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Russia’s image abroad underrated, says Rossotrudnichestvo head

Russia does not adjust itself to other countries, spokesman says
Photo courtesy of Rossotrudnichestvo's press service
Photo courtesy of Rossotrudnichestvo's press service

MOSCOW, September 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s image abroad has been underrated, the head of Russia’s Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) told a news conference marking the organisation's fifth anniversary on Friday.

Its leader, Konstantin Kosachev, said Russia’s position on Syrian affairs was one of the reasons that some countries had a negative attitude towards it.

“Now, in particular, we warn that no military interference into Syria’s situation is possible as we know what will happen,” he said. “Some countries have their specific position on Syria. These are in particular Turkey, Jordan and Israel. I suspect that such countries’ authorities perceive Russia’s position on Syria critically and negatively. All this has no relation to Russia, but only to this episode. This does not reflect the state of mind of other countries’ populations to Russia in general.”

Kosachev said modern Russia was defending its right to its foreign policy. “We do not adjust ourselves to other countries, we are also power-players and we enjoy the right to an independent point of view,” he said.

“We do not set the task of embellishing Russia’s image. We need to transmit quite a real picture of what is going on,” Kosachev said, adding that “this task can be achieved, it is not unattainable.”