RIA NOVOSTI INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO IN VIEW OF UPCOMING SESSION OF SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL UNDER THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

- It is common knowledge that a Scientific Council operates under the Russian Foreign Ministry. Its next session is scheduled for March 19. What are this body's objectives and tasks?

- The Russian Foreign Ministry regards the sessions of the Scientific Council, whose members are prominent Russian scientists: directors of the Russian Academy of Sciences' leading scientific centres, rectors of Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Diplomatic Academy, well-known political scientists, lawyers, social scientists, as an important avenue of work with the Russian public to "compare notes" on the most acute issues of international relations. These sessions' results, the appraisals expressed in their course are taken into consideration both for shaping Russia's long-term foreign policy and our positions on issues of current importance.

- What problems will be discussed at this session of the Council?

- The session's theme is "Globalisation and the New World Order. The Long-Term Objectives of Russia's Foreign Policy." Three blocs of questions are on the agenda:

1. Globalisation as the principal factor of international relations' progress 2. Strategy of handling international relations in the era of globalisation 3. Russia's foreign policy in the era of globalisation.

It is not a mere coincidence that the Scientific Council discusses globalisation. This universal process is acquiring a new quality, its geography is growing as well as the profundity of its influence on all aspects of life of contemporary society, Globalisation of international security problems, financial and economic and information spheres is becoming a dominant factor determining today's world politics and concerning the interests of all states, including Russia of course.

Russia cannot ensure its legitimate national interests without active participation in the globalisation processes. It is only by proceeding along this way that we can minimise "the negative aspects" of globalisation and make the most of Russia's "positive aspects".