FOREIGN MINISTRY TO PROMOTE REGIONAL BUSINESS INTERESTS ABROAD…

Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov yesterday told a consultative council of Russian regional representatives in Moscow that his ministry would promote their economic interests abroad. Primakov pledged to increase the facilities available to regional representatives at Russian embassies and promised specific assistance to regional business interests on the part of diplomatic personnel. He also called for increased cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, proposing that the two ministries merge their consultative bodies. In addition, he said the Foreign Ministry would solicit input from regional representatives when preparing international agreements and negotiating with foreign partners. (4)

…But Goals Appear to be Geopolitical.