This is just one element of the strategy. Others include energy saving and an increase of domestic prices. Since 2009 the country has been living by a new law, which forces large consumers to save energy. So far it may be described as a dormant law – that is a consequence of the crisis. But it will start working soon.

The long-term program of the increase of domestic prices coordinated by the government and the largest producers implies a gradual leveling of domestic and world prices. The goal is to weaken the dependence on foreign markets, to strengthen positions of domestic companies and their competitiveness, and to make operations on the domestic market as profitable as exports. There is one more imperative – to deepen the processing and to build up the degree of mechanization.

So, if the world does not fall into another spin of economic crisis and worthy management is provided, Russia will have trump cards on its hands. From the point of view of investments in economic diversification. And, equally, from the point of view of the game on the global and regional markets.

Russia, the Russian two-headed eagle, seems to have rather strong wings. It will spread the wings. Anyway, it can. And long distances will be a child’s play to it.

There are more questions now to another wonderful political creature from the animal world – the European Union. The protracted crisis of sovereign debts, the downgraded rating of a large group of member states and the slow adoption of political and economic decisions unveiled all weaknesses of the European project.

An increasing number of experts, particularly in Southeast Asia, have doubts whether the EU can continue to fly high. The PIGS abbreviation, which sounds the same in Russian and in English, is a perfect illustration to these doubts.

It is beneficial to Russia that the Union can. The EU is our most reliable partner. It is a sales market and a supplier of a broad range of goods. It is a leading investor of the Russian economy. And not only.

Russia is also Europe. It is a part of our common culture. Our common history. We are impressed with the EU socioeconomic development model. Its collapse must not be allowed. That would be catastrophic for entire Europe. Not only for the EU.

It would be appropriate to recall in this context that the economic growth rates in Russia may be much smaller than in other BRICS countries. But they are still much higher than in the EU. The growth was approximately 4.6 %-4.8 % in 2011. The EU is headed towards recession. So humiliating opinions of Russian events and deliberately tendentious forecasts can hardly do good to the EU and its member states.

Both Russia and the EU would have gained a lot from the authentic strategic partnership. In all spheres. Foreign policy. Economy. Home security. Science, culture, education. The partnership would have boosted competitiveness of the sides.

In the multi-vector foreign policy of Russia the EU holds a very important place. It is almost central. Without any damage done to Russia’s relations with Eurasian Union countries, the United States, China, and India and so on.

However, the strategic partnership requires mutual respect. Mutual account of interests. Equality. If that is done, Russia and the European Union will have a much brighter future.

The flight will be much steadier then.

Participants in the discussion, which followed the report presentation and main speeches, immediately broke into three camps. The first comprised ingrained skeptics and inveterate fans of alarmist forecasts.