MOSCOW, December 12. /ITAR-TASS/. The adherence to conservative values that was demonstrated on Thursday by Russia’s president in his annual address to the Federal Assembly has been particularly emphasised in an interview to Itar-Tass by Chairman of the Presidium of the Council of Foreign and Defence Policy Fyodor Lukyanov.
“Till now, Vladimir Putin has never so clearly and intelligibly stated that the philosophy of Russia’s external and internal policy is conservatism,” the expert said.
“After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and up to now, the Russian foreign policy has been devoid of ideology. Statements of the country’s politicians have referred to nothing but pragmatic approach to international relations and advancing national interests through diplomacy. And all of a sudden the president starts to talk of the increased historical responsibility of Russia in the controversial world development conditions not only as a key guarantor of global and regional stability, but also as a state that consistently defends its system of values, including in international relations,” Lukyanov said.
“Basically, the president has for the first time ever conceptualised the adherence to a conservative idea, traditional values that have for centuries formed the basis of the spiritual, moral basis of civilisation of each nation: the values of a traditional family, a genuine human, including religious life, the life that is not only material, but also spiritual,” said the editor-in-chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal.
Lukyanov drew particular attention to the idea of economic and social progress of Siberia, the Russian Far East, as well as Krasnoyarsk Krai and Khakassia, put forward by Putin as a national priority in the 21st century. “It’s not something new, not for the first time the president raises the issue of the need to develop this region, including through the modernisation of the Trans-Siberian Railway and Baikal-Amur Mainline. However, now the head of state in his presidential address at the highest level has linked this project with Russia’s foreign policy plans in the Asia-Pacific region,” the expert said.
The political analyst believes that the avowed by Vladimir Putin postulate that a country’s defensive capacity is the guarantor of its sovereignty and independence is an important part of the presidential address. Fyodor Lukyanov stressed that “the president’s words that missile defence makes an essential part of the strategic offensive potential, a reference to the concept of a ‘pre-emptive prompt global strike’ that exists in the world, create a coherent worldview with all its contradictions.”
“Indeed, the implementation of NATO plans for the deployment of missile defence systems in Eastern Europe, the development of new weapons systems may have a negative impact on the world. So, Putin stated that no country should cherish an illusion that it could secure military superiority over Russia. Hence solid budget financing of Russia’s defence industry sector,” the expert concluded.
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