Public Affairs
- Translation:
- Русский
Public diplomacy complements and reinforces traditional diplomacy by communicating U.S. interests directly to the Russian public and by fostering mutual understanding and building trust between America and Russia.
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission to Russia is responsible for press relations, cultural and educational affairs, and exchange and information activities that articulate U.S. foreign policy and promote greater mutual understanding between the Russian Federation and the United States. The section is headed by the Country Public Affairs Officer in Moscow and includes Public Affairs Offices at the U.S. Consulates in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.
The Public Affairs Section also supports a network of about 30 American libraries and information centers known as the American Centers and Corners, where information about the United States is readily available.
As part of its overall program of bilateral cooperation, the Public Affairs Section has a wide range of academic and professional development exchange programs with Russia.
The English Language Office cooperates with the Ministry of Education and local professionals on a variety of English language teaching (ELT) programs and projects and provides resources throughout the Russian Federation.
The Internet Access and Training Program with sites all over Russia is another public diplomacy initiative directed towards alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs and educators that is intended to enable them to become part of the global Internet community.
As public interest in and access to communications technology continues to grow worldwide, the public dimension of diplomacy is becoming more important than ever. For information about the United States, its institutions, values and people, see the "Information USA" section.