In Dagestan, politicians and experts think differently about NCFD

Political figures and experts of Dagestan diverge in their opinions on establishment of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and appointment of Alexander Khloponin to the post of President's plenipotentiary in the new district. Recent statements of Dmitri Medvedev and Vladimir Putin as to development prospects of the region are also perceived differently.

Adallo, a poet, publicist and public figure, has stated that the latest changes in the policy and administrative structure brought nothing new to the region.

Let us note here that according to Dmitri Medvedev's statement on January 24, Northern Caucasus requires economic not power management methods.

In the poet's opinion, the authorities made another wrong choice of priorities. "The today's Dagestan find not economic problems but appearance of death squadrons, which kidnap and execute young men without inquiry and trial, much more topical," he said.

Mr Adallo has also moved claims against the newly-appointed vice-premier and NCFD head Alexander Khloponin: "He spent all his in Siberia and has no idea about our life."

Isalmagomed Nabiev, chairman of the independent trade union of entrepreneurs of Dagestan, has accented the statement of Russian Premier as regards the activities of human rights activist in Northern Caucasus. "A surprising point: several years ago Putin offered to 'crack terrorists down in toilets' with no trial and inquiry. Now he calls regional authorities to ensure protection and conditions for effective work of human rights activists, who are just defending the rights of those 'toilet victims'. In my opinion, this overturn was caused by the pressure of the West and criticism on Russia for breaking human rights," he assumed.

As reported earlier, on January 23, at a meeting in Pyatigorsk Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin formulated development priorities for the NCFD and said that the main criterion of our joint work in Northern Caucasus should be in qualitative changes in people's social wellbeing and in their moods.

He also called the regional authorities to ensure proper conditions for safe and efficient work of human rights activist in Northern Caucasus.

Mr Nabiev said, in his turn, that only changes in the society can lead to improvement of the general situation in Dagestan. "Moslems in Dagestan should learn to respect each other. Wahhabites, Sufists, atheists, other members of the society should understand that they float in one boat," he said.

Dzhamaludin Gasanov, Deputy of Russian State Duma from Dagestan, welcomes the recent decisions and statements of Russia's President and Premier. "Many problems of the region stem from pure economy. In particular, jobless youngsters are easily enticed into the forest," he said.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier that in Karachai-Circassia, at the rally in honour of the twentieth anniversary of the Spiritual Department of Moslems, politicians and religion figures of Northern Caucasus gave positive estimates to creation of the NCFD and appointment of Alexander Khloponin to the post of the President's plenipotentiary and expressed hope that the new leadership will ensure economic development, safety and employment of the population in the region.

Public figures of Kabardino-Balkaria spoke positive about the new plenipotentiary in the NCFD, in spite of the fact that their attitude to the very fact of creating the NCFD was not unanimous.

Leaders of the regions included into the new federal formation have supported the idea of Russian President.

The  public of Kalmykia also reacted differently to creation of the NCFD, having expressed fears that the national republics remaining in the Southern Federal District (SFD) may be incorporated in future into wealthier neighbouring regions.