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Dmitry Medvedev also presented state decorations to a number of foreign nationals for their contribution to promoting friendship, cooperation and cultural ties with Russia.

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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Compatriots, friends,

The National Unity Day, which we are all celebrating today, commemorates very important events, dramatic events that occurred several centuries ago. At the same time, this is the youngest holiday in the new Russia.

Let me remind you that the law establishing the holiday was signed in late December 2004. This holiday has become a symbol of respect for our new state, a new, modern, democratic Russia, which at the same time remembers its history, remembers its past while looking into the future.

National unity is not only a beautiful metaphor for us; it has a special meaning. It has unquestionable value and is the basis for the existence and development of our multiethnic, multiconfessional and very complex state, of our rich history, which has absorbed many different traditions, ways of life and cultural values of the multi-lingual and multi-faceted Russian nation.

”This holiday has become a symbol of respect for our new state, a new, modern, democratic Russia, which at the same time remembers its history, remembers its past while looking into the future.“

Modern Russia has cemented the idea of national unity in its Constitution and has reinforced it with the power of its fundamental law. Let me remind you that in the preamble, in the first lines of our Constitution, the people of Russia declare that they are united by a common destiny and are a nation that preserves its political unity. This legal document talks about things that are far removed from legal terminology: the love and respect for our Motherland, faith in goodness and justice. I think that today the National Unity Day has become a holiday for everyone who loves and respects our country, for all those who speak the Russian language and appreciate the Russian culture.

I would also like to remind you that we are honouring teachers this year as it has been declared the Year of the Teacher. Today there are teachers in this hall who came from around Russia and from other countries.

Teachers form the ideas of each modern educated person about the past and the future, about freedom and dignity, about spiritual values and the sense of each individual sharing the common destiny of our country.

Teachers, tutors, mentors — they are the foundation of national and cultural unity of the Russian world, they start all the major victories and achievements of our people, the ones that are subsequently created in other places — on battlefields, in economic competition and in political campaigns, too.

I am particularly pleased to note that there are representatives of this noble profession among those who will receive state decorations of the Russian Federation today.

Let us proceed to the awards ceremony.

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Dmitry Medvedev: Dear friends,

I am sure you will agree that everything that was said about the award recipients, everything that was said in this hall was very touching and creates a very special atmosphere, an atmosphere of our inner unity.

”National unity is not only a beautiful metaphor for us; it has a special meaning. It has unquestionable value and is the basis for the existence and development of our multiethnic state.“

It is a great pleasure to hear Eugene Onegin recited in the Abkhaz language with such feeling, and the best thing is that we don’t even need a translation, we can understand it perfectly. This means that we are truly united in our thoughts. Many of us were brought up with Russian culture and believe it is an integral part of universal values and global civilisation. That is why we hold these meetings on a day like today.

These meetings are formal on the one hand, but they are also very sincere and largely informal. And let me be frank, when I present state decorations to our colleagues who live and work in different countries I also feel great happiness because these people connect different states and continents, they help our country and their own countries, because ultimately, they impart human values.

Once again, I would like to congratulate all of you on our holiday, the National Unity Day, a holiday that truly embodies the invisible link between the past, the present and the future.

I would like to propose a toast to the Russian people, to the welfare and prosperity of our country, and to the welfare and prosperity of all our friends around the world.

Once again, happy National Unity Day!