Minister of Foreign Affairs for an hour answering questions from deputies of the State Duma.
Photo by Alexander Shalgina / TASS
Speaking yesterday to MPs on the government hour, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained why the world is becoming less safe and predictable, and the risks are increasing everywhere. The minister accused the West of trying to shift the blame for the crisis on the Ukrainian and Russian revealed details of his last conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs invited annually to the State Duma. Sergei Lavrov meets with MPs have become a tradition and serve to “compare notes” in order to enhance the promotion of Russian interests in the international arena and secure the holding of a single foreign policy, explained, “NG” in the Russian Foreign Ministry.
15-minute introductory speech Lavrov started with the characteristics of contemporary international relations. They are going through a transition period that is associated with the formation of a new polycentric world order. “This is a difficult process – change of eras, usually accompanied by, if not global clash, the chain of intense conflicts of a local character, – the minister said. – Increasing competition in all sectors, including the model of socio-economic development and values ».
In these circumstances, Russia faces “problem truly historic proportions.” And our country is well placed to consolidate its position as one of the centers of the new multipolar system, to strengthen security and stability. Russia is not a release, and on the development of relations between states. Unfortunately Lavrov, this course meets the continuing Western attempts to divide and conquer, to reshape the world to fit their tactical plans.
Ukrainian crisis, he said, was the result of policies pursued by the West to strengthen their own security at the expense of the safety of others, the expansion controlled them geopolitical space. With the support of the US and some European countries in Ukraine was made unconstitutional armed coup. Radical nationalists put the country on the brink of schism, and pushed into a civil war. Of course, Russia could not and can not passively observe what is happening in the neighboring sister nation. To reinforce this thesis Lavrov quoted from an interview with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger German weekly Spiegel: «Ukraine has always had a special significance for Russia, and not realize it was a fatal mistake».
As a next step towards peace in the Ukraine, Russia calls to establish stable contacts between Kiev and Donbass representatives in order to reach mutually acceptable agreements. The West should encourage this process, and not blindly support everything that makes war party in Kiev, turning a blind eye to human rights violations, war crimes and lawlessness.
The head of the Foreign Ministry believes that the West will not be able to shift the blame for the crisis on the Ukrainian Russia because “the truth about what is happening makes its way even biased Western media.”
«It is impossible to hide, and for unlawful unilateral sanctions, which only undermine efforts to stabilize the world economy and not a whit nearer solution Ukrainian crisis,” – he said. The more that these estimates are shown in the contacts of President Vladimir Putin with Western leaders at the recent summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the G20.
So on Tuesday night, Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin discussing ways out of the Ukrainian crisis with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who believes that there is still no cause for optimism in relation to the events in the south-east of Ukraine. So Europe is said in Berlin, faced with the impending threat of confrontation instead of cooperation.
In turn, Russia wants guarantees that the West did not think of Ukraine’s accession to NATO. This was stated by President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told BBC BBC, which was also broadcasted on Tuesday evening. “We would like to hear an absolute guarantee that no one will think of Ukraine’s accession to NATO – said Peskov. – We want to hear that NATO stop approach to Russia’s borders, NATO stops trying to upset the balance of power. But, unfortunately, we do not hear ».
But it is obvious that Kiev “took a course on the social and economic strangulation of the south-east” of Ukraine. According to Lavrov, with a presidential decree Poroshenko November 14 “stands not only and not so much the desire to socially and economically strangle the region, but to pave the way for another military intervention and for the next attempt by force to solve this problem».
«War Party in Kiev sought to exclude the DNI and LC of the negotiation process and force the West to seek Russian agreement to act as parties to the conflict,” – said the Minister. Although this line has no chance of success, it is important, according to Lavrov to Minsk agreement on Ukraine retained value.
«Who is and is about to complete the process of finalization of the lines of separation” – said Lavrov. This will immediately begin withdrawal of heavy weapons from the conflict zone and deploy OSCE observers. Attempts to question the relevance of Minsk documents taken by those who would like to replay the situation and return the process to a format where the DNI and LC will not be presented. This plan, Russian Foreign Minister sees in those statements that makes prime Yatsenyuk that negotiations should be returned to the Geneva format.
«Geneva format – passed stage,” – said Lavrov. It was useful when there were no direct dialogue between Kiev and southeast. “Now the dialogue is set. It would be criminal to destroy, “- said the Minister.
The fact that the MPs concerned primarily the situation in Ukraine, shows that 4 out of 12 questions given Lavrov touched on this subject. In addition, MPs wondered why Russia’s CIS partners still do not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Would the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to the erosion of Russia’s influence in this structure? As a respected Russian partners, international treaties, how to prevent the penetration of terrorism and drug trafficking across the southern border, strengthen our position in Africa, establish mutually beneficial cooperation with Asian countries, including Mongolia?
Asked chapter of the Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Pushkov about the prospects of cooperation with the United States, Lavrov spoke about a recent conversation with Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing. The Minister drew attention to an enviable constancy with which US President Barack Obama puts in a row threat allegedly posed by Russia, the epidemic of Ebola virus and IG militants fighting in Iraq and Syria. “Well, never mind,” – dismissed the Secretary of State.
«Kerry said this because he wanted to discuss approaches to address the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation on the Korean Peninsula – Lavrov continued. – Undignified for powerful state as consumer approach to their partners. Where we need you – you to me, please, help, and where I want to punish you – you listen to me! »
Russia is working on the Iranian nuclear program and the situation on the Korean peninsula, not because it wants to make someones day, the minister stressed. “This country, which are located close to us. We resistant centuries-old ties. And we are against any risks to the non-proliferation regime, “- said Lavrov.
Of course, Russia recognizes that differences with the West are objective and reflect real mismatch legitimate interests. However, the minister said, “we are ready to bridge positions and seek compromises solely on the basis of equality and real consideration of the interests of each other and the failure of attempts to blackmail and diktat».
The emerging as intensification of Russia’s relations with Asia is not an alternative to relations with the West. “Eastern vector of our policy is not seen as an alternative to relations with the West, and as a factor in the implementation of the principle of multi-vector of our work in the international arena – Lavrov told MPs. – It gives more stable position of the country in the world. ”
Michael Kokorich, director of “Dauriya Aerospace” said that for the ISS must create a commercial operator. This solution will enable the Russian segment of the station to make a profit, at the expense of launching satellites midget. Kokorich offers to provide services such as satellite launch CubeSat, whose dimensions are equal to the cube of 10 by 10 cm. The world is now a great demand for such a service. Only NASA astronauts launch midget sputniki.Danny business will be very beneficial and bring Roskomosu significant income. 
