Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Aleinik (Minsk, June 24, 2024)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Belarusian friends for your warm hospitality and excellent arrangements during my official trip to the Republic of Belarus.
Our talks were held in a trust-based and friendly atmosphere, were quite substantive and covered an extensive number of issues.
We focused on important international matters. We compared notes on numerous aspects of bilateral cooperation, including interministerial interaction and foreign policy alignment.
Key talking points:
• Our absolute priorities include foreign policy support for the Union integration and strengthening international positions of the Union State, the 25th Anniversary of which we will celebrate on December 8, 2024.
• We will provide every bit of assistance to our Belarusian allies in order to get them fully onboard at the #SCO and various #BRICS mechanisms as soon as possible.
• We condemn the Western countries’ actions that have led to the Ukraine crisis and the final collapse of the security system in Europe, based on the Euro-Atlantic principles. In this context, we have paid special attention to the prospects for creating a new architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia, inviting all countries in our common continent to cooperate in this process.
• Our proposal [on Eurasian security] is addressed to all those who are willing to consider the prospect for creating a new security system on an equitable basis with regard for the interests of all countries on the continent and based on the balance of these interests, excluding any outside interference.
• We reiterated our commitment to jointly uphold traditional values and the historical truth, and to prevent the rewriting of history and the glorification of Nazism.
• We noted the counterproductive consequences of politicising international cultural, humanitarian, scientific and sports relations.
• We focused on creating a common Union State space in defence and security. We noted that the joint regional grouping of troops and forces deployed in the Republic, as well as advanced Russian defence complexes and tactical nuclear weapons which reliably shield our common western borders in accordance with the decisions of the presidents of the two countries, are quite helpful in achieving this goal.
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#RussiaBelarus
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Belarusian friends for your warm hospitality and excellent arrangements during my official trip to the Republic of Belarus.
Our talks were held in a trust-based and friendly atmosphere, were quite substantive and covered an extensive number of issues.
We focused on important international matters. We compared notes on numerous aspects of bilateral cooperation, including interministerial interaction and foreign policy alignment.
Key talking points:
• Our absolute priorities include foreign policy support for the Union integration and strengthening international positions of the Union State, the 25th Anniversary of which we will celebrate on December 8, 2024.
• We will provide every bit of assistance to our Belarusian allies in order to get them fully onboard at the #SCO and various #BRICS mechanisms as soon as possible.
• We condemn the Western countries’ actions that have led to the Ukraine crisis and the final collapse of the security system in Europe, based on the Euro-Atlantic principles. In this context, we have paid special attention to the prospects for creating a new architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia, inviting all countries in our common continent to cooperate in this process.
• Our proposal [on Eurasian security] is addressed to all those who are willing to consider the prospect for creating a new security system on an equitable basis with regard for the interests of all countries on the continent and based on the balance of these interests, excluding any outside interference.
• We reiterated our commitment to jointly uphold traditional values and the historical truth, and to prevent the rewriting of history and the glorification of Nazism.
• We noted the counterproductive consequences of politicising international cultural, humanitarian, scientific and sports relations.
• We focused on creating a common Union State space in defence and security. We noted that the joint regional grouping of troops and forces deployed in the Republic, as well as advanced Russian defence complexes and tactical nuclear weapons which reliably shield our common western borders in accordance with the decisions of the presidents of the two countries, are quite helpful in achieving this goal.
Read in full
#RussiaBelarus
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇰🇿 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who will chair the 24th meeting of the SCO Summit in Astana on July 4.
💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr Tokayev, thank you for the invitation.
We appreciate the efforts Kazakhstan has invested to make this event possible. It is in its early phase, but we can already see its scale. It certainly has an international dimension not formally, but substantively. This is my first point.
Second, I would like to note that Kazakhstan, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other hand, are chairing a number of international organisations and hold forums. You are chairing the #SCO and the #CSTO, and Russia is chairing #BRICS and the #CIS. We will support and help each other in this regard.
I would like to thank you for inviting me to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan. Without a doubt, timing my visit to the CSTO Summit is the most rational choice. We will definitely do it. Thank you for the invitation. I certainly accept it.
🤝 With regard to our bilateral relations, we maintain contact at all times. Still, I would be remiss not to note that trade has expanded to almost US$30 billion, over US$28 billion, which is impressive. With over 17 percent of Kazakhstan’s trade, Russia is among its key trade and economic partners.
We are pursuing many important areas of cooperation marked by high levels of collaboration, and many interesting projects. I propose discussing this today as well.
#RussiaKazakhstan
💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr Tokayev, thank you for the invitation.
We appreciate the efforts Kazakhstan has invested to make this event possible. It is in its early phase, but we can already see its scale. It certainly has an international dimension not formally, but substantively. This is my first point.
Second, I would like to note that Kazakhstan, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other hand, are chairing a number of international organisations and hold forums. You are chairing the #SCO and the #CSTO, and Russia is chairing #BRICS and the #CIS. We will support and help each other in this regard.
I would like to thank you for inviting me to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan. Without a doubt, timing my visit to the CSTO Summit is the most rational choice. We will definitely do it. Thank you for the invitation. I certainly accept it.
🤝 With regard to our bilateral relations, we maintain contact at all times. Still, I would be remiss not to note that trade has expanded to almost US$30 billion, over US$28 billion, which is impressive. With over 17 percent of Kazakhstan’s trade, Russia is among its key trade and economic partners.
We are pursuing many important areas of cooperation marked by high levels of collaboration, and many interesting projects. I propose discussing this today as well.
#RussiaKazakhstan
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's President Vladimir Putin took part in a SCO Heads of State Council Meeting in Astana (July 4, 2024)
💬 First of all, I want to greet everybody and, of course, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, following the accession of the Republic of Belarus as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Russia gives high priority to partnership within the #SCO. We can state with satisfaction that this cooperation continues to develop consistently based on the principles of equality, consideration for each other’s interests, respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity, and cooperation in addressing important security issues.
<...>
Our countries are increasingly using national currencies for mutual settlements. For example, the share of national currencies in Russia's transactions with SCO members has exceeded 92 percent in the first four months of this year. I would like to reiterate Russia's proposal to establish a payment and settlement system within the SCO.
Regular meetings between our economic ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors are making a substantial contribution to the development of trade and investment relations in the SCO space.
<...>
Naturally, ensuring security within the Member States and along the external borders has always been a key focus of the SCO’s activities. Today, we have made decisions to upgrade the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a comprehensive centre that will address all security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug centre in Dushanbe. The three-year cooperation programme we have approved will further strengthen our efforts to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
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💬 First of all, I want to greet everybody and, of course, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, following the accession of the Republic of Belarus as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Russia gives high priority to partnership within the #SCO. We can state with satisfaction that this cooperation continues to develop consistently based on the principles of equality, consideration for each other’s interests, respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity, and cooperation in addressing important security issues.
<...>
Our countries are increasingly using national currencies for mutual settlements. For example, the share of national currencies in Russia's transactions with SCO members has exceeded 92 percent in the first four months of this year. I would like to reiterate Russia's proposal to establish a payment and settlement system within the SCO.
Regular meetings between our economic ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors are making a substantial contribution to the development of trade and investment relations in the SCO space.
<...>
Naturally, ensuring security within the Member States and along the external borders has always been a key focus of the SCO’s activities. Today, we have made decisions to upgrade the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a comprehensive centre that will address all security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug centre in Dushanbe. The three-year cooperation programme we have approved will further strengthen our efforts to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following his visit to the United States within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency
📍 New York, July 17, 2024
💬 I came to New York for two key events – open debates – that were held yesterday and today within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency. Not only members of the Security Council but all other delegations could attend them. You saw how many of them did so.
The first issue we proposed for discussion yesterday concerned the conceptual framework of international relations, multilateralism and multipolarity. We pointed out the gradual erosion of system that was created after the Second World War on the basis of the central role of the UN.
I hope that you listened to my statement and to the statements made by other participants. We did not expect to come to agreement on the majority of issues, considering the current tensions on the international stage and the state of relations between the collective West and the Global Majority.
☝️ Although we had no big illusions, I believe that it was a useful discussion. At the very least, the overwhelming majority of participants agreed that we have problems. Many of them expressed opinions that coincide with our vision of the objective development of a multipolar world order, which I presented in my statement.
Another conclusion is that this discussion will most certainly be continued. There is an apparent interest for this, and it is growing. We will actively keep it up, and we will organise additional discussions on this issue not only at the UN but also at other multilateral platforms, including at the Group of Twenty, at associations such as #BRICS and the #SCO, as well as in the framework of our contacts with the regional organisations of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The restoration of trust is the top priority now, as the representative of Guyana pointed out yesterday. So far, there was no hint of dialogue. Another important statement he made was that trust could only be rebuilt if all parties without exception comply with the agreements reached. This is not the case so far. Examples of that were provided yesterday in my statement and in the statements of other participants.
Overwhelming evidence of that was also provided during today’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The overwhelming majority of the UN resolutions on Palestine have not been implemented. The second debate I have mentioned is not over yet. Many speakers have called for taking resolute steps. We hold a similar view. The first steps must include the termination of hostilities, a permanent ceasefire, the settlement of critical humanitarian problems and, of course, the termination of Israel’s actions to create illegal settlements. We hope that if or when this is done, this will create conditions for resuming negotiations on the implementation of UN decisions on the establishment of the Palestinian state that would live in peace and security with Israel.
<...>
🤝 I have held a series of bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Arab countries, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, and with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.
📄 Read in full
📍 New York, July 17, 2024
💬 I came to New York for two key events – open debates – that were held yesterday and today within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency. Not only members of the Security Council but all other delegations could attend them. You saw how many of them did so.
The first issue we proposed for discussion yesterday concerned the conceptual framework of international relations, multilateralism and multipolarity. We pointed out the gradual erosion of system that was created after the Second World War on the basis of the central role of the UN.
I hope that you listened to my statement and to the statements made by other participants. We did not expect to come to agreement on the majority of issues, considering the current tensions on the international stage and the state of relations between the collective West and the Global Majority.
☝️ Although we had no big illusions, I believe that it was a useful discussion. At the very least, the overwhelming majority of participants agreed that we have problems. Many of them expressed opinions that coincide with our vision of the objective development of a multipolar world order, which I presented in my statement.
Another conclusion is that this discussion will most certainly be continued. There is an apparent interest for this, and it is growing. We will actively keep it up, and we will organise additional discussions on this issue not only at the UN but also at other multilateral platforms, including at the Group of Twenty, at associations such as #BRICS and the #SCO, as well as in the framework of our contacts with the regional organisations of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The restoration of trust is the top priority now, as the representative of Guyana pointed out yesterday. So far, there was no hint of dialogue. Another important statement he made was that trust could only be rebuilt if all parties without exception comply with the agreements reached. This is not the case so far. Examples of that were provided yesterday in my statement and in the statements of other participants.
Overwhelming evidence of that was also provided during today’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The overwhelming majority of the UN resolutions on Palestine have not been implemented. The second debate I have mentioned is not over yet. Many speakers have called for taking resolute steps. We hold a similar view. The first steps must include the termination of hostilities, a permanent ceasefire, the settlement of critical humanitarian problems and, of course, the termination of Israel’s actions to create illegal settlements. We hope that if or when this is done, this will create conditions for resuming negotiations on the implementation of UN decisions on the establishment of the Palestinian state that would live in peace and security with Israel.
<...>
🤝 I have held a series of bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Arab countries, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, and with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.
📄 Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇧🇾 On October 31, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov met on the sidelines of the 2nd International Conference on Eurasian Security.
The two Ministers discussed the current bilateral and international agenda, praised bilateral cooperation and coordination in the international arena in accordance with the Programme for Coordinated Foreign Policy Action by the States – Parties to the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2024–2026.
🤝 They reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening integration within the Union State, including defence and security cooperation. The parties stressed their resolve to stand together with like-minded people against the sanctions and legal pressure of the collective West. They also expressed readiness to step up cooperation within the leading associations of the Global Majority countries, including the #SCO and #BRICS.
He ministers outlined the schedule of further contacts, including the annual joint meeting of the collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministries in late November this year.
#RussiaBelarus
The two Ministers discussed the current bilateral and international agenda, praised bilateral cooperation and coordination in the international arena in accordance with the Programme for Coordinated Foreign Policy Action by the States – Parties to the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2024–2026.
🤝 They reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening integration within the Union State, including defence and security cooperation. The parties stressed their resolve to stand together with like-minded people against the sanctions and legal pressure of the collective West. They also expressed readiness to step up cooperation within the leading associations of the Global Majority countries, including the #SCO and #BRICS.
He ministers outlined the schedule of further contacts, including the annual joint meeting of the collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministries in late November this year.
#RussiaBelarus
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during the expanded-format talks with Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu (Astana, November 7, 2024)
💬 As always, I am delighted to find myself among our friends in Kazakhstan and to benefit from the opportunity to continue our proactive dialogue. You have just mentioned the number of times our presidents, you and I, and our allies meet every year.
🇷🇺🇰🇿 Indeed, relations between Russia and Kazakhstan have been gathering momentum. We have been working hard to prepare President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan, scheduled for November 27. We are drafting several dozen documents, just as we discussed during the restricted-format meeting. We will make sure to fast-track this process to make this summit meeting as effective and results-driven as possible.
Russia and Kazakhstan have made great strides in expanding their region-to-region and inter-parliamentary ties. Ufa will be hosting the XX Inter-Regional Cooperation Forum. We hope that our leaders will be able to deliver their greetings via videoconference to the regional delegates from our two countries.
We are also looking forward to expanding our ties within multilateral platforms such as the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS and the #SCO. Kazakhstan has been invited to join BRICS as a partner country. It is our hope that this will add a new dimension to our contacts regarding present-day global challenges, especially as we are witnessing and living in a time of change.
📈 Trade and economic cooperation has also enjoyed positive momentum. There are flagship strategic projects underway, including the effort to upgrade the Central Asia – Centre natural gas pipeline, and many other energy projects. This includes agreements on gas supplies to Uzbekistan, as well as delivering gas to connect Kazakhstan’s northeastern regions to gas distribution networks, which could potentially pave the way for launching gas deliveries to China. All these efforts are aimed at creating resilient infrastructure in a sector which serves as a key economic development driver.
Cultural, humanitarian and educational ties, projects to open joint schools in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as efforts by universities to open more branches, and the opening of Russia’s consulate in Aktau – all these undertakings will promote closer people-to-people ties, bringing those who are interested in these contacts closer together.
🤝 I am certain the Plan of Consultations and Cooperation for 2025 and 2026 that we will be signing today will make our contribution to these processes even more effective.
#RussiaKazakhstan
💬 As always, I am delighted to find myself among our friends in Kazakhstan and to benefit from the opportunity to continue our proactive dialogue. You have just mentioned the number of times our presidents, you and I, and our allies meet every year.
🇷🇺🇰🇿 Indeed, relations between Russia and Kazakhstan have been gathering momentum. We have been working hard to prepare President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan, scheduled for November 27. We are drafting several dozen documents, just as we discussed during the restricted-format meeting. We will make sure to fast-track this process to make this summit meeting as effective and results-driven as possible.
Russia and Kazakhstan have made great strides in expanding their region-to-region and inter-parliamentary ties. Ufa will be hosting the XX Inter-Regional Cooperation Forum. We hope that our leaders will be able to deliver their greetings via videoconference to the regional delegates from our two countries.
We are also looking forward to expanding our ties within multilateral platforms such as the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS and the #SCO. Kazakhstan has been invited to join BRICS as a partner country. It is our hope that this will add a new dimension to our contacts regarding present-day global challenges, especially as we are witnessing and living in a time of change.
📈 Trade and economic cooperation has also enjoyed positive momentum. There are flagship strategic projects underway, including the effort to upgrade the Central Asia – Centre natural gas pipeline, and many other energy projects. This includes agreements on gas supplies to Uzbekistan, as well as delivering gas to connect Kazakhstan’s northeastern regions to gas distribution networks, which could potentially pave the way for launching gas deliveries to China. All these efforts are aimed at creating resilient infrastructure in a sector which serves as a key economic development driver.
Cultural, humanitarian and educational ties, projects to open joint schools in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as efforts by universities to open more branches, and the opening of Russia’s consulate in Aktau – all these undertakings will promote closer people-to-people ties, bringing those who are interested in these contacts closer together.
🤝 I am certain the Plan of Consultations and Cooperation for 2025 and 2026 that we will be signing today will make our contribution to these processes even more effective.
#RussiaKazakhstan