VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript:
Correspondent: Mr Putin, you are visiting the Taman Peninsula during the prime season for our fertile soil. Not only is it hot here but the fruit and vegetables are ripening and everything is becoming bright. Is this your first visit to Taman?
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
Correspondent: What are your first impressions?
Vladimir Putin: I haven’t seen much yet – almost nothing. I say “almost” because what I did see I saw from a car window. I saw part of the bay and an excavation site. But I’ve already told the guys and I want to repeat that it was very interesting for me to learn (and I’m embarrassed to say that I first heard about this last year) that there was a very ancient settlement right here on the territory of our country. It wasn’t a Russian settlement but a very ancient one. Ancient Greeks came here in 6th century BC. Can you imagine? Greeks, Khazars, Circassians, Alans, later on Turks. Before that…
Correspondent: Byzantium…
Vladimir Putin: Not really, it was the seat of a Russian principality before that.
Correspondent: Tmutarakan.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, Svyatoslav ruled here. Circassians came after him but only on the periphery. Then Turks occupied this territory and then Russia retook it.
Each of them left a trace of their spiritual culture behind and this surely has survived in the consciousness of the people who live here now. It is passed down from one generation to the next. This gives us every reason to say that our nation as a whole has extremely deep roots and a rich culture.
Correspondent: A European culture.
Vladimir Putin: And self-identity is very important.
Correspondent: The first Christian churches on our territory were built here in Taman long before the official adoption of Christianity in Rus.
Vladimir Putin: What haven’t they had here! Khazars professed Judaism without being ethnic Jews and this is also part of this culture.
Correspondent: Another interesting story: When Rome began persecuting the Jews in Palestine, they fled here in large numbers in the 1st century BC and it is here that the first synagogue on our territory appeared. They say that even Herod the Great came here to see how his compatriots lived in the northern lands. So many great people came here…
Vladimir Putin: That’s very interesting.
Correspondent: … and there are so many great stories about this surprising land. I have a question related to this: Should we develop this territory – with its fantastic blend made of wine, the best in this country, its amazing history and stunning seaside – as a tourist centre?
Vladimir Putin: There are two conflicting opinions on this score. Some believe that only researchers should have access to this territory and that the public should be barred from it, because in order to get these objects into shape to be put on display for tourists you have to restore them, and this could be dangerous. However, I share the other view and agree with the experts who believe that if everything is done properly, and this is done all over the world…
Correspondent: In Greece, for instance.
Vladimir Putin: …if we do everything properly, we can preserve the archaeological and cultural heritage and show people what this area has to offer. This is very important for inspiring patriotic feelings. I’m talking not about blind patriotism but the spiritual past of our people that, regrettably, we don’t know too well. As I’ve mentioned, it was during last year’s video conference with archaeologists all over Russia that I learned about the importance of this place, Taman and these excavations. I’m very interested in this.
Correspondent: I’d like to ask you one more question on this point. I think it’s great that young people, students work here – it is such a powerful educational tool. And the more young people take part in such archaeological expeditions… Because this is not just a vacation by the sea, this is an intellectual vacation by the sea. I think this is very important. We have student construction teams and it would be great to have student archaeological teams. I don’t know whether this will happen, but I think it is an interesting idea.
Vladimir Putin: Why not? The students have just asked me the same question. They spoke about starting a volunteer movement in archaeology. I think this is quite possible.
Correspondent: What could you do, apart from providing a grant, to make this possible as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society?
Vladimir Putin: I think providing grants is important. I think we must help experts organise this territory and establish together with private companies a research centre for them, as well as labs, housing and a campus for visiting students; we must compensate people for the land, which partially belongs to a joint stock company, and preserve it for the state as a cultural, archaeological and historical site; we must help experts continue to work, publish their scientific papers, communicate with foreign colleagues and promote the results of their work all over the country. If we do all this, we will accomplish the goals the Russian Geographical Society was founded to accomplish.
Correspondent: Thank you very much. We are very pleased to see you here in beautiful Taman.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
