MOSCOW, September 3 (Itar-Tass) — Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev calls for restoring Russian’s humanitarian presence abroad after the USSR collapse.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Federal Agency for the CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation on Monday, Medvedev said, “It is obvious that our humanitarian presence in the world does not correspond to our possibilities [now we are restoring the positions that we lost in 1990’s] and concedes international players in the field – the institutes of Goethe, Servantez, de Cervantes, Dante and Confucius.”
“It is necessary to add the best to our armoury. Moreover Russia ranks 10th in ‘soft power’ classification,” Medvedev said.
Addressing Rossotrudnichestvo’s representatives, who arrived in Moscow from over 70 countries, the Russian prime minister said, “Of course, we should expand the network of our centres. It is senseless to run after formal statistics. Primarily, it is necessary to think about the contents of the work, new forms and make centres up-to-dated.”
In his words, in order to increase the efficiency of the agency’s work it is necessary to solve several problems. Firstly, the prime minister calls for making data more concrete in order to estimate the efficiency of the work of the agency’s offices abroad. In addition, Medvedev calls for riveting attention to cooperation with CIS countries. He considers necessary to expand the presence of humanitarian missions due to geopolitical tendencies, including in the Asia-Pacific Region.
“Our priority is to maintain contacts with compatriots abroad. Many compatriots seek to contact with the motherland and they are ready to help Russia to their extent.” According to the prime minister, the 30-million diaspora can be a serious instrument.
“Amidst global competition one of the key factors is the state’s capability to involve professionals, scientists and talented youth,” Medvedev said referring to the Silicon Valley. “This tremendous task is a priority for the whole state. In any case we should try to manage labour migration properly and effectively,” he added.
Medvedev named the creation of Russia’s positive image in the world as another important purpose. “The country’s image has applied relevance,” he stressed. “According to experts, Russia is a country with a big investment potential that we cannot realise. The investments inflow corresponds to this potential,” the prime minister said.
In conclusion, Medvedev noted that he had received the agency’s proposal to perform the work. “Everything that I said depends on two things – on resources and on personnel. I believe that Rossotrudnichestvo prepared its proposals. This is part of the concept, which involves the Foreign Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry. The government will discuss this document in October,” the prime minister pointed out.