Thank you. Please. Thank you very much. Dear Dmitry Anatolyevich, dear delegates, guests of the congress, dear friends. The congress of United Russia, our leading political party, is taking place at a difficult, one might say fateful time for the country, during a period of fundamental systemic transformation of the entire world. We see that regional conflicts are multiplying, new artificial obstacles are emerging for normal, mutually beneficial cooperation between states and peoples. This concerns the economy, technology, science, and even culture and sports, and humanitarian interaction in general. At the same time, Russia is experiencing crude, one might say without exaggeration, unprecedented pressure from Western elites. They cannot inflict a strategic defeat on us or defeat us on the battlefield. They are trying to rock the political situation, to sow internal unrest. That doesn't work either. So they continue to encourage the Kiev regime, which they have chosen as a battering ram in the fight against Russia, not sparing the Ukrainian people, which the regime itself is retreating along the entire line of combat contact and has therefore switched to outright terrorist actions. And how else can one call deliberate strikes on civilians, on civilian objects, and the almost open recruitment of renegades inside our country to commit sabotage and terrorist acts? The West prefers not to notice all this, does not notice it. And at the same time, they are introducing new illegal, I emphasize, sanctions specifically against us.
Once again, I note that Russia confidently resists all attempts to restrain our development. We have enough strength, resources, and political will. No one should have any doubt about this. [applause] Yes, yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them, we react, but we certainly ensure both the security of the country and our citizens, the inviolability of Russian borders for the long historical perspective. That is what we are striving for. We will certainly cope with all the challenges that face us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory, on infrastructure facilities. And, of course, we will solve the tasks of internal development, primarily in the field of demography, preserving our traditional values, improving the quality and standard of living in all regions of our huge country. We will bring the Russian economy to a fundamentally new technological level in all critically important areas. We will continue to build housing and roads, create new and modern jobs with high wages, support national business, advanced industries that guarantee the sovereignty and leadership of Russia. Some plans, of course, we adjust based on the current situation. But all strategically significant development programs will certainly be implemented in full, and the state will certainly fulfill all its social obligations.
We are going through a difficult stage. But it has taught us a lot, allowed us to feel the very essence of the concept of a citizen of Russia, to realize the significance of true patriotism. I want to say a heartfelt thank you for this to our soldiers and officers, volunteers and volunteers, doctors and teachers, [applause] rescuers, drivers, engineers and workers. To everyone who, at their post, regardless of risk, courageously and conscientiously does their job, serves the motherland. [applause] It is thanks to such people, to all our people. Russia firmly, as people say, stands on its feet, declares its fundamental core interests and is ready to fight, to fight for them, for our future, way of life, sovereign worldview of traditions and foundations. Russia has always been strong, has won thanks to national unity. It is our internal unity that gives no rest to some of our ill-wishers. As I have already noted, they would like to shake it, undermine it, call it into question. They have never succeeded in anything, and they will not succeed now. [applause] Today, all our people support our heroes at the front, believe in our army and navy, and the duty of United Russia is to do everything, do everything for victory. [applause]
The party has a direct connection with combat units of the armed forces, with defense plants and the mass volunteer movement. You help the residents of Donbass and Novorossiya, Crimea, Sevastopol, our border regions. Support the families of defenders of the Motherland and, of course, the veterans of combat operations themselves. Certainly, we need to continue to create all conditions so that such people, they are, as I have said many times, the true elite of Russia, continue to serve the country in civilian spheres, in politics, in economics, state and municipal administration. As we agreed at the last congress, active work has already been deployed here. Many party representatives, including those who held and hold high positions in government bodies, in business structures, went to the front as volunteers, and hero front-line soldiers are replenishing our ranks, winning in the preliminary vote and being nominated in elections at all levels. They are also here now, I see, present. Let's welcome them once again. [applause]
Dear colleagues, in September the ninth convocation of the State Duma will be formed. Large-scale elections will also take place in many regions, election campaigns for legislative and representative bodies of power. Their composition will be renewed. The elections will be held within the established time frame in strict accordance with the law. All measures will be taken to ensure the safety of election commission employees, candidates, observers, voters, to protect the results of the people's will from any attempts at external influence and manipulation. The necessary instructions on this matter have been formulated and will certainly be given. I am confident that the competitive struggle will be open and honest. After all, the people's trust in democratic institutions is an indispensable condition for the stability and unity of our society. The electoral process is a test of the strength of our political system. An extremely important stage for the further development of the country, for strengthening stability and social harmony. A lot here depends on how substantively and constructively our parliamentary parties, and above all United Russia, conduct their election campaigns. This is a high honor and a huge responsibility to serve and earn the status of a party leader, the pillar of the modern Russian state. [applause]
I will emphasize again that such trust of the people is priceless. It does not arise by itself. People, and you know this well, see everything. People see everything. They know that supporters of United Russia have never been populists, did not chase ratings at the expense of empty, unfulfillable promises. I want to thank you for this firm position, for your significant contribution to the development of the country, [applause] for the great work in parliamentary bodies and in the executive branch system. And I ask you not to reduce, but to increase its pace in all areas, in all spheres, to be close together with the citizens of our country. On the initiative of United Russia, new protection measures are being introduced for our heroes, military personnel and their families. Large social and economic projects are being implemented. Regions receive financial support, including through the recently adopted decision to defer repayment of budget loans. The party does a lot for the education system, for our teaching community. This includes a large-scale program for the construction and repair of schools, payments to class teachers, and expansion of the network of kindergartens. Today I would like to support another specific initiative of yours, which I consider relevant. This is the recognition of the special status of the teacher in our country. [applause] I draw attention, the consolidation of such status should not be formal. We are talking about additional support, about new opportunities for professional growth for those who have dedicated themselves to one of the most respected professions, the education of new generations. And, of course, the relevant documents on this matter will be signed. [applause]
Dear colleagues, since its creation, United Russia has been faithful to its mission, serving the motherland and people, defending the values of civil solidarity, mutual assistance, and genuine national unity. It, I repeat, has been vitally important for us always, at all times, especially now, in an era of global change and historical trials. The current year has been declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Our Country, which we will strengthen and protect. And the very name United Russia means that it is called upon to protect the identity, traditions, culture, languages of both the Russian and all indigenous peoples of Russia from any attempts at aggression, expansion, provocations, no matter where they come from and under whatever sauce they are served, and no matter where they originate. To ensure the security of our society, to preserve the ethnocultural harmony that has developed in Russia is one of the key tasks. One of the topics that will certainly be on the agenda of the election campaign is the protection of our traditional values, which I have already mentioned. And here the parliamentary parties have common approaches. For all state-minded politicians, it is obvious that reliance on traditional values is a solid ideological foundation that unites Russian society. At the same time, such unity can only be built on freedom, relying on one's own customs, culture, history. And these traditions say that a person cannot be free if his people, his country are not free. In this sense, human freedom and the sovereignty of Russia are equivalent, identical concepts. Our common task is to ensure that the historical memory of our people and the Russian worldview in all its political diversity and originality serve the development of the country, strengthen its internal strength. This is the key to the stability of our party system, our democracy, democracy, and therefore of the entire state, its sovereignty. I believe that all participants in the election campaign need to remember their responsibility to the people and the state, that the condition of national unity is social justice, equality not only of opportunity, but also equality of responsibility in the face of challenges.
Dear friends, this year United Russia celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. Over a quarter of a century, many events have occurred, important, turning points, truly historical. But the main thing is that the unity of our people, their desire and will to revive the country, its capabilities and growth prospects, to increase its strength, has strengthened. I will repeat again, Russia can only be a strong, independent power, or there will be no Russia at all. Look, as soon as we show any weakness, any weakness from Russia, they immediately stop taking us into account and start speaking the language of force. And they try, as people say, to test us, they want to weaken us by any means, to get rid of us as a world factor that has always stood in the way of evil. This has never worked for anyone. It will not work now, and it will not work in the future. [applause]
I hope that during the launched election campaign, all parties and candidates, even in the most heated discussion with each other, will work together to strengthen the unity of our people and will never allow, will not put at risk the unity of the country. And United Russia in this pre-election competition will again show its leadership, will check every step with the opinion of the people, conduct a direct, trusting dialogue with them. In general, we need to spend less time in offices and messengers, and more often go out, as they say, into the field, meet with people, delve into their everyday problems, and, of course, extremely carefully work out the millions of proposals, initiatives, and instructions that come to the people's program of United Russia. They will have to be implemented by those whom the party will nominate and support in the upcoming elections. I note that among the candidates from United Russia there will be many young people, representatives of the generation that owns the future, a wonderful generation. We have every right to be proud of them, the young people of our country. These are purposeful, modern, smart, talented young men and women, loving our motherland with all their hearts. [applause] And, taking the opportunity, I want to congratulate all our young comrades and like-minded people on Youth Day, which was celebrated yesterday. I am sure, [applause] I am sure they will worthily prove themselves both during the election campaign and in subsequent work, proving in practice sincere devotion to the fatherland and loyalty to our principles. Patriotic solidarity, coordinated teamwork, professionalism and responsibility, closeness to people. This is the ideological foundation of United Russia. Its main indisputable advantage. I have very good, constructive, working relations with all factions and parties represented in the parliament of the Russian Federation. Well, of course, I participated in the creation of United Russia and I want to wish the congress successful work, and the party good luck in the elections. Thank you very much. [applause]
