The Russian economy should not be isolated and self-sufficient and open to cooperation based on equality, but not at the diktat, said the head of Russian foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov.
MOSCOW, 26 APR –. Russia must make its economy dependent on the vagaries of the West, said Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press conference at the end of 2015.
“Call it a substitution, call it structural reform whatever you call it. The President talked about this in many of his speeches, including yesterday in Stavropol. It is about the fact that our economy was self-sufficient, not isolated from the world. Not at all. Open to cooperation with those who are ready on the basis of equality and not based on dictates. But the sufficiency economy involves and technological development, and involves investment in human capital”, — said Lavrov.
“And anyway, we should do everything not to depend on the whims of one or another group of countries, first of all, our Western partners, as has happened after they got annoyed with us because we supported the Russians in the Ukraine that have not accepted the coup, and for which it is wanted, by and large, as I quoted (former head of banned in Russia organization “Right sector” — ed.), Dmitry Yarosh, to destroy Ukraine, or cut them and hit them in their rights”, — added the Minister.
The problem of import substitution, which largely depend on many sectors of the Russian economy, worsened after complications of relations with the West in 2014 in connection with the situation in Ukraine. Import substitution programmes are conducted in all sectors of the Russian economy, but primarily in those that suffered most from the sanctions. At the same time, the Russian authorities have repeatedly said that Russia has no plans to build a closed economy and lock the doors for cooperation with foreign partners.
