📢Ambassador of the Russian Federation to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 on ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and his first impressions upon arrival in Jakarta in his interview to RIA Novosti.

🔗https://ria.ru/amp/20230512/zagaynov-1871064421.html

On May 10-11, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin attended a high-level four-party meeting (Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine plus the UN) in Istanbul as a member of the Russian interdepartmental delegation.

The parties focused on the implementation of the package of agreements signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. They laid emphasis on the Black Sea Initiative on the export of Ukrainian grain, which expires on May 18. The parties conducted a detailed exchange of views on the current problems in the work of the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) and the proposals by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on unblocking the Togliatti–Odessa Ammonia Pipeline.

⚠️ Russian delegates confirmed that the exports of ammonia were supposed to begin simultaneously with the export of Ukrainian grain under both Istanbul agreements and without any preliminary conditions. Emphasising the interlinked character of the package agreements, the Russian participants noted the absence of progress in implementing the Russia-UN Memorandum on normalising domestic agricultural exports.

They pointed to five systemic problems (bank payments, transport logistics and insurance, parts supplies, unblocking “frozen” assets and the ammonia pipeline). These obstacles continue preventing Russian agricultural exports from reaching global markets.

❗️ Russian delegates noted that commercial exports of Ukrainian grain (70 percent of which is fodder corn and feeder grain) mostly to the advanced countries are not of primary importance for ensuring global food security and reducing the threat of famine. To reach these goals, it is more important to normalise exports of Russian fertilisers and grain (70 percent of which is wheat), which are being complicated by Western unilateral blocking sanctions.

🗓On May 16, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN H.E. Ambassador M.I. Derry Aman 🇮🇩.

🤝 H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov congratulated Indonesia on the successful convening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Labuan Bajo and expressed Russia's support to Indonesian Chairmanship in ASEAN.

#ASEANRussia #RussiaASEAN #EAS

🎙🇷🇺Press release on the briefing of Ambassador of the Russian Federation to ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov on ASEAN-Russia Cooperation (17 May 2023, Jakarta)

Key talking points:

🔹For Russia, fostering relations with #ASEAN is a strategic goal. It is reflected in the new Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation. Our country fully supports ASEAN centrality in the region. It is the backbone of the system of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific.

🔹Values of ASEAN have traditionally included its unity and independence. This is what makes the ASEAN model attractive. We hope that ASEAN countries will be able to maintain that stance amidst current turbulence.

🔹Indonesia 🇮🇩 was at the origins of ASEAN and was one of the major driving forces of its development for more than 5 decades. To be in Indonesia during its Chairmanship in ASEAN is like being in “the epicentrum of the epicentrum”. Indonesia’s political and economic weight, its vast diplomatic experience coupled with the well-known hospitality largely contribute to its highly dynamic Chairmanship.

🔹This year marks the 5th Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Russia which covers a wide range of areas. At the 19th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting (#ARSOM) held in Siem Reap in April both sides approached in the most constructive way their multifaceted interaction.

🤝Together with ASEAN we develop security, economic, energy and high-tech cooperation, people-to-people contacts, youth interaction, tourism and cultural ties, etc. A few examples:

Security. ASEAN and Russia have several unique mechanism in this area. Later this month Russia will host the 3rd ASEAN-Russia Consultations of the High Representatives for Security Issues. Since 2021 we annually hold Dialogue on ICT Security-related issues.
Science and Technology. The ASEAN-Russia Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation 2022 embraced more than 50 initiatives in a wide range of areas such as nuclear energy, medicine, digital transformation, biotechnology. The 1st ASEAN-Russia Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation in February marked the successful completion of the Year.
Professional trainings. In 2022 almost 200 law-enforcement experts from all ASEAN countries took part in specialized trainings on counter-terrorism and anti-drug trafficking. More than 70 epidemiologists from ASEAN Member States participated in seminars and trainings organized by the relevant Russian agency – Rospotrebnadzor.
Education. This year the MGIMO University in Moscow launched its brand-new Master Program: “Political Economy of the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership”. The University covers both the cost of the course itself and the transportation.
Youth. Russia is keen to develop contacts with the youth of ASEAN countries. Five ASEAN-Russia youth summits were organized so far.
Energy. This August Russia will organize the International Education Program for ASEAN Specialists in energy “Changing energy landscape: The New Energy Routes or Energy Landscape towards Net Zero” at the St. Petersburg State Economic University.

🔹Our ties are not limited to intergovernmental relations. Russian private sector shows growing interest to Southeast Asia. Russia-ASEAN Business Council is very active in promoting B2B contacts with their counterparts from ASEAN Member States.

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👉Press release on the briefing of Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva

🎙🇷🇺Press release on the briefing of Ambassador of the Russian Federation to ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov on ASEAN-Russia Cooperation (17 May 2023, Jakarta)

Q&A

❓The 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Labuan Bajo

💬We congratulate #ASEAN and Indonesia 🇮🇩 on the successful completion of the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Labuan Bajo. The outcome documents cover a broad range of issues. The ASEAN’s efforts in advancing regional payment connectivity and promoting local currency transaction can be of particular practical interest.

❓Ukrainian crisis in the Chairman’s Statement of the 42nd ASEAN Summit

💬We noticed that in the Chairman’s statement of the Summit in Labuan Bajo ASEAN expressed its commitment to mitigate the impact of the situation that continues to affect negatively the region. Disruption of supply chains, rise in prices and concerns about food and energy security are direct results of the illegal unilateral Western “sanctions”. States that impose such measures should be responsible for their consequences for the developing countries in different parts of the world. It would be quite legitimate to raise the issue of the negative implications of the “sanctions” before their authors.

❓Situation in Myanmar

💬The role of the international community should consist in facilitating resolution of the current crisis without interference in the internal affairs of Myanmar while abstaining from threatening and imposing unilateral sanctions. Russia supports the ASEAN’s efforts on the basis of the Five-Point Consensus.

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🗓 On May 18, Russian Ambassador to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN H.E. Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya 🇹🇭.

🤝The diplomats exchanged views on ASEAN-related issues and regional developments.

#RussiaASEAN #ASEANRussia #EAS #ADMMPlus

🗓 On May 18, Ambassador of Russia to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of India to ASEAN H.E. Mr. Jayant N.Khobragade 🇮🇳.

🤝The diplomats had a valuable exchange of experience of their respective countries' cooperation with ASEAN.

#EAS #ADMMPlus #ARF

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video message to the participants in the 7th Young Diplomats Forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries (Moscow, May 18, 2023)

💬 It is a great privilege for me to greet the participants in the 7th Young Diplomats Forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries. This year, it is being held as part of Russia − Islamic World: Kazanforum 2023.

🇷🇺 Russia has a tradition of promoting friendly ties with the majority of Muslim countries. We share a commitment to seeking guidance in our interstate cooperation from the principles of equality, mutually respecting our interests and seeking to balance them.

🔹 Russian diplomacy prioritises the promotion of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, as well as the consolidation of our efforts to stand up for the traditional spiritual and moral values shared by all world religions, and also combatting Islamophobia, including within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the #OSCE.

🌐 New global centres in Eurasia, the Asia-Pacific Region, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America have achieved impressive results in various areas by focusing on their independence, state sovereignty, and their unique cultural and civilisational identities, all while acting based on their core national interests and conducting an independent foreign policy.

🔹 Russia has been consistent in its belief that confrontation leads international relations into a dead-end. We need to avoid confrontation, unreasonable and extremely dangerous as it is, between the global centres of power.

❗️People aspire to reach a new, well-considered balance of interests. It is essential that instead of rule by force, we equip the emerging world order with legal norms and regulations based on the UN Charter.

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🗓 On May 19, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to ASEAN H.E. Ambassador Bovonethat Douangchak 🇱🇦.

🤝The diplomats discussed the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership and ASEAN-led fora agendas.

#RussiaASEAN #ASEANRussia #EAS

❗️ On renewing the Black Sea Initiative

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• In connection with expiration of the 60-day deadline for renewing the Black Sea Initiative to export Ukrainian grain on May 18 and in response to requests primarily from our Turkish partners as a party to the agreement, we confirmed the renewal of the agreement for another two months through July 17 without any changes.

• Our principled assessments of the implementation of the interrelated Istanbul agreements have remain unchanged, and so far only the Black Sea Initiative has been implemented with the exception of ammonia exports.

• There’s no measurable progress under the Russia-UN Memorandum.

• There are obvious issues with the declared humanitarian component of the deal where Ukrainian grain is being exported through this sea corridor mostly to high and above-average income countries, including “well-stocked” European markets.

• Countries that need it most have received hardly anything, 722,000 tonnes (or 2.5 percent) of the total amount of 30 million tonnes that had been moved from Ukrainian ports over nine months.

• The export of Russian products, even donations of fertilisers to the neediest countries, continues to be blocked by various aspects of the illegal and unilateral sanctions.

• There is no progress either in resuming ammonia shipments mentioned in both Istanbul documents.

• Given the circumstances, we are compelled to issue a reminder that there are five systemically important issues that must be resolved as part of implementing the Russia-UN Memorandum and which have seen no progress whatsoever so far:
- reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system
- supplying spare parts
- unblocking transport logistics and insurance
- reestablishing the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline
- unfreezing the Russian companies’ assets

• There can be no talk of expanding the Black Sea Initiative in principle without these requirements first being met. The agreement will be terminated after July 17.

📢Ambassador of the Russian Federation to #ASEAN H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov 🇷🇺 is taking part in the Second East Asia Summit (#EAS) Ambassadors' Meeting in Jakarta (#EAMJ) held this time in Bandung, Indonesia 🇮🇩 on May 23.