Pamfilova hopes mutual trust and common goals of residents and authorities may alter the situation in North Caucasus

The struggle for the minds and the hearts, for a common system of values which could embrace North Caucasus and integrate it in Russia is a big and serious topic which should be started with telling the truth, with a wish to understand one another, says Ella Pamfilova, head of the council under the Russian President on facilitating the development of the institutions of civil society and human rights, chair of presidium of the all-Russia public movement "Civil Dignity".

"If people believe the sincerity of intentions by the federal and regional authorities to seriously alter the situation of the people living here, if the authorities seriously learn to rely on the people's opinion, if there is mutual trust and common goals, the situation may be radically changed", said Ella Pamfilova in an interview to the chief editor of the "Caucasian Knot".

In her opinion, when building the state policy with regard to North Caucasus, it is necessary to create a unified Russian legal space. "The civil legal basis is a system of values common to everyone, irrespective of nationality and religious beliefs", assures Ella Pamfilova.

It is the Caucasus, in her opinion, that may become basis for making the entire country healthy. "Because in the Caucasus it is not a tradition to abandon children, in the Caucasus the number of orphans is the lowest... North Caucasus possesses the wealth which is going to be valued more and more with every passing year: healthy way of life, healthy people and traditions. This is what is valued more and more in the world: clear air and unique and diversified nature", notes the head of the council under the Russian President on facilitating the development of the institutions of civil society and human rights.

In the opinion of Pamfilova, the Caucasus reflects all problems existing across Russia more vividly, acutely and clearly.

Talking about the Presidents' instructions after the meeting of activists of public organizations working in the Caucasus, held on May 19 in the Kremlin, she specifically stresses the optimization of the number of block posts.

Talking about the development of tourism in the NCFD, the "Caucasian Knot" interlocutor notes that, considering the fact that there are fewer and fewer environmentally safe zones in the world, the Caucasus has a huge potential in the future for tourism and recreation.

In her opinion, it is necessary now to create an objective image of Caucasus residents. "I am sorry, but, apart from "another bandit caught there", or "zachistka performed there", or "terror act", we hear very little about North Caucasus. It is all negative information that is disseminated across the Russian information space. We must show more, there are more things to show. Show - I do not mean paint in bright colors, - life as it is, both bad and good things", says Ella Pamfilova.