MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia must do more to attract leading scientists, both Russian and foreign, President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.

In his annual state-of-the-nation address to parliament, the president said Russia had always had many outstanding scientists and added that "everything should be done for such specialists to be interested in work in their own country."

Medvedev said for foreign specialists, the recognition of academic degrees and diplomas should be simplified and visas issued "fast and for long terms" as "we are interested in them [the scientists] and not vice versa."

"We need to create permanently valid support systems to attract the most respected Russian and foreign scientists to work in Russia," he added.