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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Comrades!

Our meeting is taking place in looking forward to Defenders of the Fatherland Day. I would like to use this opportunity to wish you a happy upcoming holiday and to wish you success in the service, especially since you essentially represent the most important, highly strategic interests of our country.

Siberia, the Far East, and Trans-Baikal have always served as distinct outposts and “windows” into Asia from our country. Today, the region is influenced by many different political processes, geo-strategic processes, and is essentially engaged in a large-scale game playing out in the Asia-Pacific region.

From this perspective, and keeping in mind the region’s natural resources that are at our disposal, its security has been and continues to be one of the key factors in the development of our country. Of course, this presents particular demands for military personnel serving in the Siberian Military District. The high spirits of our citizens, including Siberians, and their dedication are well-known, and today, you are all honourably performing your service for the government in protecting our nation.

We need to revive of prestige in the Armed Forces and renew high spirits in the Armed Forces, not just on paper, but in real life. Improving combat readiness and creating new modern systems for managing troops, and transitioning to a new image of the Armed Forces, which is currently being implemented, are also major difficult challenges that everyone will need to address and that you are already addressing. You face these challenges with dignity, because over the last several years, the region has had a leading position within the Armed Forces of our country.

Service here, in Siberia, in Trans-Baikal, takes place in difficult environmental conditions, sometimes at distant frontier posts, in faraway garrisons that are divided by thousands of kilometres. This requires not only physical training and endurance, but also modern leadership qualities, the ability to unify people, to direct large groups of military personnel and, of course, to look out for one’s subordinates.

Today, you fully possess these qualities, and the results of high-level professional work being conducted, the results of mastering military technology, and overall, the results that you demonstrate in your service have served as the basis for me to sign corresponding decrees to present government awards to individual comrades who are present here today.

I sincerely congratulate you on these awards, and I would like to once again say, happy upcoming Defenders of the Fatherland Day! I hope your service goes well, and I wish you and your families good health and good luck.

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Comrades! I have nothing else to add to what I have said. I would like to congratulate you again – you are truly doing a good job, and I hope that these state awards will not be your last.

Despite the fact that we are currently living through fairly difficult times, I can nevertheless say to you that all the challenges that stand before our country, which the country subsequently presents to its Armed Forces, will be fulfilled, and fulfilled at an adequate level.

Thus, I would like to once again thank you for your service, wish you success and good health for you, your families, and your loved ones.

I wish you a happy holiday!