MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - The draft national security strategy for the period ending in 2020 is based on the principles of the continuity of state security policy and rests on a system of Russia's national priorities, President Dmitry Medvedev said.

"It is a fundamental document. And its central idea could be defined as 'security through development.' Such an approach fully meets the task of attaining the goals of the country's strategic development," Medvedev told the Russian Security Council which debated the draft on Tuesday.

Preparation of this document indicates that, "Russia is totally different now and it has gone through a transitional period, it is developing confidently and steadily, and it has reached a qualitatively new level of long-term, strategic development," Medvedev said.

"The situation in the world has changed significantly over the past years, and so have the threats: some of the threats have become less acute than previously, but new challenges have emerged," Medvedev said, adding that they are reflected in the draft national security strategy.

Medvedev also said that the national security strategy was fully dovetailed with the strategy for the country's socioeconomic development until 2020, and with the priorities listed in it.