Updated 9:07 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will strengthen ties with foreign partners while defending its interests and the ideals of peace, goodwill and fairness at the United Nations and influential regional bodies, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.
"Modern Russia is an open country, which conducts multi-vector peaceful policies," Putin said in a speech dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Institute of Foreign Relations under the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"We are planning to actively strengthen ties with foreign partners. We will also defend Russia's national interests as well as ideals of peace, goodwill and fairness on the international arena, including the UN and all influential regional organizations," Putin stressed.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier on Tuesday that Moscow favored the intensification of contacts with the West. He also said that Russia never called for the cancellation of such meetings, unlike some western countries, namely the United States.
The Russian president also noted that at present the risk of conflict in the world was rising, aggravating existing disputes and triggering new crises.
