Large conference Sergei Lavrov: the key applications – TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a traditional big press conference at the end of 2015. At a press conference accredited more than 250 foreign and 200 Russian journalists.

The main statements of the Russian Foreign Ministry – in the material TASS

About the threat of international terrorism

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the dangers that pose a plan to establish Islamic caliphate from Portugal to Pakistan. “This is a real threat not only to regional but also the entire global security,” – said Lavrov.
• Russia under the threat sought to be active as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, not only defending the national interest, but also realizing its responsibility for the situation in the world.
• The participation of Russia in the fight against terrorism contributed to the adoption of important resolutions of the UN Security Council aimed at preventing the financing of terrorism. Russia is seeking conscientious of their performance and detailed reports of the UN Secretariat on how and who to meet its obligations under these instruments.
• According to unofficial data, in the first report on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution on the suppression of the financing of terrorist groups while nothing refers to the smuggling of oil from Syria to Turkey, said Russian Foreign Minister. Facts “should be reflected in this report,” Russia will not allow to bring them to oblivion, assured Lavrov.

About the anti-terrorist operation in Syria

• One of the key moments 2015 was the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the formation under UN auspices broad anti-terrorist coalition.
• The actions of Russian air and space forces in response to the request of the Syrian leadership have helped to reverse the situation in Syria and ensure the restriction controlled by terrorists space.
• “clarify the picture, who are fighting the terrorists and who are their accomplices and tries to use them in their own selfish purposes,” – Lavrov added.

About the political settlement of the situation in Syria

• The talks on Syria without the Syrian Kurds can not produce a result, according to the Russian Foreign Minister. “Syrian Kurds – about 15% of the population and a significant, and a key area” – recalled the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
• The decision on the participation of the Kurds in mezhsiriyskih negotiations should take special envoy of the UN Secretary General on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, Russia will not veto.
• Lavrov denied media reports that the former head of the GRU Igor Sergun offered Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. “I’ve read the speculation that circulated with reference to the late Igor Sergunov alleged he specially went to Damascus, and there offer President Assad to leave, – the minister said. – That’s not true. The conversation with President Assad of this kind was not necessary”.
• Assad did not ask Russia for political asylum. “Neither of which asylum nobody asked, no nothing like that offered”, – stressed the Minister.
• Trying to arrange a joint struggle against terrorism in Syria condition resignation of President Bashar al-Assad – “a big mistake”.

About the crisis in Ukraine

• The great achievement of the last year the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry considers the agreements concluded in Minsk February 12, 2015
• The implementation of “Minska- 2 “continues in 2016, the problem unchanged. Russia will demand their strict compliance in accordance with additional agreements and the efforts made by the leaders of “Norman Format”.
• The decision of the Ukrainian crisis should be exclusively peaceful. “We continue to contribute to the Ukrainians restored national consensus and achieved normal sustainable development,” – said Lavrov.
• Minsk agreement approved by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, determines the foreign policy of the country. Ukrainian authorities, instead of a fair and consistent implementation of the agreements play up the radicals who are trying to interpret the unfair agreement, Russian Foreign Minister said.
• Kiev sees the extension of sanctions against Russia as the West’s failure to comply with the consent of the Minsk agreements Ukrainian authorities. “We do not want someone to build a policy so that the” Minsk-2 “must fulfill Russia, not Ukraine, – said Lavrov. – Contact Victoria Nuland show that the United States are well-versed in the essence of” Minsk-2 “.
• Russia does not violate the Budapest Memorandum. “Budapest Memorandum contains one single commitment not to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. No one did, and no threats to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine did not sound, “- said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

About the relations with the West

• Russia open to develop cooperation with Western partners, but only on an equal and mutually beneficial basis, while respecting the interests of each side, the minister stressed.
• Attempts to restrain Russia, although “this line for a long time had to be deposited in the archives of history.”
• “business as usual” when Russia is trying to impose an agreement, taking into account first and foremost the interests of either the EU or the US, no more. “It starts with a story that can only be developed on the basis of equality and all other principles of international law “- said Lavrov.
• The cooling of relations with the Obama administration and termination of the” reset “started long before Ukraine.” When we joined the WTO, the United States realized that the Jackson-Vanik amendment it is no longer profitable. But they would not be a, if it simply abolished, they invented the “Magnitsky Act”. The point in this case is not delivered, I hope that the truth will be known to all. Then there was a reaction to the situation with Snowden. We do not get up in the posture of the offended, we have such traditions in relations with States not – said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. – We understand that the life of any rigid schemes as “reset”. We understand that the US is interested, so they have less competition “.

About the relations with NATO

• Moscow will consider strengthening the military capabilities of NATO near the borders of the Russian Federation .
• Russia considers such actions destabilizing and short-sighted. “Attempts to rethink the situation being made, but not very impressive success,” Lavrov said.
• The problem is that the decisions of NATO to accept connections States, and Europe is just “take the salute,” the minister added.

About the relations with Germany and the situation in the European Union

• The relations between Russia and Germany are not in crisis or impasse. In the States there is an intensive dialogue at the highest level, at the level of Foreign Ministers and other Ministers.
• Moscow urges Germany not to “sweep under the carpet” event with the Russian girl, Lavrov said. Moscow is on Communication with lawyers the child’s family, which is more than a day lost in Germany.
• The German business continues active in the settlement of relations with its Russian partners, said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
• Some of the examples positive results – began to work together on the design and construction of the pipeline “Nord Stream-2″. The Minister expressed the hope that the decisions taken on the basis of a clear understanding of their national interests.
• Germany strives to take into account the interests of all EU countries, it becomes to do more and more difficult, Lavrov said.
• Moscow is not interested in splitting the EU. “We are interested in a united, strong European Union, with which you can work on the economy and on all other matters”, – said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

About the relationship with Canada

• Lavrov described the relations between Russia and Canada as “very good and long-standing”.
• The last two years have been for both countries, “the time of lost opportunities”, as the government of Stephen Harper rolled bilateral ties, imposed sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities. Russia had to respond, reminded the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
• After the victory in the October 2015 elections in Canada, the Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau appear possible to rectify the bilateral relationship that “were completely artificial and pointless complicated “.
• In November, 2015 on the sidelines of the G20 summit held talks Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, both sides expressed willingness to normalize relations. “We believe that practical steps for our partners, who have declared their intention to correct the mistakes of their predecessors,” – said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

About the relations with Japan

• The peace treaty with Japan – is not synonymous with the solution of the territorial problem.
• Russia is ready for dialogue with Japan, another round of consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers will be held in February. “The historical aspect and, above all, the results of the Second World War – is that part of this dialogue, which can not be bypassed, forgotten and put aside. We are always going to come up against this problem. And this our Japanese colleagues know,” – said Lavrov .

About the cooperation with the countries of the Asia-Pacific

• In May in Sochi will host a summit of Russia-ASEAN on the agenda of the meeting – jointly with partners EAEC consultation with the countries – members of the SCO and ASEAN on the formation of a possible economic partnership. This opens up additional opportunities for cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

About the relations with Georgia

• Russian Federation is ready to abolish visas to Georgia, but to start better restore diplomatic relations.
• relations with Georgia out of the stage of deep-frozen.

About the situation on the Korean Peninsula

• Moscow not sure North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb it. “If this were the case, would mean that the UN Security Council resolution, limiting the supply of DPRK such elements are not effective and that additional material in the DPRK, without which it is impossible given the bomb to create a fall,” – said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
• On the situation consultations are being held with the United States, China, Japan and South Korea. Russia and China urged to resume the six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula with the participation of North Korea.

About the Litvinenko case

• In the British report on the results of the so-called public inquiry into the death of ex -ofitsera Alexander Litvinenko to the serious allegations of the Russian Federation, but not charged with any proof.
• The play around the “Litvinenko case” further complicate Russian-British relations, Foreign Minister.

About Crimea

• Russia is not negotiating for the return of the Crimea in the Ukraine, a territory of the Russian Federation in full accordance with the will of the people of Crimea.