Magomedov: there are no obstacles for those who wish to live in Dagestan according to Islamic customs

One should not oppose the secular life style to the religious one, Magomedsalam Magomedov, President of Dagestan, declared during an informal meeting with the journalists on December, 2.

"Dagestan must move forward on the way of democracy, as part of Russia, which does not rule out the presence of Islamic constituent in the life of the Dagestani people. We have no obstacles for those who want to live according to Islamic customs. As for myself, thanks God, I have been on khaj this year, too", Magomedov said.

The meeting started with a discussion of the role of mass media in the life of Dagestan. "I respect mass media. Their function is to inform the Dagestani authorities on public opinion and at the same time they form this opinion. I am a supporter of confidential and respectful relations between the authorities and the journalists though I sometimes dislike what they write. But we have one and the same goal: development of Dagestan", Magomedov remarked.

He said he had informed President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev on the situation in Dagestan and the efforts of the republican authorities aimed at solving social, economic and other problems, improving investment climate in Dagestan, measures taken for struggle against extremism and terrorism. According to Magomedov, all his initiatives met complete appreciation with the leaders of the country.

The President of Dagestan informed that the theme of necessity of a special and separate federal program for the republic for 2012-2017 had been raised at the meeting for similar programs were already being successfully implemented in Chechnya and Ingushetia.

"In 2011 the subsidy level in Dagestan will be for the first time reduced to 67%, the salary of the budget sphere employees will increase by 6,5%", the President of the republic proclaimed his optimistic forecast.

Head of Dagestan declared that this year tax inflow to the republican budget increased by three billion rubles compared to last year. He moved forward as the first priority establishing high tax enterprises which would help extend the tax base of the republic. Magomedov set viticulture and processing grapes as an example.

The leader of the republic was very optimistic about implementation of new technologies in housing development. "A four-storey house will be built in Kaspiisk soon. It will not be a simple house but a house with the use of innovations and a system of home automation. Alternative ecologically clean sources of electricity will be used there, such as the energy of the Sun, the wind, geothermal sources, and the solar batteries will be delivered from Derbent", the President of Dagestan said.

Magomedov remarked that the reforms aimed at strengthening law enforcement bodies had already demonstrated some results but he did not go into details: "One can certainly mention the exact figures concerning the number of special operations carried out or gangsters killed in Dagestan but I will not do that because anyhow it is our Dagestani people that we are losing. Today the authorities are not only based upon the force component but are ready for a dialogue as well".

Magomedov informed the journalists that Medvedev had supported the idea of holding a congress of the peoples of Dagestan: "At the congress of the peoples of Dagestan the whole structure of our society will be represented, specific problems will be discussed. I will only be thankful to the journalists if you give your suggestions or advice".

He also added that the decisions of the congress will only have an advisory opinion status.

At the end of the talk Magomedov informed that the authorities were responding to any episode of lawlessness of law enforcement officers: "There have been much less incidents of this kind for the last two or three months. We are carrying out some work in this direction without making it public. Criminal proceedings have already been started against some representatives of law enforcement bodies".