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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

I would like to greet all of you and to thank you for the invitation to come here. I remember how you invited me here during a live programme, and I am delighted to be able to come here.

I would like to congratulate you on this memorable, though tragic, event marking the 20^th anniversary of the day when you rose to fight groups of international terrorists, fighting together with the Russian Armed Forces not only to protect your home republic – Daghestan – and your village but also to show the country as a whole what you can achieve if you join forces against a common threat.

It has always been like this in the history of our peoples, the people of Russia and the Caucasus. But courage, willpower and love of the homeland have always been the greatest values in the Caucasus. The best qualities of your people came to the fore during that critical period.

In general, human character manifests itself in the best possible manner in such critical situations. And when it happened here, you demonstrated what you can do and what our country can do. You set a very good example.

Thank you very much. Congratulations are not due on this day because of the numerous losses and tragedies. However, while we are speaking about that event, I would like to pay tribute to your courage and heroism and to celebrate the results we have achieved.

I have laid flowers at the monument. It is really a wonderful monument, simply wonderful. Such a monument would be a perfect decoration in a square in the Russian or any European capital. Simply wonderful. I said it after I laid the flowers, but I would like to repeat my words of gratitude to you and to wish you all the very best.

I took a look around. In general, Botlikh is developing and looks good, although there is, of course, room for improvement. The social sector needs more work. We are planning to build two schools, a kindergarten, sports facilities, including covered facilities, and a football field where young people, both boys and girls, can train.

We will continue developing healthcare. You will remember that at the previous meeting in Makhachkala you talked about the need for new equipment, including modern medical equipment, including a tomography machine. This problem has been resolved. Preparatory construction is nearing completion. We will have a tomography machine here and this medical facility will serve the residents of Daghestan and part of the Chechen Republic.

So, everything is moving forward. It irritates me quite a bit sometimes that things move so slowly, but we are still making headway with assistance here and will move further with your support.

I congratulate you on your 20^th anniversary.

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