Rename the Far East of Russia, says vice premier Dmitry Rogozin

The senior politician called for a change of identity for the vast eastern third of Russia, as the country angles itself towards Asia.

'The Far East of Russia' doesn't fit this part of the country as a name, said Rogozin at the TechnoProm 2013 forum in Siberia's largest city, Novosibirsk. 

'I don't understand what the 'Far East' mean. How does a citizen of Vladivostok put it, that he lives in the Far East of Russia? 

'But why on earth is it a 'far' east for him? Its our native east, our Pacific zone.' 

Rogozin stressed: 'We should be naming this part of Russia differently -  Pacific region, or in another way. There was a word in the beginning, and the boat will sail as you name it.'

His statement is likely to stoke an interesting debate about regional identities in Russia. The Far East Federal District officially comprises Amur Oblast, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Kamchatka Oblast with Koryak Autonomous Okrug, Khabarovsk Krai, Magadan Oblast, Primorsky Krai, the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, and Sakhalin Oblast.

Rogozin also added that as the Vostochniy (or Eastern) space centre becomes established, there will be a gravitational pull eastward for the space industry.

Modern realties of the 21st century see Siberia and the Far East as Russia's 'key to its place as a superstate'.