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Author : Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
COLLEAGUES, it is a pleasure to greet you all at this
traditional gathering at the Foreign Ministry. Let me start
by thanking the Foreign Ministry's heads and staff and
everyone working in our missions abroad for their pro-
fessionalism and devotion to their work. I am sure that
you will all continue to work in the same well-coordi-
nated and effective fashion.
Russia follows an independent foreign policy and seeks
to develop open and honest relations with all countries,
in the west, east, south and north. Russia seeks mutually advantageous and constructive ties in
the broadest range of areas. We do not impose our will or our values on others and we fully
comply with the provisions of international law and consistently uphold the key role of the
United Nations and its Security Council in resolving global and regional problems.
As you know, the world today is far from stable and the situation is becoming less predictable all
the time.
It is my conviction that it is only through dialogue and joint work that we can avoid dangerous
breakdowns and uncontrolled developments. The international community must make progress
in establishing a fairer world order built on the principles of common and indivisible security
and collective responsibility.
Today's world is clearly more interdependent, and the problems all countries face are in large
part common challenges. There is no need to prove what is self-evident now. I therefore say
again that cooperation, a common will, and willingness to seek compromises are the key to re-
solving the greatest and most complex problems, no matter where in the world they arise.
It is unacceptable to prolong the Ukrainian crisis and to blame others for this, particularly Russia.
This only worsens the already unhealthy situation on the European continent and aggravates the
consequences of the great mistake that was NATO's decision to expand eastwards rather than
to start building, with Russia as a full-fledged partner, a new architecture for equal and indivisible
security from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The terrorist threat has greatly increased and is now challenging global security. True, terrorists
do not as yet possess all the modern military weapons systems and equipment, but they have al-
ready made grabs for chemical weapons. Their actions are spreading far beyond the bounds of
just one region and it is difficult to predict where to expect new serious attacks.
Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
International Affairs: Summary№5, 2016
"It Is Only Through Dialogue and Joint Work that We Can Avoid
Dangerous Breakdowns and Uncontrolled Developments"