Russian Foreign Minister Comments On Russia's International Role

We have a right to consider 2001 the year of Russia's full-fledged return to the international scene as one of the key players having the direct influence on the world events, said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. According to him, Russia managed to regain its position due to the respect for universally recognized democratic values and the protection of its national interests. Russia's position in connection with the September 11th terrorist attack on the USA is the brightest example of this approach, the minister believes. "The broad anti-terrorist coalition and its joint actions in Afghanistan became possible due to Russia's clear and unequivocal position," he said. As a result, "we all witnessed a new phenomenon in the post-war international relations," Ivanov stressed. "The world's growing comprehension of the fact that no country alone can effectively counter new threats and challenges of the globalization period" is the basis for this phenomenon, Ivanov believes. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia "has played one of the leading roles in the establishment of this approach of the world community and showed it not in word but in deed."