MOSCOW, March 31. /TASS/. Russia’s updated foreign policy concept contains a provision to use armed forces to repel or prevent an attack on Russia or its allies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday at a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"A provision has been introduced that armed forces can be used to repel or prevent an armed attack on Russia or its allies. This is how we unequivocally state that we will defend the right of the Russian people to exist and develop freely," the minister said at the meeting of the permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

"Important modifications have been enshrined in terms of the conditions for the use of force for self-defense within the framework of unconditional compliance under Article 51 of the UN Charter," Lavrov added.

In addition, according to the Russian Foreign Minister, the concept contains provisions that affect "the protection of Russia’s traditional spiritual and moral values, the building of cooperation based on shared spiritual and moral guidelines that are common to all world religions."

"Absolute rejection of neocolonial practices and anyone's hegemonism," Lavrov said.