Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has given an interview to REN TV, commenting on a number of topical issues of Russian foreign policy. Special attention was paid to the situation in connection with the attack on the Russian diplomatic mission in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and relations between Moscow and Washington, as well as the threat posed by the terrorist organization Daesh.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, "the actions of the thugs who attacked the Russian embassy and burst into the territory of our Consulate General and tore down flags. The actions of the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Parasyuk are outrageous.’’
"Honestly, we don’t seen any reaction from the so-called international community. When Iranian citizens broke into the Consulate-General of Saudi Arabia the event led to quite serious noise. We have joined a process aimed at the unconditional protection of diplomatic missions and all the conventions signed by all states of the world. We don’t see any reaction from our Western colleagues," he expressed his bewilderment.
"Our employees have all the necessary tools to prevent any illegal actions and they have protection measures, but, of course, the main thing is to prevent such activities from the 'curators' of the Ukrainian authorities. The 'curators' have a decisive influence on the current leadership in Kiev. Today I will speak on this topic with US Secretary of state John Kerry. We have sent corresponding signals to European capitals,’’ Sergei Lavrov reports.
Speaking about Ukraine, the Minister commented on the situation about the trial of Nadezhda Savchenko and the anti-Russian campaign due to the situation.
"The accusation regarding Nadezhda Savchenko is very serious. Participation in the premeditated murder of Russian journalists in the conflict zone. The Russian Foreign Ministry repeatedly stressed the journalists’ fate, however the Western benefactors of Kiev are not interested in it, but they are developing the case of Savchenko for purely political purposes,’’ he said.
"In general, sanctions are the replacement policy and diplomacy in actions of our American colleagues. Washington has already called to impose further sanctions against Russia for what is happening in Syria. At a time when we, together with the Americans, are promoting a settlement process on the basis of an agreement between the two presidents, they adopted two UN Security Council resolutions and created the MTT with two groups, which regularly met in Geneva with targeted groups to discuss issues of strengthening the truce and humanitarian aid. However, Washington (though not yet from the "bowels" of the administration itself, but among influential politicians) announces requirements to ‘‘punish" us for Syria. Although, I repeat it once again that we are working in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government,’’ the Foreign Minister complained.
Speaking of Russian-American relations the minister stressed that "we proceed from our principle position: we work with the United States not to be liked by them and make them ‘‘softer" towards us, but we work in areas where our cooperation can actually become a result which will be in the interests of the Russian Federation." "We cooperate with the Americans on the Syrian settlement because we do not need terrorist organizations in the Middle East, as terrorists began to disturb our neighbors and our country," the Foreign Minister said.
