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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Dear colleagues! Dear comrades!

Today I would like to formally introduce you to Aleksandr Vasilyevich Bortnikov, who was yesterday appointed Director of the Federal Security Service by presidential decree.

Aleksandr Vasilyevich is well-known in the FSB. He has devoted practically his entire life to work in the security services. Aleksandr Vasilyevich is a professional who knows the operational component of this work and who possesses valuable organizational skills. I would especially like to note that Aleksandr Vasilyevich has been deputy director of the FSB since 2004. I expect that Aleksandr Vasilyevich Bortnikov can act in the best traditions of the FSB and continue to strengthen and improve the security services.

In recent years the FSB has done more than simply fulfill its tasks of protecting the security of Russia and its citizens. It has consistently increased its operational and technical capabilities, and replenished its staff with young professionals. I would like to express my confidence that, in the future, the FSB will reliably be able to ensure the security of the state and society against internal and external threats.

The priorities of the Federal Security Service remain high-level counter-terrorism operations and combating extremism.

True, over the past eight years the situation has undergone a qualitative change. But we cannot stop here and simply admire our past achievements. We need to use our full potential for strengthening the integrated counter-terrorism security system and to look for new, more effective methods of work.

We need to pay serious attention to how best to react to ethnic and religious intolerance. Russia has historically been a multicultural and multi-confessional state, and any attempt to damage this heritage represents a direct threat to our statehood.

Our country’s economic security faces serious challenges. I am referring to protecting the Russian economy from corruption, criminality and industrial espionage, as well as to strengthening the safeguards for entrepreneurial activity and property rights. All actions taken by security agencies in this field should be strictly based on existing legislation. Aleksandr Vasilyevich has served as Director of the FSB Economic Security Service for a while. I am sure that he will keep a close eye on this aspect of the FSB’s activity.

Important tasks are incumbent on the FSB Border Service. We need to continue to build modern infrastructure along our borders – and a great deal has already been done in recent years – to ensure the effective protection and security of our borders.

And, of course, a traditionally important and key focus of FSB activities remains the illicit activities of foreign special services. There is a whole range of tasks in this respect.

In conclusion I would like to once again congratulate Aleksandr Vasilyevich on his new appointment and wish him every success. I am confident that the Federal Security Service will continue to quickly and professionally fulfill its responsibilities, ensure the security of the country and society, and protect the rights and lawful interests of citizens.

Last but not least I would like to sincerely thank Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev for the work he has undertaken in recent years as Director of the Federal Security Service.

As you are well aware, these were difficult years, and he coped honourably with all these challenges. I wish him success in his new capacity as Secretary of the Security Council and he has just been presented to members of the Council.