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Russian FM notes growing interest of NGOs in Russia’s foreign policy

“We very much appreciate this format,” Lavrov said, adding that it was a ninth such meeting

MOSCOW, March 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has noted the non-governmental organizations’ growing interest in Russia’s foreign policy. He was speaking at the annual meeting with NGO representatives in Moscow.

“In general, we have been able to see that our civil society is becoming more active and mature,” Lavrov said. “We feel growing interest from the NGO’s towards our foreign policy.”

“We very much appreciate this format,” Lavrov said, adding that it was a ninth such meeting.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Minister said that “civil society is getting ever more active in the international scene, and this must be taken into account in our work.”

“Processes in the world scene require renewal of our foreign policy instruments, and interaction with people’s diplomacy is one of the system-formatting mechanisms of that modernization,” Lavrov said. “All sound undertakings of civil society will be supported in our foreign policy activity.”

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Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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Blast rocks military base south of Baghdad — Reuters

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Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

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Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Kremlin spokesman offers condolences over death of Izvestia war correspondent

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