Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
✍️ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to organisers of and participants of the 5th Kazan International Congress of Eurasian Integration
💬 I would like to warmly greet the organisers of and participants of the 5th Kazan International Congress of Eurasian Integration.
Your platform brings together a wide range of state officials and civil society activists, experts on international affairs, economists and representatives of academic circles; all of them are interested in strengthening multifaceted cooperation across the Eurasian region we share.
In today’s challenging global environment, created by the destructive policies of the collective West, your work to forge a constructive international agenda seems to be in high demand.
Several promising integration formats, including the #UnionState, the #EAEU, the #SCO, as well as the #CIS, chaired by Russia in 2024, function in Eurasia. The initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin on establishing a Greater Eurasian Partnership aims to synchronise collaboration between them.
☝️ You will review a wide range of issues regarding expanded practical cooperation in Eurasia. Certainly, we welcome your interest in such a new multilateral entity as #BRICS, also chaired by Russia this year.
I am confident that the congress will contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between nations, and that it will help draft useful recommendations.
🤝 I wish you successful work and all the best.
💬 I would like to warmly greet the organisers of and participants of the 5th Kazan International Congress of Eurasian Integration.
Your platform brings together a wide range of state officials and civil society activists, experts on international affairs, economists and representatives of academic circles; all of them are interested in strengthening multifaceted cooperation across the Eurasian region we share.
In today’s challenging global environment, created by the destructive policies of the collective West, your work to forge a constructive international agenda seems to be in high demand.
Several promising integration formats, including the #UnionState, the #EAEU, the #SCO, as well as the #CIS, chaired by Russia in 2024, function in Eurasia. The initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin on establishing a Greater Eurasian Partnership aims to synchronise collaboration between them.
☝️ You will review a wide range of issues regarding expanded practical cooperation in Eurasia. Certainly, we welcome your interest in such a new multilateral entity as #BRICS, also chaired by Russia this year.
I am confident that the congress will contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between nations, and that it will help draft useful recommendations.
🤝 I wish you successful work and all the best.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Statement by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the UN Security Council meeting on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order (New York, July 16, 2024)
💬 The actions of the US and its allies are hindering international cooperation and the creation of a more just world. They have taken countries and regions hostage, prevent nations from realising their sovereign rights declared in the UN Charter
<...>
I am confident that this situation can be changed if there is good will, of course. To stop the implementation of a negative scenario, we would like to propose to discuss a number of steps towards restoring trust and stabilising the international situation.
1. The root causes of the ongoing crisis in Europe should be eliminated once and for all. The conditions for restoring stable peace in Ukraine have been put forth by President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
A political and diplomatic settlement should be complemented with practical steps, to be taken in the West and the Euro-Atlantic community, to remove threats to the Russian Federation. The coordination of mutual guarantees and agreements should be based on the recognition of the new geostrategic realities on the Eurasian continent, where a continental architecture of really equal and indivisible security is taking shape. Europe risks lagging behind this objective historical process. We are ready to discuss a balance of interests.
2. The restoration of the regional and global balance of forces should be accompanied with active efforts to eliminate injustices in the global economy. There must be no monopoly in monetary and financial regulation, trade and technologies, by definition. <...>
3. Major fundamental changes are necessary in other institutes of global governance if we want them to work to the benefit of all. This primarily concerns the United Nations Organisation, which remains the embodiment of multilateralism against all the odds, with unique and universal legitimacy and universally recognised broad competencies.
An important step towards the restoration of the UN’s effectiveness would be the reconfirmation by all Member States of their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, not selectively but in their entirety and as a whole. <...>
4. Regional associations have practical significance for the development of multipolarity, including the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (#GCC), the Arab League, the African Union and #CELAC. <...>.
***
❗️It depends on member countries alone whether our world will be diverse and equitable. The Charter of our Organisation is our foothold.
👉 Read in full
💬 The actions of the US and its allies are hindering international cooperation and the creation of a more just world. They have taken countries and regions hostage, prevent nations from realising their sovereign rights declared in the UN Charter
<...>
I am confident that this situation can be changed if there is good will, of course. To stop the implementation of a negative scenario, we would like to propose to discuss a number of steps towards restoring trust and stabilising the international situation.
1. The root causes of the ongoing crisis in Europe should be eliminated once and for all. The conditions for restoring stable peace in Ukraine have been put forth by President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
A political and diplomatic settlement should be complemented with practical steps, to be taken in the West and the Euro-Atlantic community, to remove threats to the Russian Federation. The coordination of mutual guarantees and agreements should be based on the recognition of the new geostrategic realities on the Eurasian continent, where a continental architecture of really equal and indivisible security is taking shape. Europe risks lagging behind this objective historical process. We are ready to discuss a balance of interests.
2. The restoration of the regional and global balance of forces should be accompanied with active efforts to eliminate injustices in the global economy. There must be no monopoly in monetary and financial regulation, trade and technologies, by definition. <...>
3. Major fundamental changes are necessary in other institutes of global governance if we want them to work to the benefit of all. This primarily concerns the United Nations Organisation, which remains the embodiment of multilateralism against all the odds, with unique and universal legitimacy and universally recognised broad competencies.
An important step towards the restoration of the UN’s effectiveness would be the reconfirmation by all Member States of their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, not selectively but in their entirety and as a whole. <...>
4. Regional associations have practical significance for the development of multipolarity, including the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (#GCC), the Arab League, the African Union and #CELAC. <...>.
***
❗️It depends on member countries alone whether our world will be diverse and equitable. The Charter of our Organisation is our foothold.
👉 Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a meeting with directors of Russian non-profit organisations (July 23, 2024)
Key talking points:
🔹The role of public diplomacy has grown compared to the earlier period, primarily when it comes to maintaining a healthy atmosphere of confidence in relations with our foreign partners and explaining problems created by the West.
🔹 This applies to the the countries which we regard as unfriendly. I believe that we should use this term for governments, whereas the mood in the countries is largely determined by people’s lives and aspirations. I do not see any nation on the planet that would be unfriendly to our people in the first place.
🔹 I am aware that pubic organisations in Western countries somehow manage to maintain ties with some of their partners in Russia. This interaction is extremely important for keeping up relations at the level of civil societies and trying to understand each other.
🔹 We are beginning to see the outlines of a new multipolar world order. Nations around the world want to see their right to rule their destinies respected, and are searching for new ways of addressing various issues as alternatives to Western solutions.
🔹 The West is not ready to engage in mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. It has been seeking to hold on to its erstwhile standing which follows the path of irreversible, albeit slow, degradation. The NATO Summit in Washington provided yet another example of this process by adopting a declaration which once again emphasised the West’s unilateral approaches.
🔹 Today, Europe has been reduced to acting as Washington’s subject. Germany, for example, is the cornerstone of European politics and economy, but it still had to stomach the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines which undermined its economic and social wellbeing. It had to pretend that this is the way it had to be.
🔹 The process of eradicating the centralised dictatorial model that America’s globalisation has morphed into will go hand in hand with regionalisation of economic processes. Preferably, in view of their interdependence with the global economy, the developments in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America ought to be coordinated and harmonised to a certain extent. #BRICS is quite capable of doing that.
🔹 We certainly believe that the United Nations remains a unique platform for universal cooperation that has no alternative. The UN Charter principles are relevant as never before.
🔹 I said earlier that Eurasia is emerging as an independent part of the multipolar and polycentric world. We are moving forward towards creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership, something that President Vladimir Putin mentioned 10 years back. Since then, this process has led to stronger ties between #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN.
🔹 We trust that non-governmental and non-profit organisations will actively participate in these processes and continue to contribute to the overall efforts seeking to strengthen Russia’s position on the continent and around the world, including the promotion of the Russian language and our multiethnic culture.
Read in full
Key talking points:
🔹The role of public diplomacy has grown compared to the earlier period, primarily when it comes to maintaining a healthy atmosphere of confidence in relations with our foreign partners and explaining problems created by the West.
🔹 This applies to the the countries which we regard as unfriendly. I believe that we should use this term for governments, whereas the mood in the countries is largely determined by people’s lives and aspirations. I do not see any nation on the planet that would be unfriendly to our people in the first place.
🔹 I am aware that pubic organisations in Western countries somehow manage to maintain ties with some of their partners in Russia. This interaction is extremely important for keeping up relations at the level of civil societies and trying to understand each other.
🔹 We are beginning to see the outlines of a new multipolar world order. Nations around the world want to see their right to rule their destinies respected, and are searching for new ways of addressing various issues as alternatives to Western solutions.
🔹 The West is not ready to engage in mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. It has been seeking to hold on to its erstwhile standing which follows the path of irreversible, albeit slow, degradation. The NATO Summit in Washington provided yet another example of this process by adopting a declaration which once again emphasised the West’s unilateral approaches.
🔹 Today, Europe has been reduced to acting as Washington’s subject. Germany, for example, is the cornerstone of European politics and economy, but it still had to stomach the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines which undermined its economic and social wellbeing. It had to pretend that this is the way it had to be.
🔹 The process of eradicating the centralised dictatorial model that America’s globalisation has morphed into will go hand in hand with regionalisation of economic processes. Preferably, in view of their interdependence with the global economy, the developments in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America ought to be coordinated and harmonised to a certain extent. #BRICS is quite capable of doing that.
🔹 We certainly believe that the United Nations remains a unique platform for universal cooperation that has no alternative. The UN Charter principles are relevant as never before.
🔹 I said earlier that Eurasia is emerging as an independent part of the multipolar and polycentric world. We are moving forward towards creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership, something that President Vladimir Putin mentioned 10 years back. Since then, this process has led to stronger ties between #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN.
🔹 We trust that non-governmental and non-profit organisations will actively participate in these processes and continue to contribute to the overall efforts seeking to strengthen Russia’s position on the continent and around the world, including the promotion of the Russian language and our multiethnic culture.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the East Asia Summit (#EAS) and the 31st session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (#ARF) which were held in Vientiane on July 27.
During discussions on current issues related to the situation in the Asia Pacific Region, the Russian Minister emphasised the importance of efforts to build an open and indivisible architecture of Eurasian security as one of the foundations of the multipolar international order. Apart from #ASEAN, the #SCO and the #EAEU are making a contribution to its strengthening.
❗️ He also indicated the risks to peace and stability in Asia introduced by NATO and the US-created selective bloc mechanisms. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in the regional security system through the build-up of an equitable dialogue and practical interaction.
Participants in the EAS meeting discussed preparations for the 19th East Asia Summit scheduled to be held in Vientiane in October 2024. At previous summits, Russia proposed initiatives to create a regional epidemic response mechanism and to secure economic growth in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting tourism cooperation. Russia also suggested focusing on the development of remote territories as a possible option for long-term cooperation.
☝️ The ARF session focused on building up the ARF’s potential in counterterrorism, emergency response, and #ICT security. Russia stressed that it is unacceptable to reformat the ARF mandate, restrict certain member states’ access to its activities, or block mutually beneficial cooperation projects for political reasons.
The session approved the ARF’s working plans on countering terrorism and transnational crime for 2024-2026, emergency response for 2024-2027, and a Ministerial Statement on strengthening regional cooperation in ferry service safety.
🤝 The participants also summed up the results of the Russian-Indonesian co-chairmanship of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meetings on ICT security in 2022-2024. A number of practical initiatives to combat cybercrime was implemented during that period.
During discussions on current issues related to the situation in the Asia Pacific Region, the Russian Minister emphasised the importance of efforts to build an open and indivisible architecture of Eurasian security as one of the foundations of the multipolar international order. Apart from #ASEAN, the #SCO and the #EAEU are making a contribution to its strengthening.
❗️ He also indicated the risks to peace and stability in Asia introduced by NATO and the US-created selective bloc mechanisms. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in the regional security system through the build-up of an equitable dialogue and practical interaction.
Participants in the EAS meeting discussed preparations for the 19th East Asia Summit scheduled to be held in Vientiane in October 2024. At previous summits, Russia proposed initiatives to create a regional epidemic response mechanism and to secure economic growth in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting tourism cooperation. Russia also suggested focusing on the development of remote territories as a possible option for long-term cooperation.
☝️ The ARF session focused on building up the ARF’s potential in counterterrorism, emergency response, and #ICT security. Russia stressed that it is unacceptable to reformat the ARF mandate, restrict certain member states’ access to its activities, or block mutually beneficial cooperation projects for political reasons.
The session approved the ARF’s working plans on countering terrorism and transnational crime for 2024-2026, emergency response for 2024-2027, and a Ministerial Statement on strengthening regional cooperation in ferry service safety.
🤝 The participants also summed up the results of the Russian-Indonesian co-chairmanship of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meetings on ICT security in 2022-2024. A number of practical initiatives to combat cybercrime was implemented during that period.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to questions at a meeting with students and faculty of MGIMO University (Moscow, September 2, 2024)
💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
<...>
We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
Read in full
💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
<...>
We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🌍 On September 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov received Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat at the Russian Foreign Minsitry, who is in Moscow for the ceremony of awarding the #AfricanUnion the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize.
The officials discussed a wide range of issues related to multi-pronged cooperation between Russia and the African Union, including the strengthening of coordination of efforts for peace, security, stability and sustainable development. They also expressed a shared interest in expanding economic ties, including between the African Union and the #EAEU.
The Russian side reaffirmed its invariable readiness to consolidate efforts with the African Union at international venues during discussions of the African continent’s current problems, based on the African Solution to African Problems principle.
They also focused on tasks concerning the implementation of the decisions made at the Second Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg in July 2023 and preparations for the ministerial conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum to be held in Sochi in November of this year.
The officials discussed a wide range of issues related to multi-pronged cooperation between Russia and the African Union, including the strengthening of coordination of efforts for peace, security, stability and sustainable development. They also expressed a shared interest in expanding economic ties, including between the African Union and the #EAEU.
The Russian side reaffirmed its invariable readiness to consolidate efforts with the African Union at international venues during discussions of the African continent’s current problems, based on the African Solution to African Problems principle.
They also focused on tasks concerning the implementation of the decisions made at the Second Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg in July 2023 and preparations for the ministerial conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum to be held in Sochi in November of this year.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🤝 On September 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (#IORA) Salman Al Farisi in Moscow.
During their conversation they considered key issues on the IORA agenda as well as promising areas of interaction in terms of further involvement of Russia, which was granted the Dialogue Partner status in 2021, in the association’s practical activity. The Association Secretariat expressed an interest in Russian approaches to the sectoral areas prioritised for this platform: maritime cooperation, tourism, blue economy, fishing and environmental protection.
The minister made an emphasis on the importance of IORA’s applied potential in the context of deepening multilateral cooperation in a broad transcontinental space, involving such systemically important associations as the #SCO, #EAEU and #ASEAN.
During their conversation they considered key issues on the IORA agenda as well as promising areas of interaction in terms of further involvement of Russia, which was granted the Dialogue Partner status in 2021, in the association’s practical activity. The Association Secretariat expressed an interest in Russian approaches to the sectoral areas prioritised for this platform: maritime cooperation, tourism, blue economy, fishing and environmental protection.
The minister made an emphasis on the importance of IORA’s applied potential in the context of deepening multilateral cooperation in a broad transcontinental space, involving such systemically important associations as the #SCO, #EAEU and #ASEAN.
Strengthening ties with developing countries: a key priority for Russia's #BRICS Chairmanship
👉 As part of the #BRICS Chairmanship, Russia is prioritizing deepening connections with developing countries and integration associations, including the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU).
🤝 Engaging in Global Discussions: Our Eurasian partners are keenly interested in BRICS dialogues on a range of crucial topics, such as global governance reform.
🤝 Collaborating on Key Issues: We are joining forces on vital issues like food and energy security, fair energy transitions, independent financial systems, and climate change.
🤝 Expanding Global Networks: #BRICS plays a pivotal role in global governance. To be truly effective, it must build a broad network of partnerships across all regions.
🤝 Advocating for Developing Nations: We champion the interests of developing regions, including Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America, and support collective solutions for global challenges.
🤝 Advancing Economic Diplomacy: Key tasks include developing a new regional supply chain architecture, modernizing and creating international transport corridors (such as the North-South ITC), and strengthening #EAEU integration.
🤝 EAEU Integration Goals: Our long-term vision includes ensuring a stable domestic market, fostering joint cooperation, creating a common transport and logistics space, developing a unified financial market, and positioning the EAEU as a global economic hub.
#EAEU #BRICS2024
👉 As part of the #BRICS Chairmanship, Russia is prioritizing deepening connections with developing countries and integration associations, including the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU).
🤝 Engaging in Global Discussions: Our Eurasian partners are keenly interested in BRICS dialogues on a range of crucial topics, such as global governance reform.
🤝 Collaborating on Key Issues: We are joining forces on vital issues like food and energy security, fair energy transitions, independent financial systems, and climate change.
🤝 Expanding Global Networks: #BRICS plays a pivotal role in global governance. To be truly effective, it must build a broad network of partnerships across all regions.
🤝 Advocating for Developing Nations: We champion the interests of developing regions, including Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America, and support collective solutions for global challenges.
🤝 Advancing Economic Diplomacy: Key tasks include developing a new regional supply chain architecture, modernizing and creating international transport corridors (such as the North-South ITC), and strengthening #EAEU integration.
🤝 EAEU Integration Goals: Our long-term vision includes ensuring a stable domestic market, fostering joint cooperation, creating a common transport and logistics space, developing a unified financial market, and positioning the EAEU as a global economic hub.
#EAEU #BRICS2024
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview to Newsweek magazine (October 7, 2024)
❓Question: As the Ukraine conflict continues, how different is Russia's position than in 2022 and how are the costs of conflict being weighed against the progress made toward strategic objectives?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our position is widely known and remains unchanged. Russia is open to a politico-diplomatic settlement that should remove the root causes of the crisis.
It should aim to end the conflict rather than achieve a ceasefire. The West should stop supplying weapons, and Kiev should end the hostilities.
👉 Ukraine should return to its neutral, non-bloc and non-nuclear status, protect the Russian language, and respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
<...>
On 14 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.
Kiev responded to this statement by an armed incursion into the Kursk Oblast on 6 August. Its patrons – the US and other NATO countries – seek to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed. <...>
❓Question: How likely do you think it is that a military or diplomatic solution can be achieved, or do you see a greater risk of the conflict spiraling into something even larger with Ukrainian forces receiving more advanced NATO weaponry and entering Russian territory?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Making guesses is not my job. What I want to say is that we have been trying to extinguish this crisis for more than a decade, yet each time we put to paper agreements that suite everyone, Kiev and its masters would backpedal. <...>
At present, as far as we can see, restoring peace is not part of our adversary's plan. Zelensky has not revoked his decree banning negotiations with Moscow. Washington and its NATO allies provide political, military and financial support to Kiev so that the war would go on. They are discussing authorizing the AFU to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. "Playing with fire" in this way may lead to dangerous consequences. As stated by President Putin, we will take adequate decisions based on our understanding of the threats posed by the West. It is up to you to make conclusions.
❓Question: What concrete plans does Russia have in line with its strategic partnerships with China and other powers to achieve changes in the current world order and how do you expect these ambitions to play out in areas of intense competition and conflict, including the Middle East?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: What we have in mind is that the world order needs be adjusted to the current realities. Today the world is living through the "multipolar moment". Shifting towards the multi-polar world order is a natural part of power rebalancing, which reflects objective changes in the world economy, finance and geopolitics. The West waited longer than the others, yet it has also started to realize that this process is irreversible.
<...>
Multipolarity manifests itself in the increasing role of regional associations, such as the #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN, #AfricanUnion, #CELAC and others. #BRICS has become a model of multilateral diplomacy. The #UN should remain a forum for aligning the interests of all the countries.
Read in full
❓Question: As the Ukraine conflict continues, how different is Russia's position than in 2022 and how are the costs of conflict being weighed against the progress made toward strategic objectives?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our position is widely known and remains unchanged. Russia is open to a politico-diplomatic settlement that should remove the root causes of the crisis.
It should aim to end the conflict rather than achieve a ceasefire. The West should stop supplying weapons, and Kiev should end the hostilities.
👉 Ukraine should return to its neutral, non-bloc and non-nuclear status, protect the Russian language, and respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
<...>
On 14 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.
Kiev responded to this statement by an armed incursion into the Kursk Oblast on 6 August. Its patrons – the US and other NATO countries – seek to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed. <...>
❓Question: How likely do you think it is that a military or diplomatic solution can be achieved, or do you see a greater risk of the conflict spiraling into something even larger with Ukrainian forces receiving more advanced NATO weaponry and entering Russian territory?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Making guesses is not my job. What I want to say is that we have been trying to extinguish this crisis for more than a decade, yet each time we put to paper agreements that suite everyone, Kiev and its masters would backpedal. <...>
At present, as far as we can see, restoring peace is not part of our adversary's plan. Zelensky has not revoked his decree banning negotiations with Moscow. Washington and its NATO allies provide political, military and financial support to Kiev so that the war would go on. They are discussing authorizing the AFU to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. "Playing with fire" in this way may lead to dangerous consequences. As stated by President Putin, we will take adequate decisions based on our understanding of the threats posed by the West. It is up to you to make conclusions.
❓Question: What concrete plans does Russia have in line with its strategic partnerships with China and other powers to achieve changes in the current world order and how do you expect these ambitions to play out in areas of intense competition and conflict, including the Middle East?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: What we have in mind is that the world order needs be adjusted to the current realities. Today the world is living through the "multipolar moment". Shifting towards the multi-polar world order is a natural part of power rebalancing, which reflects objective changes in the world economy, finance and geopolitics. The West waited longer than the others, yet it has also started to realize that this process is irreversible.
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Multipolarity manifests itself in the increasing role of regional associations, such as the #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN, #AfricanUnion, #CELAC and others. #BRICS has become a model of multilateral diplomacy. The #UN should remain a forum for aligning the interests of all the countries.
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✅Results of the III Eurasian Economic Forum
✔️ Around 2,000 participants from over 30 countries took part in the Forum, with a particular interest from business representatives—around 200 companies attended. Business dialogues between the EAEU-Cuba and #EAEU-Iran were held.
✔️ The business program of the Forum included more than 30 events. Participants of the EEF-2024 discussed key areas of economic cooperation among the #EAEU states, such as the strategic development of the Union, comprehensive cooperation and technological collaboration, digitalization, development of transport infrastructure and logistics, the quality of the internal market, entrepreneurship support, and international cooperation.
✔️ The main event of the III Eurasian Economic Forum was the plenary session on the theme "Digitalization in Modern Realities – An Imperative for Ensuring the Four Freedoms." The session was attended by the prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union countries: Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers — Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev. Honorary guests included the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref.
✔️ The Eurasian Economic Commission, together with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, concluded the II "Green Eurasia" competition, aimed at identifying technological leaders in the green agenda and promoting effective practices for climate adaptation of the economy in response to climate change. A total of over 300 applications were submitted in 15 categories. The winners and finalists included 57 of the best climate practices from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia.
✔️ Around 2,000 participants from over 30 countries took part in the Forum, with a particular interest from business representatives—around 200 companies attended. Business dialogues between the EAEU-Cuba and #EAEU-Iran were held.
✔️ The business program of the Forum included more than 30 events. Participants of the EEF-2024 discussed key areas of economic cooperation among the #EAEU states, such as the strategic development of the Union, comprehensive cooperation and technological collaboration, digitalization, development of transport infrastructure and logistics, the quality of the internal market, entrepreneurship support, and international cooperation.
✔️ The main event of the III Eurasian Economic Forum was the plenary session on the theme "Digitalization in Modern Realities – An Imperative for Ensuring the Four Freedoms." The session was attended by the prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union countries: Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers — Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev. Honorary guests included the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref.
✔️ The Eurasian Economic Commission, together with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, concluded the II "Green Eurasia" competition, aimed at identifying technological leaders in the green agenda and promoting effective practices for climate adaptation of the economy in response to climate change. A total of over 300 applications were submitted in 15 categories. The winners and finalists included 57 of the best climate practices from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia.