Lavrov Promotes Bashkortostan

The Republic of Bashkortostan, a 450+ year partner and member of Russia.

Flag imposed over geographical shape. The kurai flower is what’s depicted on the flag’

Seal of Bashkortostan.

Salawat Yulayev statue with Bashkortostan’s capital Ufa in background.

Traditional dress, people and horse.

A great many more pictures of this very colorful Republic could be added. The depiction Lavrov lavishes isn’t at all overdone. I now leave Lavrov’s words to be read:

Dear Radiy Faritovich,

Dear Guests,

Your Excellency,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Once again, we are holding a presentation of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation at the Foreign Ministry's GlavUpDK. This has become a good tradition. We are proud to carry out this function – to acquaint our foreign friends with the wealth of the Russian Federation. Russia's wealth is growing in its regions and republics, including the Republic of Bashkortostan.

This is a unique region with a distinctive culture, historical sights, as well as economic and investment potential. Bashkortostan is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, in the very center of the Eurasian continent, which is now becoming the "engine" of the development of the world economy and investment activity, as well as the conjugation of world civilizational processes. To a large extent, this determines the centuries-old cultural "fusion" which, as President of Russia Vladimir Putin said, reflects the history and modern realities of this region.

The Republic of Bashkortostan is home to 110 nationalities that profess different religions and speak different languages. Harmony between them (as well as between all the peoples of the Russian Federation) is based on mutual respect and respect for traditions, history, faith, way of life and customs. As President of Russia Vladimir Putin stressed in his speech in 2007 at a meeting dedicated to the 450th anniversary of Bashkiria's accession to Russia, this republic has been and remains one of the pivotal regions of our country. It was possible to set an example of interethnic and interfaith harmony. There is no need to go into detail about how important this example is today.

We see a large number of attempts to undermine interethnic harmony in our country. President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke about this recently, analysing the processes that led to the current confrontation between Russia and the West, which has been preparing a war against us for many years at the hands of the Ukrainian leadership, as well as when considering the situation related to the barbaric terrorist act in Krasnogorsk. That is why it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this role in promoting interethnic and interfaith harmony, where, as President Vladimir Putin stressed, Bashkortostan is setting an example.

The symbol of Bashkortostan is the kurai flower. Its seven petals signify the seven clans that laid the foundation for the unity of the peoples living on the territory of the Republic. The great Bashkir poet Mustai Karim (M.S. Karimov) once wrote: "We have been given the same destiny with the Russians. For four centuries our tribes have been intertwined with their roots in exploits and glory."

The inhabitants of Bashkiria have always carried this reputation with dignity, about which Mustai Karim wrote so figuratively. We spoke with Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Ruslan Khabirov about our joint historical achievements: our contribution to the victory over Napoleon's troops in the War of 1812, as well as the defeat of Hitler's Germany during the Great Patriotic War and World War II.

Today, the heirs of those who, through the hands of Napoleon and Hitler's ideology, tried to conquer and destroy our country, are again making another attempt. By unleashing a war against Russia, using the Ukrainian Nazi regime, which came to power as a result of an unconstitutional bloody coup d'état 10 years ago. President Vladimir Putin spoke about this in detail in his speeches. Of course, this is a challenge that is comparable to the attempts of the 19th and 20th centuries to destroy our Motherland, to fragment it in order to then govern its individual parts in accordance with the wishes of the hegemon.

It is no coincidence that the United States, having subjugated the rest of the West, does not want to put up with the objective trends of historical development, when new centers of economic growth and political influence have appeared, and a multipolar world order is taking shape. This trend cannot be reversed. But we are witnessing desperate attempts by the West to slow down this process. Unfortunately, they cost a huge number of human lives. But all our peoples, including the people of Bashkortostan, are resisting this latest attack on our sovereignty and values. I would like to note the heroic contribution of the people of Bashkortostan to the efforts we are making to achieve the just and noble goals of the special military operation.

Today Bashkortostan is one of the leading industrial and agro-industrial republics of the Russian Federation. Its main industries reflect the most modern areas of development of the world economy - oil production and refining, chemistry and petrochemistry, electric power, metallurgy, agriculture. The republic is regularly ranked among the leading regions in the National Rating of the Investment Climate of Russia. The Governments of many of the countries represented here know this from their own experience.

It is gratifying that the Republic is actively developing foreign relations. It has foreign trade agreements with 105 countries. Cooperation with the countries of the CIS, the EAEU, Asia, Africa and Latin America is a priority. At present, the Republic maintains foreign trade relations with 105 countries. Cooperation with the countries of the CIS, the EAEU, Asia, Africa and Latin America is a priority. The capital of Bashkiria, Ufa, has repeatedly become a hospitable venue for major international forums and festivals, including those of the highest level. In 2015, the BRICS and SCO summits were held in Ufa. I am sure that these are not the last summits that this beautiful city will host with its inherent brilliance.

We welcome the commitment of the leadership of Bashkortostan and its business circles to further improve foreign relations, to search for reliable foreign partners who will be guided by the principle of mutual benefit, and not to make joint projects with hostages of geopolitical ambitions with those who are ready to expand trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

The Foreign Ministry will continue to support these efforts in every possible way, given that they are taking place in the context of global trends in the formation of a fair, democratic, balanced and mutually respectful world order.

Of course, Bashkortostan is the richest natural region. It is located among (I say this from personal experience) without exaggeration mesmerizing landscapes. A huge number of opportunities open up for tourists. The South Urals is a two-hour flight from Moscow. For those who have not yet taken advantage of these opportunities, I cordially invite you to this region at any time of the year. Hiking in the mountains, ski resorts, healing springs, historical excursions. I would like to make a special mention of such attractive opportunities as rafting on the water surface of the beautiful Bashkir rivers. I was formed as a person largely thanks to communication with nature. The first step was my participation in construction teams. Every year during the summer holidays at MGIMO, I went four times to Siberia, to the Far East, where I participated in the movement of construction teams. He built various facilities, got to know his homeland. And the second thing that has shaped me as a person today is water tourism, rafting on mountain rivers. My passion began in Bashkortostan, for which I am personally sincerely grateful to this fantastic land.

Today, thanks to the decisions of the leadership of the Republic, a magnificent modern world-class Canoe Slalom Center is being created in Bashkortostan, which we hope to open during this summer.

Dear friends,

I am convinced that the presentation will give additional impetus to promising projects and initiatives that your countries will be interested in considering. This will allow you to get a better understanding of history, industrial potential, nature.

This year Ufa will celebrate the 450th anniversary of its foundation. I suggest that today's presentation be considered the beginning of the celebrations on the occasion of this magnificent date. [My Emphasis]

Lavrov’s depiction makes it hard to arrange a travel itinerary to Russia as it’s very clear there’s far more to see beyond its major city’s majesty. Of course, this meeting was to promote, entice foreign investment into the Republic as it does have significant resources and an advanced industrial plant with a skilled workforce. Lavrov’s main pitch was for more tourist related investment which is in-line with the Russian Federation’s plan to support such investment with the installation of whatever infrastructure it might require, all of which was discussed at a recent meeting of the government that got bypassed from being reported on by events.

Russia’s strong and wants to grow much stronger, and the path its chosen is investment in the people and all the nation’s regions—none is to be left behind, and those that now lag the national averages are getting special attention to eliminate inequities as quickly as possible. Some readers will have heard about the very unusual flooding happening, the Tyumen region, East of Urals bordering Kazakhstan, now getting the brunt of the Spring melt which is happening faster and at a much higher rate than engineered against. Russian Emergency Services is handling the situation which yesterday’s government meeting focused on that I’ll report on later. IMO, much work will need to be done to deal with this new situation.

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