Public figures of Dagestan discuss creation of the NCFD

In Dagestan, state officials and public figures give their comments on the initiative of President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev to create the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and appoint Alexander Khloponin as his plenipotentiary there.

Eduard Khidirov, head of the regional faction "Patriots of Russia" in the parliament of Dagestan, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: "Khloponin is a good business executive and economist. He has improved the economy of the Krasnoyarsk Territory; and there's hope that he can do the same with the economy of Northern Caucasus."

He has added stated that Khloponin's plus is that he had no attitude to the region before.

"Khloponin is a Siberian guy. It means that he is not linked with any local clan, which is also a guarantee of positive reforms," Mr Khidirov continued. Gadjimet Safaraliev, Deputy of the State Duma of Russia from Dagestan, has agreed with him and noted that creation of a separate federal district has also some negative aspect.

"It's the fact that the federal monetary and other resources allotted on development of the whole SFD until now usually settled somewhere in Rostov-on-Don or Krasnodar. Now, there's more confidence that they will reach particular addressees. At the same time, one should understand that formation of the subject of federation, consisting of national republics, can promote isolation, or event the desire of sovereignization," said the Russian MP.

Ahmed Azimov, chairman of the executive committee of the "Congress of Caucasian Nations" and adviser of the Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, said that the initiatives of the President of Russia were quite predictable.

"The problems of North-Caucasian republics are quite different from those faced by other SFD subjects. They need special approaches and a new team capable to think differently and differently react to essential social, economic and other challenges," Mr Azimov has noted.