#Announcement

🎙 On July 18, approximately at 2:00 pm MSK (11:00 am GMT/ 1:00 pm CEST/ 5:00 pm Beijing) Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing on current foreign policy issues.

For accreditation inquiries, please contact the Russian Foreign Ministry's Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive detailed explanations on the technical aspects of submitting questions.

The Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.

❗️ Accreditation is open until 9:00 am on July 17.

Dear friends!
♟ The Russian House in New Delhi invites you to the photo exhibition “Russia on 64 squares. History of Victories” dedicated to International Chess Day.
📆 We are waiting for you at the photo exhibition on July 18 at 17:00.
🏢 Venue: Russian House in New Delhi.
✅ Admission for exhibition visitors is free.
💎 Don't miss the opportunity to become part of an important event!
Waiting for you!

#RussianHouse #chess #exhibition #Rossotrudnichestvo

#HistoryDiplomacy

🌐 On July 17, 1945, a conference of the heads of government of the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain opened in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam. It was the final WWII meeting of the leaders of the three Allied powers, Joseph Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill (later replaced by Clement Attlee).

The discussion focused on the principles of Germany’s post-WWII organisation in Europe. Decisions were adopted concerning complete disarmament and demilitarisation of that country, liquidation of the National Socialist Party, and prevention of Nazi propaganda. Nazi criminals had to answer for their atrocities before the law. The International Military Tribunal was established with its statute approved in August 1945. The first and the most important trial is known as the Nuremberg trial. Germany undertook to pay reparations and was divided into four – Soviet, American, British and French – occupation zones.

The universally recognised principles underlying the establishment of peace and security in Europe and around the world were developed at Potsdam, namely:

👉 preventing the revival of German militarism and Nazism as the main prerequisite for security in Europe;

👉 relations between countries should be based on the principles of sovereignty, national independence, equality and non-interference in internal affairs.

Establishing the Council of Foreign Ministers of the USSR, USA, Britain, France and China was the first resolution adopted at the conference. It was entrusted with preparing a peace settlement with Germany’s former allies and, following the establishment of an inclusive German government, a peace treaty with Germany.

The conference also dealt with a number of territorial issues related to the end of the war in Europe. Through the efforts of the Soviet delegation, which consistently adhered to the agreements reached earlier in Tehran and Yalta, the territory of Poland was substantially expanded, and the city of Koenigsberg (Kaliningrad) and the neighbouring area were transferred to the USSR.

✅ Thus, in Potsdam, the Allies succeeded in using international legal basis to consolidate the outcomes of common Victory over Nazis, to which the Soviet Union made a decisive contribution. The decisions adopted at the conference were of great importance for the post-war peace settlement in Europe and the eradication of German militarism and Nazism.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from Rossiya 1 television channel (New York, July 16, 2024)

❓ Question: We have heard the UK and US representatives respond to your words and had the impression that they do not listen, do not hear and do not want to hear what you say. Does it make any sense communicating with them in this format?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: They hear everything but they are overwhelmed with their grandeur and a fixation on their impunity and infallibility.

When they speak up for (as they put it) international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, they forget downright about other crucial components of international law such as the right of nations to self-determination as well as sovereign equality of all UN Member States. They forget that back in 1970 the UN General Assembly made a decision on how to interpret the provisions of the UN Charter. The Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations was adopted, a voluminous consensual document.

It states that everyone must respect the territorial integrity of the countries which honour the principle of self-determination of nations and therefore represent the entire population residing in their territory. Whom does Vladimir Zelensky represent? Whom did Petr Poroshenko and those who had staged the coup in Kiev represent?

This total legal nihilism comes straight from the devil. 👉 We will talk more about it at the big news conference tomorrow.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s address to the participants of the Face to Face with the World: Intercivilisational and Intercultural Dialogue as a Foundation for Peaceful Coexistence of States videoconference (Moscow, July 18, 2024)

💬 Colleagues, friends,

I am delighted to welcome members of the Friends of Russia Club, participants and organisers of the Face to Face with the World: Intercivilisational and Intercultural Dialogue as a Foundation for Peaceful Coexistence of States global videoconference.

The project launched in 2023 at the initiative of the United Russia political party is created for everyone who is ready to contribute to the development of equal relations between countries and nations.

Productive communication between politicians, parliamentarians, diplomats, religious and public figures, representatives of business and scientific circles in Russia, Asia, Africa and Latin America is held on your platform.

A wide range of participants fully reflects the contours of a multipolar architecture taking shape before our eyes. Mutually respectful inter-civilisational, intercultural, and interfaith dialogue is of great importance for the success of this process. The efforts of those who defend the enduring values ​​of truth and justice, equality and solidarity, who is committed to cooperation with partners to solve problems of joint development, are especially in demand.

It is gratifying that additional boost to promote the Friends of Russia Club was given by the World Youth Festival, which took place in Sochi in March 2024, as well as the People of Artek international event that the United Russia party organised last year.

I am confident that today’s videoconference will be held in a constructive manner, have many interesting discussions, and contribute to establishing mutually useful, sustainable contacts. I wish you fruitful work and all the best.

🎙 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.

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🤝 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.

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