Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting (Panaji, May 5, 2023)
#SCO
We have a common vision of problems persisting in the international arena. Our shared desire is to coordinate our actions at the #UN and on the Eurasian continent with such organisations as the #EAEU and #ASEAN, and more globally, to cooperate with the #BRICS countries.
Our colleagues from Central Asia are interested in promoting cooperation on information security and the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking in the SCO space. We think it is important to establish relevant divisions and let them be coordinated by the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
There is an understanding that the role of national currencies in settlements between SCO members should be increased. Practices currently taking shape within the Eurasian Development Bank, the Asian Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the BRICS New Development Bank could be used for this purpose.
#Afghanistan
Today, we came to terms on reaffirming the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. This group exists, although it has been some time since it met. One of the reasons is the Taliban’s status. Thus far, it is not recognised “de jure.” We are expecting the Taliban leaders to fulfill their promises on forming an inclusive government not only in terms of ethnic groups but also by ensuring the presence of the entire spectrum of Afghanistan’s political forces. This has yet to be done.
There is convincing evidence to the effect that the US supports the terrorist groups entrenched in the territory of Afghanistan that are opposed to the Taliban, including the Islamic State, the Islamic Movement of East Turkestan, and Al-Qaeda. The Americans have not abandoned their attempts to reintroduce US military infrastructure in the region surrounding Afghanistan, in Central Asia.
Everyone is well aware of the serious threat inherent in these attempts. We will resolutely oppose them.
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#SCO
We have a common vision of problems persisting in the international arena. Our shared desire is to coordinate our actions at the #UN and on the Eurasian continent with such organisations as the #EAEU and #ASEAN, and more globally, to cooperate with the #BRICS countries.
Our colleagues from Central Asia are interested in promoting cooperation on information security and the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking in the SCO space. We think it is important to establish relevant divisions and let them be coordinated by the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
There is an understanding that the role of national currencies in settlements between SCO members should be increased. Practices currently taking shape within the Eurasian Development Bank, the Asian Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the BRICS New Development Bank could be used for this purpose.
#Afghanistan
Today, we came to terms on reaffirming the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. This group exists, although it has been some time since it met. One of the reasons is the Taliban’s status. Thus far, it is not recognised “de jure.” We are expecting the Taliban leaders to fulfill their promises on forming an inclusive government not only in terms of ethnic groups but also by ensuring the presence of the entire spectrum of Afghanistan’s political forces. This has yet to be done.
There is convincing evidence to the effect that the US supports the terrorist groups entrenched in the territory of Afghanistan that are opposed to the Taliban, including the Islamic State, the Islamic Movement of East Turkestan, and Al-Qaeda. The Americans have not abandoned their attempts to reintroduce US military infrastructure in the region surrounding Afghanistan, in Central Asia.
Everyone is well aware of the serious threat inherent in these attempts. We will resolutely oppose them.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Tsargrad TV (Moscow, May 17, 2023)
Key talking points:
🔹 We will no longer rely on the West, as a partner that can be negotiated with to any extent. We will work with the rest of the world that is ready for this.
🔹The West’s share in the economy of Central Asia and the South Caucasus is growing. The West methodically and cynically demands that they refrain from taking steps contrary to its interests, promising them everything under the sun. Although in reality it only means interference in internal affairs.
🔹 The #CIS retains its important economic cooperation contacts because the CIS has a free trade zone. It is also contributing to the efforts to counter current challenges and threats (terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking) and efforts in the humanitarian area as well. The CIS has announced 2023 the Year of the Russian Language as the Language of Interethnic Communication.
🔹 Since 2001, we have been working to strengthen relations, primarily with China, India and #ASEAN nations. It is said now that Russia has turned away from the West. We haven’t, or rather the West has turned away from us, betraying its own interests.
🔹The West has made its choice. They insist that Russia must suffer “a strategic defeat,” must give up Crimea, betray the Russian people in other parts of former Ukraine. They are referring to Russians as “non-humans,” whose physical elimination is stated as a goal of the current Kiev regime.
🔹 This [Kiev] regime is killing Russians, Russian culture and the Russian world in any of its manifestations, physically exterminating the Russian people who were its citizens.
🔹 When the Moscow Patriarchate proclaimed the autonomy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, this did not change the Kiev regime’s aggressive policy of eradicating the genuine, canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine and did not stop it from cultivating “the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Read in full
Key talking points:
🔹 We will no longer rely on the West, as a partner that can be negotiated with to any extent. We will work with the rest of the world that is ready for this.
🔹The West’s share in the economy of Central Asia and the South Caucasus is growing. The West methodically and cynically demands that they refrain from taking steps contrary to its interests, promising them everything under the sun. Although in reality it only means interference in internal affairs.
🔹 The #CIS retains its important economic cooperation contacts because the CIS has a free trade zone. It is also contributing to the efforts to counter current challenges and threats (terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking) and efforts in the humanitarian area as well. The CIS has announced 2023 the Year of the Russian Language as the Language of Interethnic Communication.
🔹 Since 2001, we have been working to strengthen relations, primarily with China, India and #ASEAN nations. It is said now that Russia has turned away from the West. We haven’t, or rather the West has turned away from us, betraying its own interests.
🔹The West has made its choice. They insist that Russia must suffer “a strategic defeat,” must give up Crimea, betray the Russian people in other parts of former Ukraine. They are referring to Russians as “non-humans,” whose physical elimination is stated as a goal of the current Kiev regime.
🔹 This [Kiev] regime is killing Russians, Russian culture and the Russian world in any of its manifestations, physically exterminating the Russian people who were its citizens.
🔹 When the Moscow Patriarchate proclaimed the autonomy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, this did not change the Kiev regime’s aggressive policy of eradicating the genuine, canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine and did not stop it from cultivating “the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Statement by the Head of Delegation of the Russian Federation, G20 Sous-Sherpa Marat Berdyev at the G20 Development Ministers Meeting, session 1 «Multilateralism - Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs»
📍 Varanasi, June 12
Key talking points:
💬 We appreciate the Indian Presidency for its tremendous efforts to move forward the issue of development with a holistic approach that provides for synergies amongst development, growth, climate and environment.
• The unwillingness of the Western countries to discuss mutual security guarantees, economic wars they had unleashed amidst attempts to shift primary responsibility for the degradation of international relations to other states, including Russia is quite worrisome. It reveals strong intention by the West to resist a multipolar world and the primacy of the UN Charter, trying to replace them with their own unilateral rules.
• We are concerned by cases of weaponization of economy by the West, in particular in areas of food and energy security through price ceilings, misuse of value chains, seizure of foreign assets, like Russian fertilizers capturing by the EU. The new wave of large-scale threats emerges from terrorist attacks/war crimes of Kiev regime and its accomplices against critical civil infrastructure.
🇷🇺 Russia supports developing countries as a donor at an amount of about 1,4 bln USD per year and serves as a major supplier of food, fertilizers and energy. We will be hosting 2nd #RussiaAfrica Summit on July 26-29 in Saint-Petersburg to foster our cooperation and look forward for the African Union membership at the #G20. Our country also endeavors to implement the Greater Eurasian Partnership underpinned by closer relationships between Eurasian Economic Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and #ASEAN.
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📍 Varanasi, June 12
Key talking points:
💬 We appreciate the Indian Presidency for its tremendous efforts to move forward the issue of development with a holistic approach that provides for synergies amongst development, growth, climate and environment.
• The unwillingness of the Western countries to discuss mutual security guarantees, economic wars they had unleashed amidst attempts to shift primary responsibility for the degradation of international relations to other states, including Russia is quite worrisome. It reveals strong intention by the West to resist a multipolar world and the primacy of the UN Charter, trying to replace them with their own unilateral rules.
• We are concerned by cases of weaponization of economy by the West, in particular in areas of food and energy security through price ceilings, misuse of value chains, seizure of foreign assets, like Russian fertilizers capturing by the EU. The new wave of large-scale threats emerges from terrorist attacks/war crimes of Kiev regime and its accomplices against critical civil infrastructure.
🇷🇺 Russia supports developing countries as a donor at an amount of about 1,4 bln USD per year and serves as a major supplier of food, fertilizers and energy. We will be hosting 2nd #RussiaAfrica Summit on July 26-29 in Saint-Petersburg to foster our cooperation and look forward for the African Union membership at the #G20. Our country also endeavors to implement the Greater Eurasian Partnership underpinned by closer relationships between Eurasian Economic Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and #ASEAN.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🛡 #OTD 22 years ago, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) was founded - a multilateral association aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability and jointly countering new security challenges and threats to member states.
Today, the SCO is made up of eight countries: its founding members – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – as well as India and Pakistan, which joined in 2017. Iran is also expected to become a full SCO member at the upcoming summit (July 3-4, New Delhi).
In June 2002, the organisation's member states signed the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation that cemented the SCO's focus on the positive promotion of multidimensional cooperation and its non-targeting of third countries and organisations. Today the SCO continues to firmly rule out bloc, ideological and confrontational approaches to solving international and regional development problems.
🤝 One of the most important areas of SCO activity is joint efforts to combat terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. The SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure operates in Tashkent on a permanent basis to ensure effective cooperation between the competent authorities of the member states in these areas.
🌐 The SCO's legal framework for relations with the United Nations and its agencies continues to expand. Partnerships have been established with the #CIS, #CSTO, #EEC, #ASEAN and a number of other multilateral associations that share similar principles of constructive development.
Today, the SCO is made up of eight countries: its founding members – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – as well as India and Pakistan, which joined in 2017. Iran is also expected to become a full SCO member at the upcoming summit (July 3-4, New Delhi).
In June 2002, the organisation's member states signed the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation that cemented the SCO's focus on the positive promotion of multidimensional cooperation and its non-targeting of third countries and organisations. Today the SCO continues to firmly rule out bloc, ideological and confrontational approaches to solving international and regional development problems.
🤝 One of the most important areas of SCO activity is joint efforts to combat terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. The SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure operates in Tashkent on a permanent basis to ensure effective cooperation between the competent authorities of the member states in these areas.
🌐 The SCO's legal framework for relations with the United Nations and its agencies continues to expand. Partnerships have been established with the #CIS, #CSTO, #EEC, #ASEAN and a number of other multilateral associations that share similar principles of constructive development.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇮🇩 On July 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is attending the events held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN), had a meeting with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Retno Marsudi.
The Ministers highlighted:
👉 the practical aspects of bilateral cooperation
👉 the creation of security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region
👉 the priorities of cooperation at ASEAN-centric platforms and the further development of the #RussiaASEAN strategic partnership.
#RussiaIndonesia
The Ministers highlighted:
👉 the practical aspects of bilateral cooperation
👉 the creation of security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region
👉 the priorities of cooperation at ASEAN-centric platforms and the further development of the #RussiaASEAN strategic partnership.
#RussiaIndonesia
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇮🇩🇨🇳 On July 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi in Jakarta on the sidelines of #ASEAN ministerial events.
The Sides focused on issues of expanding trilateral cooperation to facilitate food and energy security in the context of current crisis trends in the global markets. The Sides reaffirmed their readiness to coordinate efforts in this field, including in the interests of boosting the economic resilience of the Global South, provided that all countries respect the principles of equality and mutual benefit in global economic ties.
They constructively exchanged opinions on a number of topical international and regional issues and discussed the objectives of strengthening the ASEAN-centric system of security and cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi supported the efforts of Indonesia, which is currently chairing ASEAN, to promote these objectives at the upcoming ministerial meetings within the framework of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum in Jakarta.
The Sides focused on issues of expanding trilateral cooperation to facilitate food and energy security in the context of current crisis trends in the global markets. The Sides reaffirmed their readiness to coordinate efforts in this field, including in the interests of boosting the economic resilience of the Global South, provided that all countries respect the principles of equality and mutual benefit in global economic ties.
They constructively exchanged opinions on a number of topical international and regional issues and discussed the objectives of strengthening the ASEAN-centric system of security and cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi supported the efforts of Indonesia, which is currently chairing ASEAN, to promote these objectives at the upcoming ministerial meetings within the framework of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum in Jakarta.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇳 On July 13, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial events in Jakarta.
The two diplomats praised the development of the political dialogue and practical interaction between Russia and China against the backdrop of increasing global turbulence. They paid special attention to the implementation of agreements reached following bilateral contacts at the highest political level since the beginning of the year. The Parties confirmed the importance of maintaining cooperation to deepen the two countries’ foreign political interaction.
Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi discussed in detail cooperation within #ASEAN in the context of certain countries’ increased efforts to create bloc-focused military-political formats designed to undermine the ASEAN-centric system of maintaining security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Parties exchanged opinions on the current developments around the Ukrainian crisis and assessed the efforts of the global community to launch a peaceful negotiations process on Ukraine.
🤝 They also emphasised the importance of strengthening foreign political interaction between Moscow and Beijing at various international platforms, including the #UN, the #SCO, #BRICS, #APEC, the #G20 and others. The Sides expressed a shared commitment to boosting bilateral coordination regarding issues on the regional and global agenda in the interests of creating a more just and sustainable polycentric international order.
The two diplomats praised the development of the political dialogue and practical interaction between Russia and China against the backdrop of increasing global turbulence. They paid special attention to the implementation of agreements reached following bilateral contacts at the highest political level since the beginning of the year. The Parties confirmed the importance of maintaining cooperation to deepen the two countries’ foreign political interaction.
Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi discussed in detail cooperation within #ASEAN in the context of certain countries’ increased efforts to create bloc-focused military-political formats designed to undermine the ASEAN-centric system of maintaining security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Parties exchanged opinions on the current developments around the Ukrainian crisis and assessed the efforts of the global community to launch a peaceful negotiations process on Ukraine.
🤝 They also emphasised the importance of strengthening foreign political interaction between Moscow and Beijing at various international platforms, including the #UN, the #SCO, #BRICS, #APEC, the #G20 and others. The Sides expressed a shared commitment to boosting bilateral coordination regarding issues on the regional and global agenda in the interests of creating a more just and sustainable polycentric international order.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following the Russia-ASEAN Conference
📍 Jakarta, July 13, 2023
#RussiaASEAN meeting
💬 We have held the annual Ministerial Meeting between Russia and ASEAN Member Countries once again. The meeting involved the Secretary-General of this organisation. We prioritised such aspects as high technologies, digitalisation and smart cities. We had a separate discussion of our collaboration on countering new challenges and threats. Cooperation between #ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU) is another issue.
We are expecting ASEAN representatives at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2023. We have drafted specific plans aiming to expand practical cooperation in various fields and in the interests of all participants.
On #NATO policy in the Asia-Pacific region
💬 It is true that the ASEAN approaches are now going through a serious test because of the desire of the US and its allies to replace the ASEAN-centric security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, which took shape over decades and suited everyone until recently, with their “Indo-Pacific strategies” and NATO expansion in this region.
Japan and South Korea already told that they are willing to deploy American nuclear weapons on their territory or to acquire their own. This is a seriously dangerous trend.
#JCPOA
💬 I am not very optimistic about the prospects of resuming the JCPOA. Another point is that, along with this stalled and withered process, the Iranians and the Americans are engaged in unofficial and direct contact below the radar on normalising their relations by unblocking Iran’s seized foreign reserves in exchange for deciding the fate of certain US citizens who were charged with breaking the law in Iran.
We will only welcome any improvement in these relations. Once again, this has little to do with the JCPOA.
Read in full
📍 Jakarta, July 13, 2023
#RussiaASEAN meeting
💬 We have held the annual Ministerial Meeting between Russia and ASEAN Member Countries once again. The meeting involved the Secretary-General of this organisation. We prioritised such aspects as high technologies, digitalisation and smart cities. We had a separate discussion of our collaboration on countering new challenges and threats. Cooperation between #ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU) is another issue.
We are expecting ASEAN representatives at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2023. We have drafted specific plans aiming to expand practical cooperation in various fields and in the interests of all participants.
On #NATO policy in the Asia-Pacific region
💬 It is true that the ASEAN approaches are now going through a serious test because of the desire of the US and its allies to replace the ASEAN-centric security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, which took shape over decades and suited everyone until recently, with their “Indo-Pacific strategies” and NATO expansion in this region.
Japan and South Korea already told that they are willing to deploy American nuclear weapons on their territory or to acquire their own. This is a seriously dangerous trend.
#JCPOA
💬 I am not very optimistic about the prospects of resuming the JCPOA. Another point is that, along with this stalled and withered process, the Iranians and the Americans are engaged in unofficial and direct contact below the radar on normalising their relations by unblocking Iran’s seized foreign reserves in exchange for deciding the fate of certain US citizens who were charged with breaking the law in Iran.
We will only welcome any improvement in these relations. Once again, this has little to do with the JCPOA.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 On July 13, Jakarta hosted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s annual meeting with the Foreign Ministers of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN).
The event marked the fifth anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership. The participants reviewed the implementation of decisions adopted by the leaders of Russia and the 10 ASEAN countries at the 2021 summit. The agenda included issues of deepening political, socioeconomic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation still further.
🤝 The Sides discussed practical measures to expand collaboration in combating terrorism and transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and efforts to facilitate the safe use of information and communication technologies. They agreed to finalise the relevant mid-term working programmes in the near future.
The Ministers exchanged opinions on the topical international agenda, and this discussion highlighted similar #RussiaASEAN approaches towards the most pressing global and regional issues.
📃 Following the conference, the participants adopted a joint statement on the fifth anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership.
Read in full
The event marked the fifth anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership. The participants reviewed the implementation of decisions adopted by the leaders of Russia and the 10 ASEAN countries at the 2021 summit. The agenda included issues of deepening political, socioeconomic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation still further.
🤝 The Sides discussed practical measures to expand collaboration in combating terrorism and transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and efforts to facilitate the safe use of information and communication technologies. They agreed to finalise the relevant mid-term working programmes in the near future.
The Ministers exchanged opinions on the topical international agenda, and this discussion highlighted similar #RussiaASEAN approaches towards the most pressing global and regional issues.
📃 Following the conference, the participants adopted a joint statement on the fifth anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership.
Read in full