Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov met with representatives of Russian non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin and Gennady Gatilov also attended the event.
Its Chairman Grigory Petushkov represented the National Youth Council of Russia.
«We appreciate the contribution of the Russian civil society to the common efforts to ensure Russia’s foreign policy interests, to strengthen the trust between peoples. The expert potential of domestic NGOs is in high demand at international venues, especially on socio-economic, environmental, humanitarian issues, intercivilizational and intercultural dialogue», said the Russian foreign minister in his opening remarks.
Issues related to the participation of NGOs in expert dialogue, international contacts of Russian NGOs at the non-governmental level, their role and opportunities in establishing constructive dialogue with foreign partners were discussed at the meeting.
«Russian NGOs promote the consolidation of such urgent topics as upholding traditional values, combating racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, religious intolerance, mass statelessness on the agenda of the OSCE, the UN Council on Human Rights, the Council of Europe,» the Minister said.
