Terrorism was the key global threat last year but the international community is unable to unite to fight against it, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during his annual press conference to review the results of Russian diplomacy in 2016.
"The number of threats did not decrease last year," he said. Moscow is regrets the fact that international community "still cannot create a united front against terrorism": "Of course this causes serious concern and regret. Why is this happening? There may be many reasons. We see that the problem of forming common ranks to fight terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, many other threats, this problem is becoming systemic," TASS cited Lavrov as saying.
A range of reasons create obstacles for joining efforts, he said. "This problem faces basic contradictions between the objective tendency of formation of the multipolar world on the one hand and the actions of those who try to stick to the outdated concept of multipolarity," he explained.
Another reason is a contradiction in basic principles of foreign policy of different countries, he said. "This is pragmatism, good and well-understood national interests or messianism and drive to spread one’s values around the world, in a way they were implemented in this group of countries," he said.
Russia is seeking common ground with those interested in the global economic expansion for the benefit of all countries and nations, Lavrov stressed.
"Our choice preference is pragmatism based on vital interests of Russia. They are simple and permanent and imply that the country gets on well and promotes welfare. We are searching for mutual interests with those who are ready to spur global economic growth for the benefit of all countries and nations without any exception, we’re seeking common ground with those who are aware of the lack of options regarding uniting efforts in tackling terrorism and other todays’ threats," Lavrov said.
The US stepped up its recruitment activity against Russian diplomats during Barack Obama’s second presidential term, Sergey Lavrov said, adding that the complaints of the US diplomats from the embassy in Moscow about unbearable working conditions have not been confirmed.
"During Barack Obama’s presidency we have been receiving complaints about unbearable working conditions created for the US embassy. They said that the "air supply" to the ambassador had been shut off as far as his contacts were concerned. We addressed this situation and found out that it was quite the opposite," Lavrov said.
According to Lavrov, the future of relations between Russia and the United States will be clearer after the new US administration assumes its office. "It makes no sense speaking about it at the moment," Lavrov said. "It will become clear how relations between the United States and the rest of the world will be developing only after everyone in the new (US) administration assumes office and the official work begins."
According to the minister, Russia welcomes the US President-elect Donald Trump’s statements in which he said that the war on terror would be one of his priorities as far as foreign policy is concerned.
"This is exactly what our US counterparts have been lacking. What we have heard from Donald Trump and his team indicates that they have a different approach and are unlikely to employ double standards in order to take advantage of the war on terror to achieve some goals not related to it," the Russian top diplomat said.
Moscow has also welcomed Trump's words that every country should independently determine its development.
"Donald Trump wants every country to be responsible for its own development. This resonates with our approach. We want everyone to be independent, to see less sponging in the world and more respect to legitimate interests of every state," the Foreign Minister said.
Russia considers it right to invite representatives of the United Nations and the new US administration to Syria talks in Astana on January 23 and expects Washington will accept the invitation, Lavrov said.
"We expect that the new US administration will be able to accept this invitation and will be represented by its experts at any possible level. "This will be the first official contact, during which it will be possible to start discussing measures to increase the efficiency of the fight against terrorism in Syria," Lavrov said.
The talks in Astana should agree on the full-fledged participation of Syrian field commanders in the political process: "What these negotiations lacked was the participation of those who really determines the situation on the ground. You can call them armed formations, armed groups of the opposition," the foreign minister said.
Russian Foreign Minister also mentioned the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, noting that there are a number of documents regarding its settlement.
According to him, demands to liberate the occupied territories – using peaceful means and subsequently determining Nagorno-Karabakh’s status – have always been on the negotiation table.
