During his mid-September visit to Yaroslavl, Russia’s President Dmitriy Medvedev laid out his framework for the development of the country. The Russian President also talked about the paramount significance of open political debate.

Members of Russia’s top society, as well as high profile foreign guests, came together on September 14, 2009 in Yaroslavl in order to listen President Medvedev deliver his program for the development of the Russian Federation following the global economic crisis. Dmitriy Medvedev, who turned 44 on the day he gave the historic speech, was especially jubilant for the occasion. The Russian President called on the global community to weld strong states and accountable governments, so that it would be easier to work on common problems jointly and find workable solutions. 

Authorities in the city of Yaroslavl made certain to “impress” the visitors with a wide-range of ongoing infrastructural projects. The city’s millennium celebrations will take place next year, and it did not take too much time for the local residents to conclude that the extensive roadwork, the resurfacing of the river embankment, and the repairs to the buildings in the city center were all targeted at showing off the “fervency” of preparations for the festivities. 

Prior to opening the plenary conference titled State and International Security, the Russian President and his colleagues Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Sapatero and the Prime Minister of France Francois Fillon synchronized their watches. Walking slowly, the President of Russia entered the meeting room in the company of his western counterparts and took a seat in the third row. Soon afterwards, his presentation started.   

In his opening remarks, the President of Russia pointed out that the official seal of Yaroslavl depicting a bear stands for strength and wisdom, the two qualities that were necessary for the world community to move forward. President Medvedev said that the new world order should be marked by stability and the genuine care for the welfare of the people. Russia’s leaders and its citizens, Mr. Medvedev continued, must exercise caution in devising and implementing new policies, striving to erase permanently dangerous ideas, such as nationalism or class supremacy. The President is convinced that the way for the future is prudent politics.

Medvedev also asked for members of the global society to abandon utopian conceptions of world dominance, which are from time to time resorted to for justifying unsuccessful military campaigns and the abuses of human rights. The Russian President believes that this philosophy is now a relic of the past. Mr. Medvedev said he deemed it unacceptable that the entire world should be plunged into a deep economic recession as a result of the failed policies that a single country was trying to follow. The President also noted the impact of the climate change on the world’s environment and called for continued efforts to deal with that problem jointly. 

The Russian President believes that states should have a thorough knowledge of one another. Countries need to be able to talk openly about the deficiencies in the policies of their partner-nations and to offer constructive criticism. The specific basis for this type of monitoring activity, however, may not be imposed upon anyone from above, and a world-wide discussion would be necessary.

The audience offered the Russian head of state long ovations. 

In conference lobby discussions, members of the Russian government, State Duma representatives, and others cheerfully discussed how coincidental it was for both the Russian and the American Presidents to broadcast major speeches dealing with the future development of their nations and the entire world on the same day. The leader of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, for one, said that he was absolutely sure that Medvedev and Obama “conspired” to deliver their remarks almost at the same time. Mr. Zhirinovsky also said that hearing such speeches on the course of the country’s future development that the leader intends to pursue is extraordinarily useful. Zhirinovsky added that the leaders of the European Union and China should follow the example set by Medvedev and come out with these speeches not once, but two times a year.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Secretary of the Presidium of the General Council of the United Russia Party said that the two speeches were purely coincidental, noting that it was absolutely wonderful for Russia to be able to come forward with a new standard for democracy in a world emerging from the global crisis. Sergey Mironov, the leader of the Just Russia Party joked that President Obama planned to give his speech on the same day as a birthday present to his Russian counterpart.

“Nobody should be allowed to hide problems behind an ‘iron curtain’,” was one of the central messages the Kremlin chief was trying to get across at the State and International Security conference. The internal issues of one country can readily lead to an international conflict, Medvedev said. The Russian head of state is convinced that a new security pact “stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok” was necessary to protect against such problems as the current financial crisis in future.

Prior to the beginning of the plenary meeting, political leaders and analysts divided into 4 groups in an effort to come up with solutions to one of the most pressing issues of the day – what should the new standards of state responsibility be for the social well-being of citizens and the perpetuation of democracy. A separate issue was also the fight against terrorism. As it was noted in an address by the editor of Nezavisimaya Gazeta Mr. Remchukov, democracy should strive to address the real problems of a society. In his view, democracy should increase the effectiveness and the efficiency of a society. With regards to Russia specifically, the decision of whether to have democracy or not on the basis of these objective criteria should be left completely in the hands of the people.

Is it possible to bolster the state’s progress and provide for the social security of citizens in the absence of democracy? Can democracy serve as a more adequate mechanism in constituting the elite ruling class? How would competition fit within the concept of democracy? These questions are all very much relevant to the ongoing discussion.

Western politician talking at the conference noted that more than one point of view on the essence of democracy has been in wide circulation in Russia. One vision, a more liberal one, is closer to home for President Medvedev, who very often emphasizes the role of private entrepreneurs and calls for a more laissez-faire approach to the economy. The second maxim, which is near and dear to Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin centers on the primacy of state capitalism and the need to regulate business activity. For the ideal world, the vision of President Medvedev would be right on target. At the same time, the way that leaders around the world had to deal with the effects of the economic catastrophe – imposing greater restrictions on free markets, nationalizing private industries, and pouring billions of state dollars into strategic sectors – reflects that Mr. Putin’s approach was after all very much justifiable.