b)during the second stage (2011–2015), the following must be accomplished:
—delineation of the internationally-recognized exterior border of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and realization on this basis of the competitive advantages of Russia in the extraction and delivery of energy resources;
—structural reconstruction of the economy in the Arctic zone by expanding the mineral and raw-materials base and utilizing sea-based biological resources of the region;
—formation and development of infrastructure and administration systems for effective communication along the North Sea Passage and for improvement of Eurasian transit paths;
—completion of a single informational space for the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.
c)during the third stage (2016–2020), it will be necessary to establish the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation as a leading strategic and resource base for Russia. Overall, in the mid-term, the implementation of official policy will allow the Russian Federation to maintain its status as a leading Arctic power. In the long run, it is necessary to utilize Russia’s comparative advantage to strengthen its position in the Arctic, enhance international security, and maintain peace and stability in the region.
* Translated from the Russian by Maxim Rusnak and Ilan Berman.
APPENDIX TWO
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO 2020
Issued in May 2009 by then President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’ s National Security Strategy to 2020lays out an exceedingly ambitious reconception of the country’s strategic interests, its priorities, and its place in the world. Little attention, however, is paid to the demographic, religious, and territorial challenges now facing the Russian state.
Approved
By Decree of the President
Of the Russian Federation
May 12, 2009, no. 537
National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation to 2020*
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.Russia has overcome the consequences of the systemic political and socioeconomic crisis of the end of the twentieth century—having stopped the decline in the quality of life of Russian citizens; withstood the pressures of nationalism, separatism and international terrorism; prevented the discretization of the constitutional form of government; preserved its sovereignty and territorial integrity; and restored the country’s potential to enhance its competitiveness and defend its national interests as a key player within evolving multi-polar international relations.
Russia is pursuing a state policy of national defense, state and social security, and stable development, which responds adequately to internal and external conditions. The preconditions for reinforcing the system of national security have been created, and the relevant legal space has been consolidated. Priority issues in the economic sphere have been resolved, and the attractiveness of the economy for investment has grown. Authentically Russian ideals and spirituality are being born, alongside a dignified attitude to historical memory. Social harmony is being formed on the basis of shared values — the freedom and independence of the Russian state, humanism, the peaceful coexistence and cultural unity of Russia’s multinational population, respect for family traditions, and patriotism.
Overall, the preconditions have been formed for the reliable preemption of internal and external threats to national security, as well as for the dynamic development and transformation of Russia into a world leader with regards to the level of technological progress, quality of life, and influence over global affairs.
In the context of the globalization of processes of world development, as well as of international political and economic relations, which creates new threats and risks to the development of the individual, society, and the state, Russia is transitioning to a new state national security policy, as a guarantee of successful national development.
2.The main directions of the national security policy of the Russian Federation are the [so-called] strategic national priorities, in the form of important social, political, and economic transformations intended to create secure conditions for the realization of Russian citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms, the stable development of the country, and the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state.
3.The National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2020 is an officially acknowledged system of strategic priorities, goals, and measures with regards to domestic and foreign policy, which determine the degree of national security and the level of stable, long-term development of the state.
Conceptual assumptions in the area of ensuring national security are based on the fundamental interconnectedness and interdependence of the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation to 2020 and the Concept for Long-Term SocioEconomic Development of the Russian Federation to 2020.
4.The given Strategy forms the basis of the development of a system ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation, and presents a plan of action and measures intended to guarantee national security. It lays the foundations for constructive interaction among state bodies, organizations and social groups, in order to defend Russia’s national interests and safeguard the security of the individual, society and the state.
5.The main purpose of the given Strategy is to formulate and support, with the aid of national security forces, the internal and external conditions conducive to the implementation of strategic national priorities.
6.The given Strategy employs the following concepts:
—“national security”—the protection of the individual, society, and the state from domestic and foreign threats, which, in turn, ensures constitutional rights and freedoms, an appropriate quality of life for citizens, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stable development of the Russian federation, the defense and security of the state;
—“national interests of the Russian Federation”—the aggregate of the internal and external needs of the state in ensuring the protection and stable development of the individual, society, and the state;
—“threat to national security”—the direct or indirect possibility of damage to constitutional rights and freedoms, quality of life, sovereignty/territorial integrity, stable development of the RF, defense and security of the state;
—“strategic national priorities”—the most important directions in terms of ensuring national security, in accordance with which are realized the constitutional rights and freedoms of RF citizens, stable socioeconomic development, and the protection of the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity;
—“system of national security”—the forces and means which ensure national security;
—“forces of national security”—the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies which under federal legislation are designated as engaging in military and/or law enforcement service, and likewise federal organs of state power which participate in the provision of national security on the basis of legislation of the Russian Federation;
—“means of ensuring national security”—technologies, and likewise technical, programming, linguistic, legal, and organizational resources, including telecommunications channels, which are used within the system of provision of national security in order to collect, formulate, process, transmit or receive information on the status of national security and measures for its reinforcement.