Intel gathering

 Putin: Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Must Be Proactive, Innovative


The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) should be proactive by taking innovative steps and identify key tendencies of development of the international situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"Today the situation in the world makes special demands to the quality and effectiveness of the SVR work. It is necessary to be proactive, use innovative, unconventional decisions," Putin said. He also stressed the importance of identifying and analyzing "the whole spectrum of external threats, identifying key strategic trends in the development of the international situation, contributing to the strengthening of economic, technological and military potential of Russia. " "Of course the safety of our citizens should be under special control, especially in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, as well as in certain Central Asian countries," Putin said at a ceremony formally appointing Sergei Naryshkin to lead the SVR.