Russia’s Foreign Ministry will continue doing what is necessary to ensure the legitimate interests of compatriots living abroad, the country's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a welcome address to participants in an international forum dubbed 'Together with Russia'.
The address, read out by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, says that today’s meeting is dedicated to the most pressing issues related to the multifaceted activities of the Russian World, aimed at engaging compatriots in Russia’s social and political life, including the upcoming presidential election on March 18..
The diplomat stressed that "it is hard to overestimate the contribution that the Russian communities based abroad, supported by the World Coordination Council, have made into expanding the Russian-language space and countering attempts to distort history, including the outcome of World War II."
He stressed that it is particularly good to see young compatriots take "an active part in these activities".
"We will continue to do what is necessary to ensure the legitimate interests of compatriots living abroad," TASS cited Lavrov as saying. "I am confident that the forum’s debates will facilitate the search for effective solutions to the tasks that we have been facing, including preparations for the Sixth World Congress of Russian Compatriots, scheduled to be held later in the year," the Russian top diplomat added.
