Suggestions that multiculturalism has utterly failed and come to an end are unacceptable to Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
In October 2010, German Chancellor Angela Merkel triggered a heated discussion saying that the policy of multiculturalism is on the rocks and should be revised. Since then, many European politicians have waded into the dispute. Last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron said "state multiculturalism" had failed and said he wanted to see its end.
Medvedev said Russia should not yield to such ideas.
"If we speak about the failure of multiculturalism, then the destruction of traditions could follow; this is a dangerous thing and European countries need to understand this," he added.
In December, Medvedev called for cultivation of patriotism in today's troubled Russian society as a remedy to curb outbursts of interethnic violence across the country.
UFA, February 11 (RIA Novosti)
