Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

Foreign Minister Lavrov: I am glad to welcome the Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation and her delegation to Moscow.

We held an intensive discussion of our bilateral relations, and noted the good progress in political dialogue and the growth of trade and investment cooperation. We outlined ways to strengthen the juridical base and prepare supplementary agreements which will enable carrying out this cooperation more effectively.

It is gratifying that a number of supplementary accords were signed today which will enable starting implementing the contribution of the Swiss Confederation to the Global Partnership Program, directed to assistance in the elimination of the stockpiles of chemical weapons. We also appreciate the technical assistance of Switzerland in tackling humanitarian matters in a number of Russia's regions.

The talks were very productive. We hope for our relations to continue developing along an ascending line.

Question: Were questions of mutual legal cooperation between Russia and Switzerland discussed in the course of your meeting?

Foreign Minister Lavrov (adding to what Micheline Calmy-Rey said): We are interested in developing law enforcement cooperation. We have a common understanding of the objectives in fighting money laundering and crime proceeds and in combating financial terrorism.

Question: Yesterday President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said that the crisis in Ukraine can only be solved by political means and within the law. In the evening the Supreme Court of Ukraine rendered the decision that the election results may not be published till the opposition's complaint has been examined. If that complaint is satisfied on Monday, will Moscow support that decision? And how does Russia see the way to solve this situation?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: You have answered this question yourself by referring to yesterday's statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the necessity of complying with the Ukrainian laws and dealing with all the issues on the basis of the Constitution and Ukrainian law. This is our stand, we are not indifferent to what is happening in that country. We are convinced that there can only be a legal decision to be found by the Ukrainian people themselves, by the Ukrainian authorities themselves through the mechanisms that exist there for this purpose and which were approved by Parliament with the participation of all political parties. This applies to the procedure of receipt of complaints as well. They came in from both the sides, from both the candidates, and have to be considered through the procedures which are envisaged by Ukrainian law. Against this background, of course, the attempts by certain states to remove the situation from the legal field of Ukraine do make us cautious, especially as certain European capitals have declared that they do not recognize the elections, and their next thesis is: Ukraine must be with the West. It is for the Ukrainian people (not anybody for them) to decide with whom Ukraine wants to be. Well, geographically it rubs shoulders with both the West and Russia. In general, such pronouncements suggest that someone would very much like to draw in Europe a new dividing line. We hope that everybody will respect the choice of the Ukrainian people and their right to independently decide their own internal affairs.

November 26, 2004