Will Caucasus Have Peace Now? Politicians and political scientists comment on Alexander Khloponin's promotion

Kommersant January 20 - Politicians and political scientists comment on Alexander Khloponin's promotion. Comments on Khloponin's Promotion to the Head of the Caucasus Federal Region. Ruslan Khasbulatov, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ex-chairman of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation): Forget it. When federal regions came into existence in the first place, I hailed it too because I thought that presidential plenipotentiary representatives would cope with the problems of major industrial sites, with unemployment, and so on. Regrettably, they turned out just one other bureaucratic structure. Khloponin is an experienced manager, but will he ever succeed in restoration of at least a single refinery in Chechnya? After all, the war there ended long ago. Time will show. Mikhail Remizov, National Strategy Institute President: Things seem to be looking up. There used to be a widespread opinion that the post would be offered to Kadyrov but compromises are not for the Chechens in principle and that ruled Kadyrov out. There is more to normalization [of the situation] after all than military operations. A proficient manager that he is, Khloponin will be expected to work out a complex approach and keep an eye on the colossal funds poured into the region from the federal center.

Sergei Ivanenko, Yabloko Political Council member: I do not think that staff shuffles (even ones such as these) will solve the problem of the Caucasus. No wonder Kozak called the situation there "underground fire", something with the potential to erupt any moment.

Gennadi Burbulis, Strategy Foundation President: Let's hope it will help. There have been no center so far to evaluate the situation, work out strategies, and make decisions. It seems that a center like that is about to be established. Organizing this structure, the federal authorities assume full responsibility. This whole federal region may become Russia's number one testing site and pioneer of the modernization Medvedev has been talking about.

Larisa Khabitsova, South Ossetian parliament chair: 

Yes, I think the decision [of the federal center] was prudent. Considering his lack of ties with the existing clans and factions, Khloponin may turn out to be impartial and independence. Had it been someone else, someone with these contacts, it would have been different and lots of feathers would have been ruffled.
    
Nikolai Kondratenko, Federation Council member: What's the point in parallel structures? Ustinov, the head of the Southern Federal Region, is a fine specialist and administrator but what do you expect a presidential plenipotentiary representative to know about each of the republics on the given territory? As for the position of a deputy premier, it means little in itself.

Personnel, finances, and IT are the three pillars regional power rests on, and no governor or president will ever part with them. I was born in the Caucasus, you know. I lived there. I saw the mistakes Moscow used to make because of its lack of knowledge of regional specifics. The impression is that they are about to make the same old mistakes.

Leonid Gozman, Right Cause co-chairman: By and large, I'd say that Khloponin's promotion is a chance. Unless it was permanent, this decision to single out the republics in question was fine, I think. It will facilitate integration of their economies. Should, however, we make the mistake of regarding them as ours only for the time being, we will only encourage separatism there.

 Leonid Ivashov, Academy of Geopolitical Problems President: Success or failure will depend on how Khloponin organizes his administration and arranges businesses, how proficient he is in dealing with unemployment and corruption. I reckon they summoned him and said: here, these will be your powers and this is money; both are yours if you want them; just restore the order there and spare the government this headache.

Source: Kommersant