Russia's image abroad distorted - Putin
MOSCOW. July 9 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin said Russia's image is distorted abroad and does not reflect the actual situation in the country.
"We must acknowledge at this point that Russia's image abroad is mostly shaped by others, not us. Therefore, it is distorted and does not reflect the actual situation in the country, or its role in global civilization, science and culture," Putin said at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday.
"Russia's position on international affairs is sometimes covered in a one-sided way," he continued.
"Those who keep fighting and launching missile strikes are good guys, and those who argue that reserved dialogue is needed, look like the guilty party," Putin said.
"We explain our position poorly. That is our guilt," the Russian president said.
The factor of the Russian language, one of the official languages in the UN, is not being used fully, he said.
"I am informed of the plans that are in the making in this connection at the Foreign Ministry, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Residing Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) and the Russian Geographical Society, and I would ask them to promote them more actively," he said.
