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 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 🇷🇺
🗓 The 18th East Asia Summit (#EAS) will convene in Jakarta on September 7.
🇷🇺 Russia advocates using the EAS platform to expand multi-pronged practical cooperation with a focus on sector-specific projects.
Our initiatives on this platform include efforts:
• to establish regionwide collaboration in pandemic response with the launch of a collective response mechanism to epidemic threats,
• the development of practical cooperation in the field of tourism. Relevant Russian proposals have been part of top-level thematic documents.
⚠️ During the East Asia Summit, Russia considers it critical to highlight the growing risks to peaceful and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region against the backdrop of the West’s confrontational policy aimed at militarising the regional space, with the potential involvement of NATO and the dismantling of the established ASEAN security architecture and replacing all of it with “Indo-Pacific” bloc-based constructs based on containment and counteraction principles.
Russia advocates strengthening the system of country-to-country relations in the region, including by aligning ASEAN with regional formats in the Eurasian space, primarily the #SCO and the #EAEU, which, like ASEAN, operate on a positive non-bloc agenda of connectivity and co-development.
Read in full
🇷🇺 Russia advocates using the EAS platform to expand multi-pronged practical cooperation with a focus on sector-specific projects.
Our initiatives on this platform include efforts:
• to establish regionwide collaboration in pandemic response with the launch of a collective response mechanism to epidemic threats,
• the development of practical cooperation in the field of tourism. Relevant Russian proposals have been part of top-level thematic documents.
⚠️ During the East Asia Summit, Russia considers it critical to highlight the growing risks to peaceful and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region against the backdrop of the West’s confrontational policy aimed at militarising the regional space, with the potential involvement of NATO and the dismantling of the established ASEAN security architecture and replacing all of it with “Indo-Pacific” bloc-based constructs based on containment and counteraction principles.
Russia advocates strengthening the system of country-to-country relations in the region, including by aligning ASEAN with regional formats in the Eurasian space, primarily the #SCO and the #EAEU, which, like ASEAN, operate on a positive non-bloc agenda of connectivity and co-development.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov answers questions from the NTV Itogi Nedeli aka the Outcomes of the Week programme (December 24, 2023)
❓ Here is a philosophical question: Yesterday, you spoke about justice, a just solution to the crisis, a just multipolar world order, etc. Now the Global South is closely watching us. What kind of justice can we offer them? How do we make it clear to them?
💬 I think that any normal person, including politicians, immediately understands what injustice is when they see it. It is clear to them when issues are resolved fairly, based on a balance of interests and the key principle of the UN Charter, which emphasises the need to respect the sovereign equality of all states, big and small.
since the creation of the UN, the West, especially the US, has failed to comply with this key principle of sovereign equality. <...>
In this context, justice means equal rights for all states and entities established in different regions. This includes the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the African Union, #CELAC, as well as numerous subregional institutions in Africa and Latin America. In Eurasia, we have the #EAEU, the #SCO and #ASEAN. These organisations have established close contacts, including through the Belt and Road project. <...>
❓ Why didn't you mention BRICS?
💬 I didn't mention BRICS because it is self-evident. I listed the organisations that are emerging at the regional level. #BRICS is not an organisation but an association. I don't think there is any interest in turning it into a formal organisation with a secretariat, at least not at this stage <...>
BRICS is a symbol. It represents the shared desire of a majority of countries in the world to develop their initiatives together, taking into account each other's interests on an equal basis. It serves as a future umbrella for all subregional and regional processes. <...> This is the future.
☝️ In the West, there are no organisations that have fair rules in terms of equality and genuine consensus.
Read in full
❓ Here is a philosophical question: Yesterday, you spoke about justice, a just solution to the crisis, a just multipolar world order, etc. Now the Global South is closely watching us. What kind of justice can we offer them? How do we make it clear to them?
💬 I think that any normal person, including politicians, immediately understands what injustice is when they see it. It is clear to them when issues are resolved fairly, based on a balance of interests and the key principle of the UN Charter, which emphasises the need to respect the sovereign equality of all states, big and small.
since the creation of the UN, the West, especially the US, has failed to comply with this key principle of sovereign equality. <...>
In this context, justice means equal rights for all states and entities established in different regions. This includes the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the African Union, #CELAC, as well as numerous subregional institutions in Africa and Latin America. In Eurasia, we have the #EAEU, the #SCO and #ASEAN. These organisations have established close contacts, including through the Belt and Road project. <...>
❓ Why didn't you mention BRICS?
💬 I didn't mention BRICS because it is self-evident. I listed the organisations that are emerging at the regional level. #BRICS is not an organisation but an association. I don't think there is any interest in turning it into a formal organisation with a secretariat, at least not at this stage <...>
BRICS is a symbol. It represents the shared desire of a majority of countries in the world to develop their initiatives together, taking into account each other's interests on an equal basis. It serves as a future umbrella for all subregional and regional processes. <...> This is the future.
☝️ In the West, there are no organisations that have fair rules in terms of equality and genuine consensus.
Read in full