School of Young Finno-Ugric Leaders

On February 25, 2001 the all-Russian training seminar "School of Young Finno-Ugric Leaders" began its work in Izhevsk

The seminar was organized by the all-Russian public movement "Youth Association of Finno-Ugric Peoples of Russia" and the Shundy Udmurt youth public organization, with the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation support.

120 leaders of Finno-Ugric young people representing 18 regions of Russia assembled for the plenary meeting at the Peoples Friendship House to discuss, in particular, the present state of and prospects for the development of state national policy in Russia, cooperation between Finno-Ugric peoples, today's problems of the formation of patriotism and ethnic self-consciousness among the young people.

President of the Udmurt Republic Aleksandr Volkov participated in the seminar's plenary meeting. Greeting the participants, Aleksandr Volkov noted, in particular, that to him one of the most important qualities of a real leader is a heightened feeling of being responsible towards their subordinates and confederates, for the well-being of their personnel, of villages, cities and the republic where he or she lives and works. And, after all, of the whole country.

In his address Aleksandr Volkov stressed: "When we were young, a wonderful motto was widely popular: "Think about your Motherland first, and only then about yourself." It was a moral norm then. And young people aspiring to become leaders observed that norm, willingly or unwillingly. Unfortunately, it often happens today that this norm becomes either distorted or plainly forgotten. And then the yearning for personal wealth comes to the foreground, regardless of the results of one's work.

He cited a number of examples of how certain leaders of organizations and entities in Udmurtia, at municipal and republican levels, having forgotten about their responsibility towards their personnel, had shamelessly raised their own salaries while explaining the hardships of their subordinates by difficulties associated with the economic crisis.

"We will begin to take strict measures against such leaders, both at the republican and municipal levels. And, if we find that a leader has raised his salary without a significant improvement in his work, we'll fire him. And, in general, we are going to introduce proper order in this sphere. It is illegal and immoral to live large at the expense of one's own personnel," — Aleksander Volkov said.

Answering questions of the seminar paricipants, Aleksander Volkov said that one of the missions of the state power is to establish conditions allowing all those willing to do so to study their native tongues, the history and cultural traditions of their peoples. He noted that the republican authorities have successfully handled this task. However, in his opinion, it is the principle of voluntariness that matters in this sphere. He said that "compulsion is the best tool to avert people from any cause, however good it might be."

Answering a question regarding the prospects of the Russian federalism, the President of Udmurtia said that he didn't see a need in further amalgamation of existing regions and the cancellation of the status of ethnic republics.

Aleksandr Zhuravskiy, Director of the Interethnic Relations Department of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation, Larisa Yakovleva, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Mer Kanash All-Mari Council, Nikolay Musalimov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Udmurt Kenesh All-Udmurt Association, and Aleksandr Solovyev, Chairman of the National Council of Children's and Youth Associations of Russia, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, took part in the work of the seminar.