Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Moscow, April 11, 2023

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to sincerely congratulate my colleague, Murat Nurtleu, from Kazakhstan once again on his appointment to this high and responsible post on April 3 of this year.

We are pleased to note that his first visit in this post was to Moscow. This shows that Russia and Kazakhstan have very close ties. These are allied relations of strategic partnership rooted in historical friendship and versatile, mutually beneficial cooperation, reciprocal trust and respect.

We had detailed, extensive and practical talks with Mr. Nurtleu and welcomed the positive dynamics of our bilateral relations. The dialogue at the top level has become more intensive than ever. In 2022, our presidents met at least 10 times and had 20 telephone conversations. They continue their intensive contacts this year. We noted the many meetings between the prime ministers, parliaments, regions, municipalities and civil societies.

We discussed preparations for the 29th forum of Russia-Kazakhstan inter-regional cooperation on agro-industrial issues with prime ministers from other countries. It will take place this autumn.

Despite the illegal restrictions of the collective West, our trade is growing. In 2022, it reached a record total of over $28 billion. In practical cooperation, we are always guided by the principles of mutual benefit and concern for the wellbeing of our citizens.

We emphasise energy as a promising area in our overall cooperation. We believe there is great potential for the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and for the implementation of our roadmap on gas cooperation. This guarantees our energy and economic security. We are moving ahead in the transit, transport and logistics areas.

We also focused on our humanitarian contacts. I would like to welcome the completion by Kazakhstan of the procedures on the entry into force of the agreement on university branches of both countries on each other’s territory. We agreed to proactively implement this agreement and its principles.

Our cultural ties are expanding: on March 2, the Russian Seasons project was launched in Kazakhstan. The grand opening took place on the stage of the Astana Opera with the Bashmet Symphony Orchestra. The Seasons’ rich programme will delight the Kazakh audiences.

Days of Russia are scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan in May. Well-known cultural figures and leading choirs will participate in them. The plans include travelling exhibitions, workshops and retrospective film screenings. We believe that cultural exchanges will impress the public of both our countries and all art lovers.

We discussed topical international issues in a trust-based manner, holding the same or very close positions. We agree that the Russian-Kazakhstani alliance, including within the CSTO, is a significant factor in maintaining stability in Central Asia and, on the whole, helps strengthen common Eurasian security.

We focused on the prospects for cooperation in common multilateral associations such as the EAEU, the CIS and the SCO.

We discussed the preparations for the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which is scheduled to take place in Moscow this May. Russia is chairing the EAEU. Tomorrow, Mr Nurtleu and I will meet again in Samarkand, where a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers will be held on April 13-14, as well as the sixth meeting of foreign ministers in the CA5+Russia format. There will also be a meeting of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan. This is an important event.

We regard the speedy implementation of the five-party agreements and initiatives formulated following the Sixth Caspian Summit and the Second Caspian Economic Forum as a key task on the Caspian track. We believe that regular meetings of the Caspian Five foreign ministers will help promote cooperation in the region. We plan to hold such a meeting in Russia in 2023.

We discussed the developments in Afghanistan. The difficult situation in this state has an impact on the general situation in Central Asia, and resonates in many countries of the Eurasian continent. We agreed to continue the dialogue on this issue both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

We always have a sincere discussion of all relevant issues on the international agenda. We also talked about the situation in and around Ukraine. We shared our updated assessments on what is happening, as a project conceived by the collective West to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, which has been in the works for many years. We can see no changes in the confrontational policy professed by Western leaders: Washington, Brussels, London or other capitals. We believe that any decisions that may be taken must take into consideration Russia’s fundamental security concerns and ensure the legitimate rights of the population of the territories in question. I provided an update on the progress of the special military operation. We appreciate the balanced position of our Kazakh friends on the entire range of these issues. We will continue the dialogue on this and other issues, as well as stay in touch. We will meet again in Samarkand in the near future.

Question: What areas will you focus on this year, and will information security be a key priority in the current geopolitical situation?

Sergey Lavrov: We have just signed a schedule for consultations between our ministries. This is a traditional document. We fulfil one schedule and immediately adopt another one. This is a traditional document. This is a continuous process of coordination at the level of ministers, their deputies, department directors and analysts. It represents an extensive network of consultations that mostly lead to the drafting of specific recommendations. Subsequently, they make the foundation of practical decisions by the ministers. These decisions are submitted to prime ministers and presidents and cover almost all conceivable areas. They concern diplomatic support by our foreign ministries for the processes of integration and development of bilateral relations in the EEC, the CIS, the CSTO and the EAEU. This is intensive work. All aspects of our relations are interlinked. We represent a large group of neighbours with different aspects of allied strategic interaction. Apart from our vast region, consultations embrace other aspects of cooperation and interaction in Asia and Eurasia in general. They also concern international issues discussed as part of the UN and OCSE, which is going through deep crisis (we also talked in detail about this today). These are not just regional issues but also functional ones like disarmament, arms control, environmental protection and climate change. I can list them on end.

Really, all meaningful international and regional issues are subject for close consultation and coordination. I am sure the plan we have just signed will also produce results.

Question: The Soros Foundations in Central Asia decided to change their name. Now they will be called CAPS Unlock (Central Asian policy studies) or simply the Central Asian Analytical Centre. The headquarters will be located in Alma Ata. What does Russia think about this strengthening of Western NGOs in traditionally friendly countries, including Kazakhstan? What can you tell us about this?

Sergey Lavrov: If this organisation develops transparent and understandable civil society contacts that are based on the laws of the country of stay, I don’t see it as a problem.

I would like to recall that after the Russian Federation became an independent state following the disappearance of the Soviet Union, we actively welcomed NGOs from many different countries. We were sincerely willing to cooperate in this area, made initiatives and responded to the proposals of our partners.

However, with the development of our society we discovered concealed motives that guided many NGOs, including those that are usually associated with the Soros Foundations. They openly promoted a policy that ignored the lawful interests and legislation of the Russian Federation. They upheld the interests of the Western countries. The West, in part governments of Western countries, is funding numerous NGOs. When these activities began to go beyond the bounds of decency, not to mention the bounds of law, we started paying attention to them. As a result, the majority of NGOs are no longer functioning in Russia.

I believe that every state (Russia, Kazakhstan or any other country) can determine the level to which it is willing to promote the development of civil society contacts itself. I have no doubt that serious, self-respecting states and governments will not tolerate the violation of their laws and attempts to interfere in their domestic affairs in any way.

As for the NGO you mentioned, I haven’t heard about a rebranding. Frankly, the Soros Foundations have a stable reputation. I think this is common knowledge.

Question: How are the countries developing their transit and transport potential and launching large international routes between Europe, Asia, and the North and the South?

Sergey Lavrov: This is a topical question. In brief, we are working hard on this. We consider it a priority to develop all dimensions of the transport and logistics potential you mentioned.

The international North-South transport corridor is our first priority. We are working hard on this. Once completed, it will provide a stable and quick connection between the Baltic Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, which will considerably reduce the costs of trade on the large Eurasian continent.

I would like to mention Russia’s contribution to improving the conditions of the transit and transport infrastructure. I am referring to the modernisation of the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur railways. The Russian leadership are paying particular attention to upgrading the Northern Sea Route that is, to ensuring the safe, reliable, and year-round use of this shortest route between Europe and the Far East and South Asia as a whole.

Kazakhstan is taking an active part in parallel projects. There is a project on a transport route via the Caspian Sea. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev recently visited Kazakhstan to discuss routes for transporting hydrocarbons and other commodities and services.

I believe that Eurasia has a great future, especially now that the centre of the global economy and trade has shifted to the east of Eurasia. All organisations and countries located there should use these objective comparative advantages for their mutual benefit.

At the 2016 Russia-ASEAN summit, President Vladimir Putin suggested developing a large-scale Eurasian partnership, emphasising that all organisations and countries without exception should take part in these efforts. This is certainly a great goal and we have started moving towards it.

Question: Russia has recently published its new Foreign Policy Concept. It provides for the larger integration scale that you mentioned in your previous answer. Can you explain the details of this integration? What countries will take part in it? Does Moscow believe that the current level of relations between its Eurasian partners, in part, Kazakhstan and the US and the EU threaten its interests in some way?

Sergey Lavrov: As for integration, we would like all multilateral and subregional associations and all countries that are located on this vast common Eurasian continent, without exception, to be part of this process. At any rate, the doors for all of them must be open. The EAEU has already established such relations with the SCO. They also exist between the SCO and the CIS, as well as between the SCO and ASEAN. They are already forming a network of cross contacts and ties. I believe that these processes will eventually produce practical material benefits for all the  participating states.

As for whether we are concerned about the interaction of the Western countries, the US or the EU, with our neighbours, we have no apprehensions at all if it is equitable, mutually advantageous and transparent cooperation conducted in accordance with international law. But if instead of cooperating along these principles, the Western countries try to use threats and blackmail and compel our allies to break relations with the Russian Federation to the detriment of their own national interests, we will not hide our attitude towards such attempts.

Our friends from Kazakhstan and our other partners in the CSTO, the EAEU and the SCO are well aware of what I am referring to.

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