A club of ambassadors of Russian’s neighbor countries has been created in Moscow, Itar-Tass reported.

"This initiative is aimed at the development of humanitarian contacts and does not pursue political objectives," a Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Friday summing up results of a meeting between representatives of the Russian Foreign Relations University (MGIMO), the Fund for Promotion of International Contacts and Social Systems, the Centre for Post-Soviet Research, and ambassadors of Russia’s neighbor countries.

Taking part in the meeting were accredited ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, China, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Finland, Estonia and Japan, the official said.

Russia was represented by MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov and Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, the official said.

"Many centuries, Russia and its neighbors have had special relations, and their potential has not altered despite any changes in the political geography," the diplomat said.

"Although we have different traditions, values and lifestyles, the wish for dialog and mutual understanding is a natural tendency for states and peoples living side by side," he said.

Participants in the meeting also pointed to "the need to find new forms, modes, floors and spheres for the development of the dialog, which will be adequate to the modern conditions," the ministerial official said.

While supporting the Russian initiative, heads of the diplomatic missions set up a club of ambassadors of Russia’s neighbor countries. The club will be an informal floor for meetings between ambassadors of those countries, which border on Russia and have traditionally close relations with it, the official said.

"To involve the potential of the civil society, the diplomats decided that it will be useful to invite experts, businessmen and representatives of non-governmental organizations to the Club’s activity," the diplomat said, adding, "They will rotate depending on the topic of each meeting."

The diplomats of neighbor countries plan to arrange their meetings in the Ambassadors’ Club twice or thrice a year to discuss various vital issues of mutual interest. They believe such contacts will enhance neighborliness and humanitarian cooperation, the Russian ministerial official said.