SOCHI, October 24. /TASS/. Excessive patriotism can result in nationalism and this is the way to self-destruction, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
“This is the way to self-destruction. Russia will do all to prevent this (growing nationalism),” he said at a session of Valdai International Discussion Club.
Putin called for separating nationalism as the manifestation of extremity from the effort to promote national interests.
“I’m the biggest nationalist in Russia” from the point of view of positive manifestations of nationalism, he said.
“But the most correct nationalism is to build actions and the policy for the people’s benefit. If nationalism is interpreted as intolerance to others, as chauvinism, this will destroy our country that developed as a multinational and multi-confessional state,” Putin said.