"The system of security bodies must become an efficient state instrument to curb extremism and terrorism," President Vladimir Putin told a festive gathering dedicated to Day of Security Bodies Employees of the Russian Federation. The head of state said the security bodies system should be "able to counter them (terrorism and extremism) with all its intellectual, operational and technical potential".
"For this purpose we have taken measures to reinforce the Russian special services, inter alia by upgrading their personnel and technical facilities, and by improving coordination within departments," the Russian president said. Putin said the changes had taken place "not only in the central office but in the regional structures as well". "The degree of terrorist threat makes increased demands to new personnel," the head of state believes. Putin spoke in favour of keeping "experienced specialists of which state security bodies have many".
The Russian president said one "should speed up the transition to fundamentally new ways of obtaining information - both operational and analytical". He also mentioned the need "to constantly build up cooperation with the CIS countries and other states".
"International terrorism is a direct threat to constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, and last year Russia came under unprecedented attacks from terrorism," Vladimir Putin said. According to the Russian president, "in extreme confrontation with bandits employees of special purpose units showed not only professionalism but real heroism as well".
"Today it is obvious that only a strong state can oppose terrorism, and that terrorism can be stopped only by using the whole might of the state and the support of Russian society as a whole," the president said.
At the beginning of his speech Putin said that he is "happy to be here with the people who selflessly serve their motherland, who do not spare their efforts and at times lives to protect its sovereignty and dignity, and the safety of its citizens".
"Protecting the integrity of the country and its national security interests, you are defending not just the interests of Russia but the basic foundations of the Russian statehood," the head of state said addressing employees of security bodies. "On your shoulders you are carrying the task which the whole civilized world is currently facing. It is the fight against international terrorism. And in this struggle the Russian special services have an important role to play," the president said.
Employees of the Federal Security Service, the Federal Bodyguard Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service mark their professional holiday - Day of Security Bodies Employees of the Russian Federation - on 20 December.

Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
BBC Monitoring