for the development of bilateral contacts within the scope of a single external political line of the Russian Federation.

There are many international events with the participation of foreign guests in Tatarstan in recent years. How do these events reflect in your work?

They have a direct impact. I will explain: organization of such events inevitably increases manyfold the flow of addresses of bodies of the state authority to prepare invitations for foreigners to enter to Russia. The thing is that the power of the Representative Office in this part, contacts with the Russian consulates, that is to say, with the places where a certain visa will be prepared, technical means that we have at our disposition allow to consider applications as quick as possible. This is why no international event in the republic can be organized without our visa support.

For instance, the opening of the Temporary Consular Point at Kazan Airport – the main 'transport gates' of the reception of participants of competitions – was our contribution and a distinctive feature of FINA World Championships in Kazan. The Representative Office became the first regional body of the Ministry of External Office of Russia that provided a work of these consular points during large international events on its own. Earlier, for example, employees of the Ministry of External Affairs of Russia, who are executing the same function at capital airports on a permanent basis, were sent to the Universiade in Kazan or the Olympic Games in Sochi. The workers of the Representative Office worked 24/7 during the competitions. Our actions were positively estimated by both foreign guests of the Championship and the organizers and the administration of the Ministry.

'The opening of the Temporary Consular Point at Kazan Airport – the main 'transport gates' of the reception of participants of competitions – was our contribution and a distinctive feature of FINA World Championships in Kazan.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

Regular organization of large international events and sports events make our work in this format very necessary. We are sent numerous requests to continue the activity of the Consular Point. So, in accordance with the Central Apparatus of the Ministry of External Office of Russia, we 'backed up' the organizers of the European Badminton Championships, which ended in February in Kazan, concerning visa support.