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Lavrov: Term "Russian World" has nothing in common with nationalism

"It is part of our foreign policy doctrine of protecting compatriots, promoting ideals and values of the ‘Russian World" and reflecting our multinational culture," the Russian foreign minister says

MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/. The term "Russian World" reflects Russia’s multinational culture, Russian Foreign Minister said in an interview for the film about Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s anniversary broadcast on Monday.

"This thesis [in Zhirinovsky’s program on protecting Russians], just like the term ‘Russian World’, has nothing in common with nationalism," Lavrov said. "It is part of our foreign policy doctrine of protecting compatriots, promoting ideals and values of the ‘Russian World" and reflecting our multinational culture," he added.

"We have common language which unites us all - the Russian language, and all our citizens speak this language," the foreign minister noted. "Russian culture is multinational by definition. Mikhail Lermontov was of Swedish descent, and Alexander Pushkin was of African descent," he explained.

"That’s why when talking about ‘being Russian’, we first of all mean our common culture and, of course, recognize the role of Russian people in forming this culture, in creating conditions for this country to be as it is, to preserve traditions and heritage that our ancestors achieved and in the end formed the ‘Russian World’," Lavrov concluded.