🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the 16th Assembly of the Russian World (Moscow, November 2, 2024)

💬 It is profoundly symbolic that your forum traditionally convenes on the eve of National Unity Day, a day on which we commemorate our people's victory in the struggle against foreign invaders.

On January 1, 2024, the Foreign Ministry assumed the sole founding role of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. This represents a significant honour and responsibility for us. I wish to assure you of our continued dedication to enhancing the Foundation's potential and influence.

Over the years, your gatherings have distinguished themselves as a unique platform that brings together all those engaged in the multinational and multi-faith Russkiy Mir: prominent public and political figures, academics, Russian language scholars and compatriots. We highly value your contribution to the promotion of our Motherland's rich cultural and historical heritage and the advancement of international humanitarian cooperation. <...>

We shall preserve our traditional values and safeguard the cultural and historical heritage of the diverse peoples of the Russian Federation. This goal is unequivocally reaffirmed in the new Foreign Policy Concept, which Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed in March 2023. It characterises Russia as a unique country-civilisation with over a thousand years of history.

⚠️ The situation in Ukraine illustrates the potential consequences of willingly forsaking the spiritual and cultural roots bequeathed by our forebears. Following the bloody state coup in 2014, the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev embarked on a systematic campaign to eradicate all that is associated with the Russian World. Russians, Russian speakers, and individuals simply affiliated with Russian culture came under assault. <...>

In Ukraine, the use of the Russian language is legally prohibited across various areas, from education and media to daily life. In late September, yet another law banning the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church was passed. The West is not just keeping silent, but is vocally proclaiming its support for Ukraine which allegedly "upholds European values".

Notably, protecting the rights and freedoms, as well as the legal interests of the Russian people and Russian speakers should be an integral part of a political settlement in Ukraine, alongside ensuring Ukraine’s non-aligned, neutral, and non-nuclear status, and eliminating any and all threats to Russia’s security that may come from within its borders. <...>

🌐 We will continue working alongside our like-minded partners to shape a fairer multipolar world order that relies on civilisational diversity of the modern-day world. We will keep pursuing our independent foreign policy and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with every country that is willing to cooperate on the basis of equality, trust, and an honest balance of interests, thus contributing to an atmosphere of mutual understanding among nations. Without a doubt, each one of you has a part to play in this.

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📆Today, 3 November, is the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, approved by the decision of the 41st session of the #UNESCO General Conference.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves includes 759 sites, 48 of which are located in 🇷🇺! Russian Biosphere Reserves have no analogues in the world! These are not just protected areas, but places with natural habitats of the greatest importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including endangered, rare, endemic and relict species!

To learn more about Russian sites included in the UNESCO World Network👉🏻 https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/map?hub=66369.

📣We congratulate all representatives of the professional community on this Holiday!

🇷🇺 Today #Russia and its people celebrate national #UnityDay!

The day symbolizes the unity of our multiethnic peoples, celebrates our diversity in unity and our unerring devotion to the Motherland.

❗️ Happy #UnityDay!

#UnityDay2024 #TogetherForever

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❗️ Happy #UnityDay!

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