MOSCOW, April 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's role as a leading donor of global development aid should receive more acknowledgement by the international community, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Lavrov said Russia traditionally helps other countries, but this assistance remains "impersonal" as it is channeled through international programs and multilateral bodies, including the Group of Eight (G8) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"This is not exactly right, as aid should be targeted, and the recipients should know who the donor is," Lavrov said. Under a new proposal, the country's aid to other countries will become more visible.
The goal is for greater recognition of Russia's contribution of concrete assistance in solving the problems that low-income countries are facing, Lavrov said.
The country has previously directed humanitarian aid to crisis-hit Syria, accusing the US of encouraging extremists who are financing terrorism and supplying terrorist groups with weapons.
Spending on foreign aid by Russia reached $458 million in 2012, while the world's major aid donors spent $125.6 billion, according to the country's finance ministry.
Russia has been suspended from the G8 by the other seven member nations, which said Russia's reunification with Crimea following a referendum on March 16 was "not consistent" with the group's shared beliefs and responsibilities.
Leaders of the G7 agreed to hold an upcoming June summit in Brussels instead of in the Russian Olympic city of Sochi, across the Black Sea from Crimea.
Responding to the change of venue, Lavrov said: "The G8 is an informal club, no one issues membership cards and no one can expel members by definition," adding that major world issues could be discussed at G20 meetings and other international forums.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said holding talks with Russia while threatening sanctions was inappropriate and counterproductive. Lavrov said he hoped the West was aware that such pressure would have no effect.
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