Kremlin Strategy Centre: Social movement “OCEAN” will unite fraternal nations

The head of the Kremlin Strategy Centre, the director general of the Eurasian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen Vadim Yuryevich Mingalev during the visit to Ukraine told in interview to “The world and we” about the integration processes on the former Soviet Union, a role of Ukraine in new, being formed Eurasian structures, about the fight against a wave of misinformation which is directed against association of the brotherly states.

- In your opinion, how does the relation of the leadership of Ukraine change to prospects of the Eurasian integration in connection with the last personnel decisions in the Government of Ukraine?

I think that in this sphere there are very serious changes. At the summit of CIS countries which took place on December 6, the President Yanukovych focused attention for the first time on priority of the Customs Union for Ukraine. Commodity turnover between Russia and Ukraine reaches 60 billion dollars and it is the biggest commodity turnover in comparison with other countries, including EU. And the personnel shifts in the new Ukrainian government are very important from this point of view. One of main “evroatlantist” – the Minister of Foreign Affairs Konstantin Grishchenko leaves. Leonid Kozhara who in much bigger degree supports the integration processes with the Customs Union comes to his place. It is confirmed also by one of the first meetings of the new minister with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

Further Mr. Khoroshkovsky leaves – such “titan” of the European policy who conducted a lot of work according to the conclusion of contracts on entry of Ukraine into Free Trade Zone with EU. At last, the Minister of Economics Poroshenko leaves. Thus in the Ministry of Economics other very serious official Valery Ivanovich Muntiyan continues the work on work with CIS countries. From the economic point of view, with granting exact figures he proved huge advantage of occurrence of Ukraine in the Customs Union, predicted effect of considerable development and revival of the Ukrainian economy and the industry. The largest plants in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Donetsk really will start functioning normally at implementation of these plans. Respectively, there will be hundreds thousands workplaces which will help the inhabitants of Ukraine to remain in the homeland, with the families, instead of to wander to Europe or the Russian Federation in search of earnings.

Creation of the Eurasian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen in 2012 became one of milestones of developing integration processes. Especially actively we plan to work with agricultural producers. Not so long ago, a meeting with the head of Selyansky party of Ukraine Zinovy Vladimirovich Holodnyuk took place during which the prospects of realization of production of agriculture of Ukraine in the territory of the Russian Federation were discussed.

It should be noted the considerable revival of trade relations after signings of contracts on the entry of Ukraine in Free Trade Zone with the CIS. But the main advantage from the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union is the opportunity to receive energy carriers at the in-Russian prices. For example, the gas for Belarus stands up 160-165 dollars for thousand cubic meters that is nearly 2,5 times lower than the burden which is born today by Ukraine on energy carriers.

It should be noted still the spiritual beginning – we are united by our first state, Kievan Rus'. Therefore we, the people having the orthodox religion, are spiritually close each other, we are united by one language. We are called as the Russians even in Western Europe, the Countries of Asia, in all other world – it is not important from where we are: from Russia, Ukraine or Belarus. And the doctrine of “Kremlin strategy” as the public organization is to unite the people. The Kremlin Strategy Centre is the direct founder of the Eurasian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen. These organizations carried out the First congress of “Open confederation of the Eurasian nations” with a beautiful abbreviation “OCEAN” on December 12 in Moscow.

- Could you tell more detailed about this International Social Movement “Open confederation of the European-Asian nations” (OCEAN)?

More than 250 organizations from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Transnistria are included in the International Social Movement “Open confederation of the European-Asian nations”. This social movement unites almost all public organizations supporting the development of integration processes. We show to elite, first of all the heads of the states that the people of our countries are potentially ready to association. The people do everything possible to combine the efforts first of all in economic, social and only then in political life.

We don't demand the revival of the USSR. But it should be noted that 72% of inhabitants of the USSR voted for its preservation on a referendum. To the deepest regret, their will was ignored. And it is the greatest geopolitical accident of the XX century when the united, powerful state called by the USSR broke up. Pay the attention, today many speak about economic development of China. But what is the ruling party in China? Communist party of China which absolutely professionally approached to implementation of the program of new economic transformations. It was necessary to make the same in the USSR. But now, after 20-year disorder of the country, we see, actually, the new revival. Time of “collecting of stones” begins.

And today we created this confederation which really starts growing and force. This social movement helps to unite a set of the progressive organizations on the former Soviet Union. And especially it promotes the inclusion of Ukraine in economic relations with Russia, to the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union and Eurasian Union. It is the major task because there can't be full-fledged Eurasian Union without participation of Ukraine. But there are certain obstacles on this way. So after very productive summit of the CIS which took place in Ashkhabad in December, the performance of Hillary Clinton sounded who declared that the USA will interfere in every possible way with integration processes on the former Soviet Union. But we perfectly understand that there is an objective development of economy, policy and understand that all foreign policy activity of the USA will take place with failures without the work with the Russian Federation. Already numerous failures in foreign policy activity of the USA are now observed – in Iraq, in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, at last, on the African continent.

Thus the global problems, ecology, terrorism demand association, instead of separation of efforts. At present, after carrying out of presidential election in the USA there were new conditions for realization of these tasks. Already now in the USA the numerous journalists and political scientists are known who perfectly understand that confrontation with Russia actually bears enormous harm of the USA. There are comments and articles in which directly to be said that the geopolitical interests of Russia play a key role on the former Soviet Union. And if the USA wants to act successfully on the international scene, they have to consider new, being formed Eurasian model.

- Can OCEAN become the significant organizational structure round which the organizations from the CIS countries, defending the direction of the Eurasian integration can unite?

Yes, it is unconditional, OCEAN can become not only significant, but also fundamental, main structure in the development of cultural, social, economic and possibly even political life because we unite not only the public organizations, but also the various unions of businessmen and industrialists. We are glad to all who welcomes this fine and noble idea – creation of united economic community in the territory of Eurasia.

- Do you plan to expand representation of your organization in Ukraine, with what organizations do you plan to cooperate?

There are many organizations with which we plan to cooperate. It is first of all the Rada of the Cossacks of Ukraine led by Mikhail Yamnenko, “All-military union of Ukraine” of Oleg Kalashnikov, “Kievan Rus'” and others. I consider tasks the work with “The Ukrainian choice” of Victor Medvedchuk as one of priorities. This person really actively proves the advantages of the Customs Union, conducts enormous work and he is trusted by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

- What actions do your organization plans to carry out in the territory of Ukraine? How can they affect the development of integration processes between Russia and Ukraine?

An increasing number of the organizations join the activity of our Social Movement. When the various business forums of CIS countries pass, we see that people missed each other, people want to communicate, to create the projects. Absolutely new, tremendous ideas which have to be realized and bear the main semantic implication are modelled in order that social life in all countries of the Eurasian continent improved, that the economic condition and welfare of all region improved.

- Recently the growth of pressure upon the Kremlin Strategy Centre is observed from the organized group of bloggers in the Internet. How can you comment on it, do you lead any fight with it?

Fight against this wave of misinformation is conducted nearly 2 years. We filed a lawsuit, and on November 7, 2012 the Octyabrsky court passed the decision that bloggers are obliged to give denials on all the sites concerning the articles directed against “Kremlin strategy”. Besides, the court obliged one of bloggers to pay 285 thousand roubles as damage compensation. These judgments confirm that these articles aren't true, they have misinformation character and are based on lie and slander.

However the appeal was submitted on January 24, 2013 and though the Appeal Commission upheld a sentence, the penalty sum was lowered to 25 thousand roubles for some reason. This scanty sum, certainly, doesn't allow to compensate even the costs of the lawyer services. Thus, our jurisprudence shows that it is possible to slander almost with impunity, and it turns into a certain business for representatives of a blog sphere.

After the recent investigation one of the bloggers (in the interests of the investigation I won't disclose his surname) wrote me the open letter who admitted that received 30 thousand Euro for slander concerning me as the president of the Kremlin Strategy Centre and the Centre itself. He declared that doesn't want to participate in this too dirty action despite the money. Then how much received the most active blogger-misinformant Dmitry Savchuk? If to consider, that the “confessed” blogger executed at most 10% from all destructive work? At such fees it is possible to dare to pay the scanty penalties which are appointed by court and thus to earn tens of thousands of euro. Our state and judicial system pushes these people to a crime. It is good that now there is a law on slander thanks to which we will prove the crime of their activity. Soon the criminal cases will be brought – I wrote the official application in the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs of the Samara region. After that we really will deal with this issue very seriously.

I can call the names and surnames of those people who are engaged dirty PR, pour the lie and slander on structure which is engaged in projects of association not only on Post-Soviet, but also on all Eurasian space. Here are the shameful names of these people: blogger Dmitry Aleksandrovich Savchuk - a sentence officially came into effect on January 24 and he is obliged to clean all the publications, to give a denial and to make sincere apologies. This person disappears under a pseudonym Savely Morozov, he is published as journalist Pankrat Bondarenko - it is proved in court and he says that accepted Islam and names as Abu Hakeem. One more participant of this group is the journalist from the Samara region Vitaly Popilkin to whom I have serious the bases for criminal prosecution under article about slander that I will make soon. And, at last, Igor Voznyuk, who arrived from Ukraine to work with these people and as to throw mud at the work of Kremlin Strategy Centre.

I think that this conviction becomes special precedent in fight against that wave of misinformation which is directed today against Russia, its management and integration projects on the former Soviet Union. Now the irresponsible and cynical representatives of a blog sphere, who work for destruction of own state, will know that can be responsible for the activities for all severity of the law. I hope that this and the subsequent judgments exposing the actions of group of bloggers against the Kremlin Strategy Centre, the wide publication about it in mass media, becomes a fine example of how it is necessary to fight against such destructive and false information campaigns.