On 12-13 December, Moscow will host the Catherine Forum, timed to coincide with the anniversaries of the supreme manifestos of Catherine II. 240 years ago, by her decree, Crimea, Taman, and Kuban became part of the country, and 260 years ago, a manifesto was issued inviting foreigners to settle in the state. “Parliamentskaya Gazeta” discussed what foreign specialists the country needs now and what image of Russia has formed in the world with Konstantin Matis, a member of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations and President of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of Russian Germans.
— Konstantin Vladimirovich, what will be discussed at the forum?
— The Catherine Forum is organised by the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia and the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of Russian Germans, with the support of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, and the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. The forum aims not only to celebrate the anniversary by grateful descendants of settlers and residents of Crimea and Novorossiya but also to promote externally the potential of our state for comfortable living and working.
— What role did Catherine’s manifestos play in Russian history?
— It was one of the pivotal moments in the country’s history. The manifestos helped to acquire new technologies in a short period, accelerate land development, and address the issue of qualified personnel through a large number of settlers. Their descendants also left a mark on history. Children, integrating into our society, not only absorbed new culture and knowledge but also refracted them through the prism of their parents’ upbringing and their historical homeland. All these formed specialists with a unique vision and influenced the development of our culture, science, and research. And now we see that many well-known people working for the benefit of Russia have non-Russian surnames.
— More than two centuries after the manifestos, the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions became part of Russia. What integration tasks do they face, and how will the experience of Crimea help?
— The new regions are our returned old territories, annexed by Catherine’s manifesto. Thanks to the experience of Crimea, which returned first, we understand how to launch integration processes more effectively in administrative governance, education, and other areas. Residents of Crimea say that after reunification, both the education and healthcare systems in the region changed. Universities appeared that train high-tech medical specialists. This knowledge is applied in practice at medical centres, for example, performing operations for which residents of the peninsula previously had to travel to Moscow, St. Petersburg, or other countries. We must adopt this experience for those regions where this is not yet available.
— Russia still needs highly qualified specialists from abroad. How can this be done without harming the country’s interests and interethnic harmony in society?
— It is necessary to adhere to the principles of mutual respect and the rules of good neighbourliness that have developed in the country over millennia. Furthermore, if a person comes from another country with a desire to help Russia and ties their future to our country, this already mitigates many risks. Work is needed with other arrivals in this regard.
The highly qualified personnel we need to focus on are already coming with a desire to create something. Living on social benefits is more interesting in other countries. Of course, it cannot be said that everything will work out by itself: the culture of interethnic communication must be nurtured. But there is no doubt that our country will cope with this task. We have unique experience, with many peoples living, interacting, and working side by side.
We expect that at the forum, regions will share their successful practices of integrating foreigners and compatriots after relocation. We will also have foreign participants who have moved to Russia and are adapting here. These are restaurateurs, musicians, people engaged in agriculture, cheese-making, and so on.
— How are our compatriots abroad supported now?
— There are many programmes, and first and foremost, they concern the preservation of the Russian language and our culture in the host country. Significant assistance is also provided to compatriots who wish to return to Russia. We must be open to people who have realised that the spiritual, moral, and family values in our country are very strong and want to return.
— Can our youth help shape a positive image of the country in the world?
— Certainly. We have a large number of youth public associations and organisations, and they are all essentially passionate. Young people are open-minded, think broadly, and find it easier to build relationships both inside and outside the country. Almost all national-cultural associations have youth divisions. They are engaged in studying and preserving the history and culture of their people, which is a key factor for good neighbourliness and mutual understanding. When you know the history of your people, you understand that a person of another nationality sitting next to you at school or university has their own history too.
— What is Russia’s current global role in preserving and promoting traditional values?
— We are confident that Russia is becoming a “new ark” for the countries of Europe and the entire world. Given the changes in the value system of Western countries and the attention Russia pays to preserving the history and culture of the country and each people individually, it can be said that we are already playing the role of a guardian of traditional values. This idea is increasingly voiced by representatives of other countries, and this image, formed abroad, must be supported.
High-tech production is being developed in the regions, and there is a demand for foreign specialists. What matters is who will come to us: we must try to attract people who are close to our way of life and our values, those who support them. I invite everyone who shares these thoughts to our forum, the main events of which will take place on 13 December at the Digital Business Space venue.