Nikolay Patrushev, the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, spoke on National Unity Day on Nov. 4, on the historical significance of protecting Russia’s sovereignty in the long-running conflict with the West. TASS had a summary/paraphrase of his key points, including:
“During the Time of Troubles [in the early 17th century], Russia was on the verge of losing its sovereignty, but its people `united, defended their own country and state,’ drove out invaders and traitors, reestablished authority, and embarked on a path of independent development….
“Europe has long wanted to destroy the Russian state…. Russia has always been a `bone in the West’s throat,’ obstructing its hegemonic goals while representing a powerful civilizational alternative….
“The eventful 1990s became the `new Time of Troubles,’ when the existence of the Russian state was once again threatened. In the 1990s, Western advisers flocked to Russia, attempting to create turmoil by `encouraging separatism, imposing debt bonds and onerous international obligations.’ The West was counting on creating turmoil and establishing external control over the country….
“In the early 2000s, Putin saw a multipolar world order as the solution to many international problems. His famous Munich speech was devoted to the idea that a unipolar model was not only unacceptable, but generally unattainable in today’s world….
