Putin sets  up "foreign division"  in his administration

ArmInfo. Russian President Vladimir Putin has formed a new department for strategic partnership and cooperation within his administration -. The decree "On Measures to Further Optimize the Structure of Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation" comes into force on August 29, TASS reports.

At the same time, two other departments- for interregional and  cultural relations with foreign countries and for cross-border  cooperation- were abolished The head of the presidential  administration has been instructed to carry out the necessary  organizational and staffing measures within three months. The decree,  as written in the document, was signed " to improve activities of the  presidential administration".  Employees from the abolished  departments will continue working all this time. The Department for  Interregional and Cultural Relations was headed by Igor Maslov, and  Alexey Maslov was in charge of the Department for Cross-Border  Cooperation  by.

According to the regulations, the Department for Interregional and  Cultural Relations, before its abolition was involved in  projects  with foreign countries that could help the head of state implement  the country's foreign policy strategy. The Department for  Cross-Border Cooperation ensured the relevant activities of the head  of state in the European direction and coordinated work in this area  by federal structures. Both departments also provided the President  with analytical information.