Lavrov calls on MGIMO students to learn languages ​​of CIS countries

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the need for future diplomats to learn the languages ​​of the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

According to the Russian Bureau of Report, Lavrov said this while addressing the students and faculty of MGIMO on the occasion of the start of the academic year.

"The university has plans to expand the teaching of foreign languages. We are interested in Chinese, Arabic, Indonesian, Malaysian and African languages. I will also mention Hebrew, despite the roughness in relations with Israel. It is important to focus on learning the languages ​​of the CIS countries," he declared.

Lavrov noted that Russia stands for the constinuation of the study of European languages: "We will not cancel the culture of these great civilizations, but will show an example of respect."

The Russian foreign minister spoke about how embassy employees act in the new prevailing realities. "The volume of work in the western direction has shrunk. Our diplomats are denied any contact, even in matters of the functioning of diplomatic missions. Embassy employees have been reoriented to friendly countries of the CIS, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," he said.