Lavrov: Europe is not safe

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that creating a Euro-Atlantic common space of peace, security and stability remains unfulfilled, and the security situation in Europe seems unsatisfactory. 

This opinion was expressed in an article published in the Serbian magazine "Horizons".

"International relations are going through a complicated stage of development - as one historical epoch replaces the other, with a new polycentric world order now taking shape. It is a process accompanied by increasing instability - both at global and regional levels. Risks of deeper inter-confessional and inter-civilizational splits are growing. The world economy remains unstable, and might still relapse into crisis." 

According to Lavrov, "the global situation has been deteriorating recently, with new dangerous hotbeds of tension emerging, in addition to old conflicts". "An upsurge of terrorism and extremism, both in the Middle East and North Africa, are causes of serious concern," the Minister pointed out. 

"The security situation in Europe is all but satisfactory". "We had hoped that a Europe that had endured two World Wars and then the Cold War would finally embark on a road to prosperity, mutually beneficial partnership, and peaceful sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations," the head of the Russian foreign ministry stressed. 

"All the necessary prerequisites were in place. Irreconcilable ideological differences that had divided our continent in the twentieth century had been removed". "In November 2014, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which had symbolized them", the Minister reminds. 

"Unfortunately, at that juncture the chance to overcome the dark legacy of the previous era, and decisively erase the dividing lines, was missed. The principles set forth in the Helsinki Final Act have not been translated into legally binding documents. Despite Russia’s repeated calls and decisions adopted by the OSCE and the NATO-Russia Council, the task of creating a common space of peace, security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area has not been accomplished."