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Putin invalidates 2012 decree on Russia’s foreign policy measures

In relations with the United States, the decree stipulated foreign policy measures aimed at maintaining stable and predictable interaction based on the principles of equality, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for mutual interests

© Maxim Blinov/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order to invalidate the 2012 decree on Russia’s foreign policy measures, according to the document posted on the government’s legal information web portal on Tuesday.

The new presidential decree indicates that it was signed "for the purposes of ensuring Russia’s national interests in the wake of profound changes occurring in international relations" and enters into force as of the day it is published.

The decree invalidated by the head of state formulated assignments for Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Some of them concerned the country’s relations with the European Union (EU). In particular, the Russian Foreign Ministry was assigned the tasks of promoting the creation of a single economic and human space from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, seeking an agreement with the EU on mutual visa-free short-term trips by citizens and developing mutually advantageous energy partnership.

In relations with the United States, the decree stipulated foreign policy measures aimed at maintaining stable and predictable interaction based on the principles of equality, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for mutual interests. It also gave priority attention to qualitative expansion of trade and economic cooperation. The plans envisaged active work for preventing US unilateral sanctions against Russian legal entities and citizens and promoting the initiatives of further liberalizing the visa regime.

The Russian Foreign Ministry was also assigned with consistently implementing the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction and Limitation Treaty (New START) signed between Russia and the United States. Putin announced in his today’s message that Russia was suspending its participation in the New START Treaty.

In addition, the invalidated decree stipulated some provisions on relations with CIS countries and member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), measures in crisis situations and international humanitarian cooperation. The document’s provisions were actually consistent with Russia’s foreign policy concept whose new edition Russia is set to approve in the immediate future.

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