Putin approves Russia's new foreign policy concept

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Vladimir Putin has signed a decree approving the new concept of Russia's foreign policy. Russia’s new foreign policy concept states intensifying contradictions but stresses little probability of a large-scale war, including a nuclear conflict. "Amid the intensifying political, social and economic contradictions and the growing instability of the world political and economic system, the role of the factor of force in international relations increases," says the document approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. "The build-up and modernization of the force potential, the creation and deployment of new types of armaments are undermining strategic stability and creating a threat to global security ensured by a system of treaties and agreements in the sphere of arms control," the concept says. "While the danger of unleashing a large-scale war, including a nuclear conflict, remains low among leading states, there are increasing risks of their involvement in regional conflicts and the escalation of crises," the document says. On nuclear potential Russia is ready to discuss issue of further phased reduction of nuclear potentials and stands for enhancing international security: "Russia consistently stands for enhancing international security, stability at the strategic and regional levels," the document says. In this context, it "attaches major significance to the implementation of the Russia-U.S. Treaty for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms of April 8, 2010." Russia "reiterates its readiness to discuss issues of further phased reduction of nuclear potentials based on the growing topicality of giving this process a multilateral character with due account of factors influencing strategic stability," the concept says. Apart from that, Moscow "supports the establishment of zone free from nuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction, first of all in the Middle East." Russia-US relations Moscow does not accept Washington’s attempts to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction, but Russia is interested in building a meaningful relationship with the US, the updated Foreign Policy Concept stipulates: "Russia believes that predictable and gradual development of dialogue with the US on bilateral relations and the global agenda is only possible if based upon the principle of equality, mutual respect of interests and non-interference in the internal affairs of each other," the document reads. "Moscow does not accept Washington’s attempts to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction that violate international law, and is adamant to resist any military, political or economic pressure reserving the right to strictly respond to unfriendly actions particularly by strengthening national defense and taking tit-for-tat as well as asymmetrical measures." Read more