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Addressing the meeting, the President said that one of the main problems in the North Caucasus today is corruption, which is a direct threat to Russia’s national security, and is aiding and abetting separatists.

Mr Medvedev said that many of the North Caucasus’ problems are linked to poor social organisation, unemployment, and very low living standards. The President said that tackling these problems requires the authorities at every level to work together actively with non-governmental organisations.

Mr Medvedev outlined a number of directions this kind of cooperation can take, including working on youth issues, carrying out job creation programmes, fighting corruption, and strengthening the traditions of friendship and mutual respect between different ethnic groups.

Representatives of NGOs from the North Caucasus region took part in the meeting.