Briefing of the Official Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia A.K. Lukashevich, July, 20th, 2012
The Syrian problem in the UN Security Council
On July, 19th in the UN Security Council the voting on draft resolution on Syria proposed by Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, the USA and France took place. The resolution was not adopted, as Russia and China voted against. Two members of the UN Security Council – Pakistan and the South African Republic – abstained from voting.
The abovementioned draft resolution was put to vote despite our repeated warnings of its unacceptability for the Russian Federation. The document had an extremely unilateral character and was aimed exclusively to bring pressure on Syrian authorities. Co-authors insisted that the resolution should be accepted within the scope of the Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and contain the threat of applying sanctions on Damascus. The ultimatum to cease violence within 10 days, to disengage all troops and heavy armor from cities and settlements, with sanctions introduced in case of non-fulfillment of such demands delivered to the Syrian authorities in written form, was absolutely unrealistic. And the most important thing is that the draft did not provide any similar sanctions concerning the other party of the Syrian internal armed conflict – opposition groups. As a matter of fact, the co-authors of the draft suggested that the UN Security Council should once again encourage opposition in its armed struggle against the government of Syria. And this is a way to incite the civil war in the country.
From the very beginning of the Syrian crisis the Russian Federation undertook efforts on the consolidation of international actors on the positions of political settlement. This was the purpose of the ministerial meeting of the Syria Action Group which took place in Geneva on June, 30th, at the initiative of our party and K. Annan. On its results the document which marked out a realistic roadmap to overcome the Syrian crisis was approved. In its basis lies the responsibility of Syrians themselves for the future of the state. International actors have undertaken the obligation to influence all Syrian parties in order to terminate violence and start the political process for the implementation of transition to peace. The Geneva communique did not contain any references to the Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and the threat of introducing sanctions.
Nevertheless, our Western partners, acting out of accord with spirit and letter of the Geneva decisions, started to pursue an absolutely different policy, inciting the opposition to intensify extremist and even terrorist activities and to condemn the conflict to escalation, which has already reached such a tragic scale.
From our part, the Russian Federation advanced in the Security Council the draft resolution that supported K. Annan's plan and the Geneva agreements, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the prolongation of the United Nations mission in Syria. During the consultations the Russian delegation showed readiness for constructive work and search of compromise, including in a number of statements of the Western project into our draft. The Russian document addressed a symmetric appeal to all Syrian parties, and urged them to strictly follow the statements of the final communique adopted in Geneva. The fact that our partners refused to work on its basis, did not want to carry out the decisions that they approved, causes serious concern on their true intentions.
Unlike the Syrian government, the opposition completely rejected them. It became the main reason for the further aggravation of the situation in Syrian Arab Republic. In this context the attempts of some Western countries to place the responsibility for escalation of violence in Syria on Russia because of its refusal to support the resolution containing threats of sanctions against the Syrian authorities are absolutely unacceptable.
Instead of making rough insinuations in relation to the policy of Russia, which did not abandon the efforts on the search of its political settlement for a minute throughout the entire conflict, our Western partners should have done something to induce the belligerent opposition to settle down to a course of political settlement.
The conflict in Syria cannot be settled by escalation of violence and terrorist attacks. Thereupon the statements of some representatives of the western delegations after the voting in UN Security Council had failed sounded at least cynical, as if the bloody acts of terrorism in Damascus confirm the necessity of rendering unilateral pressure upon B. Assad's regime which, as they say, brought the country to such a state. Thus, the actions of terrorists are virtually justified, they are given the signal that they have chosen the correct path.
We are confident that there is only one way out – strict accomplishment of K. Annan's settlement plan and the Geneva decisions. The Russian party intends to achieve its unconditional implementation henceforth.
The Charter of the United Nations regularized the respect of the state sovereignty and independence of the states as key principles that provide collective security. The philosophy of forceful change of regimes that are undesirable to a group of states pursuing narrow egoistic geopolitical purposes, is, as historical experience shows, defective and leads to total destabilization of not only separate countries, but also entire regions.
On the working visit to Moscow of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus E. Kozakou-Marcoullis
On July, 25th, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus E. Kozakou-Marcoullis will make a working visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov.
During the negotiations the ministers will analyse the course of implementation of the Joint Action Programme signed for 2010-2013 on the top level, state and prospects of the Russian-Cyprian relations in various spheres, including the development of political dialogue, enhancement of contract and legal base, stepping up of commercial, economic, investment cooperation, as well as humanitarian.
The Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus in The Council of the European Union that started on July 1st this year and will last for six months gives an additional dimension to the agenda. It is planned to discuss a wide range of issues of development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the European Union, including the subject of the soonest cancellation of the visa regime and further work on preparation of the new Russia-EU basic agreement. Among other high priority issues is interaction in the sphere of crisis management, intensification of contacts concerning cooperation in various industries, first of all in the energy sector.
Of course, the exchange of views on topical international problems will take place, in particular, on the state of affairs in East Mediterranean with a stress on the situation around Syria, the entire region of Middle East and North Africa. Particular attention, as always, will be paid to the Cyprian settlement.
On the forthcoming visit of V. Jeremić to Moscow
On July, 26th, in Moscow, the negotiations of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia S.V. Lavrov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia V. Jeremić, who will be making a working visit to the Russian Federation, will take place.
In connection with the election of V. Jeremić on the post of the President of the 67th Session the General Assembly of the United Nations during the forthcoming meeting it is planned to conduct a profound exchange of view on topical international problems, to discuss the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
During the negotiations between S.V. Lavrov and V. Jeremić it is planned to discuss a range of issues connected with the increasing role of the United Nations in international relations and its adaptation to modern world realities. The particular emphasis will be made on the problems of the supremacy of law in the international relations in the context of prevention and settlement of crises and rapid response to the challenges of global security. It is planned to have an exchange of views on most pressing topics of the United Nations agenda with a stress on the importance of consolidation of international efforts for the cause of overcoming the challenges of modernity.
On the forthcoming visit to Russia of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan K. Genba
On July, 28th in Sochi the negotiations of S.V. Lavrov with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan K. Genba who will be making a working visit to Russia will take place.
It is planned to discuss a wide range of topical issues of the Russian-Japanese relations and the international agenda from the point of view of implementation of the agreements achieved by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and the Prime Minister of Japan Y. Noda during the meeting "on the sidelines" of the summit of the "Group of Twenty" which took place in Los Cabos in June.
Highest priority is supposed to be given to the prospects of development of bilateral cooperation, first of all in the field of economy. Russian-Japanese cooperation has recently dynamically extended in various fields. Following the results of 2011 the trade volume between the two countries reached the pre-crisis level – around 30 billion US dollars, and the total accumulated amount of Japanese investments into the Russian economy exceeded 10 billion US dollars.
Serious possibilities for the advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation exist in the field of power industry, including the Russian Far East. Implementation of projects in this field will allow Japan to diversify power supplies and receive additional volumes of hydrocarbons, and will enable Russia to export goods with high value added and to increase its industrial potential.
We attach great significance to the deepening of bilateral cooperation in the field of peaceful application of nuclear energy within the limits of corresponding Russian-Japanese intergovernmental agreement which entered into force on May, 3rd of this year. Our objective is to carry out large-scale mutually beneficial projects in this field.
There are also powerful grounds for the enhancement of operation of leading Japanese automobile corporations on the Russian market, including the market of the Far East.
Some other aspects of bilateral relations, including fishery and preserving of marine living resources, as well as humanitarian and cultural cooperation, will also be touched at the negotiations in Sochi.
It is possible that ministers will continue an exchange of views on the peace treaty problem. As it is known, Moscow substantially proceeds from the necessity of discussion of this theme in a quiet atmosphere of mutual respect and – which is of principal importance – on the background of progressive development of the full spectrum of mutual relations.
Another important subject of the negotiations is going to be the discussion of topical international problems. It will be the issue of, particularly, the ways of deepening the coordination between Moscow and Tokyo in the questions of security in the Asia-Pacific Region and the advancement of integration processes in this area. Certainly, the nuclear problem of the Korean peninsula, the situation around Syria, assistance to Afghanistan and a variety of other important subject will not remain untouched.
On the situation around the American private orphan asylum "Ranch for kids"
We are seriously concerned that official Russian representatives, including the Authorized Representative of the President of Russia on the Rights of the Child P.A. Astahov and the employees of the consular agency of Russia in the USA, have no possibility to visit adopted children from our country from which their American adoptive parents refused and which are contained in orphan asylum "Ranch for kids" in the State of Montana. Despite numerous requests, the management of this institution denies the possibility to visit minor Russians and to ascertain their well-being, making use of the indifferent position of the American state authorities.
Meanwhile, according to available information, living conditions in the "Ranch for kids" do not correspond to the appropriate health and sanitary standards. The necessary level of education, medical and psychological help is not provided. Moreover, two years ago the authorities of Montana revoked license from this asylum because of the revealed gross violations, up to concealment of the information on the number of children kept there. Nevertheless, this asylum continues its activity under the guise of a "religious community".
We consider this situation to be unacceptable. It gives rise to doubt on the readiness of the USA to take a responsible approach on the implementation of the bilateral agreement about the cooperation in the field of the international adoption, which is ratified by both chambers of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and should enter into force soon. We are perturbed that we deal with a virtual refusal in granting the consular access to minor citizens of Russia. It is a gross violation of the norms of international law.
We demand to give us the possibility to visit the Russian children in the "Ranch for kids" without any obstruction. We expect that the American authorities, including the US State Department, which is responsible for the execution of the abovementioned Agreement, will urgently take the measures necessary to correct this intolerable situation.
On the so-called "presidential elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh
Some colleagues, in particular, from such organisations as Azerbaijan news agency APA "Azeri Press", the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency asked us to make comments on the results of so-called "presidential elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh.
As it is known, as well as all other countries we do not recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state.
We do not consider that the results of the process of peace settlement could depend on these elections. Our position on this matter is expressed in the statement of co-chairmen on Nagorno-Karabakh which will be placed on the OSCE site.
I would like to underline that Russia consistently supports the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by political and diplomatic methods on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act, other foundational documents of the United Nations and the OSCE, in particular, the principles of non-use of force or threats to apply force expressed in them, of territorial integrity of the states, equality and the peoples right for self-determination.
We shall continue consecutive work in this direction with the conflict parties, interacting with other co-chairmen-states, and basing on the positions expressed in the joint statements of the Presidents of Russia, the USA and France, made in 2009-2012.
Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization
I would like to respond to the question that the TV channel "Russia 24" addressed to us: "This week Russia has finished last formalities necessary for the accession to WTO. When will it be possible to witness the first results of joining this Organization?"
Indeed, Russia has entered a home straight in the process of the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which lasted eighteen years.
The protocol on the accession of the Russian Federation to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization of April, 15th, 1994 was signed on December, 16th, 2011 and was subject to ratification by Russia within 220 days. After the end of all internal procedures Russia will officially notify the WTO Secretariat on its readiness to join, and after 30 days from the moment of ratification it will become the full-fledged member of the Organization.
After the accession to WTO the conditions of participation of Russia in world trade will change. We will get access to the instruments of multilateral economic diplomacy, and, first of all, the unique mechanism of settlement of commercial disputes which became a standard for the majority of the states long time ago. The commercial and economic relations with foreign partners will receive and additional impulse. Russia will be able to participate in the elaboration of further commercial and economic strategy of global development in a full-fledged manner.
Thus we are speaking not about receiving instant benefits, but about systematic adaptation to new "rules of the game" and integrating the WTO regulations into the daily activity of our economic operators. For this purpose Russia had agreed upon long transition periods. The results of our accession to the WTO will depend to a large extent on whether our industries will learn to leverage the WTO resource efficiently.
On the publication of the "Diplomatic bulletin" annual for 2011
The regular annual of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia – the "Diplomatic bulletin" for 2011 – was published.
The seventh issue of the edition includes, as before, the most important documents and materials reflecting the activity of the Russian diplomatic service during the last year. The publications and photographic materials of the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia served as the information basis of the annual.
The circulation of the edition is 500 copies. Each book is accompanied with a digital version on a compact disc. Within the next few days the annual will be made available in the electronic form on the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The "paper" version of the edition includes over two thousand publications sorted by different categories.
The edition is opened with a traditional address of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia S.V. Lavrov to the readers of the annual.
The annual is prepared by the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and its primary target audience are diplomats and specialists on foreign affairs. I hope it will be also interesting for journalists. I am confident that the collection also will be actual for all those who are interested in the nowadays foreign policy of Russia.
The edition is distributed to all ministries and government agencies, specialised libraries, to the heads of leading mass-media etc.
From the answers to media questions:
Question: Please, comment on yesterday's statement expressed by the Permanent Representative of the USA in the UN S. Rice that the United States and their allies after the third veto of Syria's resolution in the UN Security Council will take steps outside the Security Council to influence the situation in the SAR.
Answer: This question is clearly answered by our Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin, immediately after the meeting of the UN Security Council. I think that the task of Russia and all external players, particularly the permanent members of UN Security Council to use all their resources and act in line with the collective decision-making, which joined the international community, namely the Security Council resolutions 2042, 2043 and the Geneva communiqué. On this basis, we are ready to work on.
If quoted by you statements and plans are elements of real policy, it is quite alarming. And we all need to think about how the international community is going to respond to international conflicts.
Question: How are the Russian citizens, who are now in Syria? The situation is getting worth. Is there constant contact with the Russian diplomatic mission? Is there any plan for providing them with immediate assistance, including evacuation?
Answer: The Russian Embassy in Damascus is in close contact with the majority of Russian citizens, including those in remote regions. If you watch the news broadcasts on Russian TV channels, you can see live broadcasts. We are very thankful and grateful to the Russian citizens, who reported from the event place a real picture of what is happening - not with trembling mobile phones anywhere in Qatar and elsewhere, but from their real location. It helps. The correspondent of "Russia 24" A. Popova works actively and now goes on the air more often. Of course, we follow the messages from other media and analyze them. Thus, we extensively use the information resources of the Russian citizens.
It is clear, that in such difficult situation the main problem for any diplomatic mission – is the safety of its citizens. Of course, there are plans in the case of escalation of the situation. They are adapting. I am sure that in this sense, there should not be doubts that if the situation further deteriorates, these plans will be implemented. Such decisions are made by the country's leadership.
Question: In what state are the Chinese fishermen, who were captured a few days ago in the exclusive economic zone of Russia in water area of Sea of Japan? How can be solved the problem of release of the fishermen? If the man who fell into the sea when the ship and a fishing schooner crashed is found?
Answer: I would not use a rigid expression "capture" characterizing the situation. This is a regular action of the Russian border authorities in the exclusive economic zone. This is quite understandable, and internationally recognized. But at least I would like to clarify the situation more detailed.
According with available information on July, 15 and 16 of this year by Border forces of the FSB of Russia in Primorsky Krai in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation for violating the rules of fishing the ships under the flag of the Chinese Peoples Republic were arrested.
In particular, on July 15 was arrested a fishing ship with a side number 8695 (port of registration - Weihai, the crew - 19 people, commercial papers and devices for technical controls were absent). On board there are about 40 tons of frozen squid.
On July 16 in the exclusive economic zone of Russia had discovered a group of up to 40 ships engaged in illegal fishing. In an attempt to arrest one of them (board number 80-117, port of registration - Weihai, crew - 17 people), the ship did not obey the requirements of the Coast Guard, refused to answer the radio inquiry messages , made an attempt to leave the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone of Russia. During the chase the offender was dangerous maneuvering, upon the landing of examination group the crew was resisting. On board there are about 22 tones of squid (documentation on the catching and on ship were absent).
Both ships are escorted to the port of Nakhodka, the competent authorities are conducting prescribed by Russian law investigations. Details of the incident being investigated, local authorities are in contact with Chinese consular colleagues, who met with the captains and crews of ships.
I don't know about the destiny of the person, we clarify the information. I can assure you that, even if such incidents often occur in life, we have with our Chinese colleagues all the necessary bilateral mechanisms to resolve such controversies. I think we are able to solve this conflict.
Question: Today the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Syria expires. The UN Security Council may vote for the resolution to extend the mission for thirty days. How Russia founds this resolution?
Answer: Russia's position is clear and known. Yesterday it was sounded once again in the statement of our Permanent Representative of the UN Vitaly Churkin. We actively support the continuation of the UN Observer Mission in Syria. We believe that this component is a very important platform for the support of the special envoy of the UN / LAS Kofi Annan. The monitoring practice proves its efficiency. These, in essence, are stabilizing elements, and the only way to get reliable balanced information that comes to the international community.
We are ready to support the technical project, which I hope will be examined today. We would like to hope that all our colleagues in the UN Security Council will be guided by the sense of responsibility in making this important decision. Russia is ready for such a scenario, and ready to work constructively with all partners in the UN Security Council to adopt a balanced draft decision of the UN Security Council.
Question: What is the today situation with Iran, which has filed a lawsuit against Russia for the fact that last year he was not sold weapons?
Answer: We have repeatedly voiced our position on this issue. To submit the claim to the Arbitration court – is the sovereign right of any state. We still believe that it is not a right resolve of the situation. All the motives of our decision in accordance with UN Security Council resolution are brought to information of the Iranian party. I hope that common sense will prevail and we will remove this issue from the agenda of our bilateral relations.
Question: Yesterday, the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress banned the Pentagon to cooperate with JSC "Rosoboronexport" in order to convince the Russian state-owned enterprise to cease cooperation with the Syrian authorities. How can you comment on that decision? How can it affect Russian-American cooperation in the supply of helicopters to Afghan forces?
Answer: We have paid attention to the proposal made by the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress in the draft budget of the U.S. Defense Department for 2013 fiscal year, to ban commercial contracts with the Russian state company "Rosoboronexport". It was done as soon as Russia had to veto in the UN Security Council the submitted by a number of Western States draft resolution that allows the foreign military intervention to Syria.
Such a desire to "take revenge" for our principle position for peaceful settlement of internal Syrian conflict, the desire to put on our shoulders the responsibility for its escalation, and in general for any attempt to impose different sanctions, cause our indignation. Moe over, as repeatedly stressed, Russia does not supply any arms to Syria in violation of its obligations.
On Capitol was frankly ignored the mutually beneficial cooperation between "Rosoboronexport" and the U.S. Department of Defense to strengthen the national security forces in Afghanistan.
It is a pity that many U.S. lawmakers are still in thrall to ideas of "cold war" and anti-Russian phobias. Nevertheless we hope that upon further work in the U.S. Congress on the draft defense budget the common sense will prevail.
Question: On July 27 of this year enters into force the "Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Poland on the order of the local near-border movement," which is a small but important step towards the abolition of visa regime between Russia and the EU.
How in this regard will be settled a possible problem with the "regulated traffic zones"? Until now, Russia has not presented the Polish diplomats maps with the boundaries of "areas of the regulated movement" that could lead to the detention of Polish citizens.
Answer: I am pleased with the first part of your question, which allows me to congratulate everyone on this event. I think it will make the foreign ministers of Russia and Poland in the near future.
The mentioned Agreement – is very important document. In fact, due to the insistence of the Russian and Polish parties it became possible to make a small but very important step towards the facilitation of travel within the "local border movement" of the Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation. It is an important achievement in the Russian-Polish cooperation. We have much to be proud of.
As you know Russia and the EU very closely negotiate the facilitation of visa procedures. Not everything, of course, is quickly done to remove visa barriers. However, we hope that ratified "road map" in form of joint steps will allow to work on a full-scale agreement on visa-free travel of citizens of the Russian Federation and the European Union (as agreed during the Russia-EU summit in Brussels in December 2011).
Concerning the second part of your question - I need to see the text of the Agreement and to take expert estimation. After further revision I will be ready to comment on the issue. I think that nobody is going to impose additional special restrictions because the Agreement itself is aimed at facilitating travel, rather than creating new problems.
Question: Some media rumors tell that the wife of B. Assad arrived in Russia. Please comment on this information. Is Russia ready to give asylum to the Syrian President and his family?
Answer: Rumors quickly get the informational ground and distributed in media. I've seen these notes. I advise you to carefully monitor Russian channels, news outside broadcasts of A. Popova on the channel "Russia 24", who repeatedly shows how burst the "information bubbles", including rumors about the Syrian President, his wife and family.
I'd rather not comment on rumors. I think it is unfair informational trap. I suggest you not to fall into it, especially if you are a reputable agency. This also applies to information that Russia is ready to receive B. Assad. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov often expresses himself on this subject. I suggest you to revise again his statements, and everything will fall into place. This issue does not deserve a response. By the way, yesterday, B. Assad appeared on Syrian TV with the new SAR Minister of Defense. There is no doubt that it is picture from the scene.
Question: How would you comment on the information that appears in press that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan K. Gemba during his visit to Sochi plans to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin?
Answer: Today, at the beginning of the briefing I announced the plans of the Russian Foreign Minister, and told about the direction of negotiations with the Japanese counterpart.
Your question is reasonable to address the press office of the President of the Russian Federation.
Question: The media reports that on July 18 in Damascus explosion were killed and Russian citizens. Do you have any information on this issue? Is there any information about the deaths of Russian citizens from the beginning of the conflict in Syria?
Answer: No comments on the first part of the question. It is difficult to imagine that any Russian citizen was in the room where the Syrian security officials met.
I do not have Russian civilian casualty figures in Syria. I hope that these figures never will be provided. But I will clarify and further inform you if there are be reasons for. Again - I hope that there are no victims. Although, unfortunately, the armed conflict in Syria is largely involves civilians.
Question: Please comment on the statement by White House spokesman G. Karni that after yesterday's vote in the UN Security Council the K. Annan's plan is already legally incompetent, and that there is no need to prolong the UN Observer Mission. Does it mean the declaration of war?
Answer: This is shall be a specific question to specific people. I recommend asking them what it means. The statement of the Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said clearly that there is fundamental base in the form of the Geneva communiqué. It should be fully implemented by all parties of "Action Group", who agreed with it. I think, that further discussion in the UN Security Council and the possible prolonging of the mission will testify the beginning of crucial stage in the implementation of these agreements.
I did not see that Mr. G. Karni said that this is the "end of the story". Although, now we receive many declarations. I think you have good chance to call the White House and directly check this information with the official representative of the U.S. Administration.
