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SPEECH BY RF FM LAVROV DURING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH RA FM NALBANDIAN
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
June 23, 2014 Monday
SPEECH BY THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEY LAVROV, AND HIS ANSWERS
TO QUESTIONS FROM THE MASS MEDIA DURING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
SUMMARISING THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, EDWARD NALBANDIAN, YEREVAN,
23 JUNE 2014
MOSCOW, Russia
The following information was released by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation:
Edward Agvanovich,
Our relations with Armenia are relations of allies, strategic
partnership relations, which are based on age old traditions of
friendship, neighbourliness and mutual help. In this we see an
important factor of ensuring favourable conditions for the development
of our countries and maintenance of regional stability.
A regular and trustworthy dialogue at summit level provides the
necessary impetus for our multifaceted ties. Today we have discussed
the course of the implementation of the agreements, which were reached
during the visit of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir
Putin, to Yerevan in 2013 and the meeting between the presidents of
our two countries on the 8 May in Moscow in the context of conducting
CSTO events, including those devoted to the anniversary of Victory
in the Great Patriotic War.
We coordinated our bilateral steps and advances within the framework
of the CIS, CSTO regarding the memorable events related to the
anniversaries of the First World War and the Great Patriotic War,
which will be celebrated in the forthcoming years. A respective
decision within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent
States was taken in this regard. Russia and Armenia will actively
participate in the organisation of these events.
We note the dynamic work of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic Cooperation. A respective commission is also functional for
military and technical cooperation. Just recently, there was a session
of the Inter-parliamentary commission for cooperation between the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia in Nizhny Novgorod. At the very beginning
of July, we are expecting the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament,
Georgy Saakyan, to come to Moscow. We believe that the reinforcement
and extension of inter-parliamentary ties will contribute to the
further development of our relations. We are interested in this.
The Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, has just provided
sufficiently impressive numbers - the growth in turnover of 10% per
year. This is serious in the current market situation. The Russian
capital investment into the Armenian economy is 3 billion US dollars.
Russian business leaders are working in Armenia: OAO Gazprom, OAO RZD,
OAO VTB, OAO Inter RAO EES, OAO Russian Aluminium, OAO AFK System
and many others.
70 constituent entities of the Russian Federation are involved in
economic and cultural ties with Armenia. This is another confirmation
of our close cooperation.
Today we have considered issues of Armenia's involvement into Eurasian
integration processes. Russia supports this actively. We discussed
cooperation in various international organisations, including the UN,
the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation,
as well as cooperation of foreign policy efforts within the ambit
of the CSTO and foreign policy consultations within the framework of
the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Of course, we touched upon the situation in Ukraine. We believe that
there is no alternative to an immediate cease-fire, which should not
only be announced, but should be implemented in practice, and the main
point is there is no alternative to the beginning of a true nation-wide
dialogue with participation of all the regions to ensure rights and
interests of each and all Ukrainian nationals. Russia, like Armenia,
supports the current efforts to launch the negotiation process or
create conditions for its prompt start. Russia makes a direct and
interested contribution to these efforts. We are not guided by any
geopolitical ambitions. Of course, our priority is to save human lives,
including Russian journalists who continue to die.
We considered the issues related to the events in the Middle East
and North Africa. Syria and Iraq are countries of serious interest
for Russian and Armenian compatriots, and, of course, we wish to have
peace and tranquillity there. We still have not reached this.
Unfortunately, the terrorist threat is extending, emphasising again
the importance of not putting in place an artificial task of regime
change in such situations (for example, like in Syria), but like in
any other conflict to think about the people, their security and the
prevention of civilian. If we proceed from this, we will understand
that terrorism is the main threat in the Middle East and North Africa.
This concerns Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and other countries where
the "international terrorist" is attempting to penetrate. If we
all confirm the priority of counter-terrorism efforts and join for
effective fight against this common threat, I am convinced that the
issues related to the political settlement of conflicts, will be
resolved in an easier way.
We discussed the topic of the Nagorny Karabakh settlement. Russia,
both bilaterally and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
interested to settle this conflict as soon as possible. We believe
that there are foundations for the resolution of this problem - I
mean the principles fixed in the statements by Presidents of Russian,
the United States and France in the last four or five years. The main
thing now is to agree on parameters of the practical implementation
of these principles and the consistency of the steps which should be
undertaken in this direction. The three co-chairs are working on this.
Russia, as one of the contributors aspires to continue the direct
dialogue between the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, which renewed at the end of 2013,
and to assist in finding the outcomes for unsettled issues.
We are satisfied with the results of the negotiations. I thank my
Armenian friends and hosts for their traditional hospitality. We are
waiting for another visit of Edward Nalbandian to Moscow.
Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): Taking into consideration
the good relations, which have established between Russia and Turkey
lately, can Russia contribute to the improvement of Turkish-Armenian
relations?
Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Why are you
asking the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs what Russian can do?
In the period before the signature of Armenian-Turkish protocols and
after that we expressed our willingness to make our contribution in
the forms, most appropriate for Armenia and Turkey. There were ideas
to implement infrastructure projects, including railway projects,
which could connect people, countries and the adjacent regions. All
this remains in force, but, of course, the first role belongs to
the two countries, signatories of those protocols. We are ready to
contribute to their implementation in any possible way.
Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): During his visit to the
region, in particular to Yerevan, the President of France, Fran ois
Hollande, proposed an initiative to conduct a meeting between Armenian
and Azerbaijani leaders in Paris. Some time ago, your Azerbaijani
colleague expressed an opinion that he needs details about this
meeting. Would you please comment on what he meant?
Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Russia
supports any efforts, which will lead to the resolution of this
conflict or end it. We believe that our French partners from the
"troika" of the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group promote the ideas
which will allow the transfer of the principles agreed between
co-chairs at summit level into practice. Russia is also ready to make
a contribution to these efforts. In any case, the more regular the
meetings are between presidents the more dynamic the negotiation
process will be, of course, taking into account some preliminary
preparations.. We are all for this.
Question: In March-April of this year you made statements that
federalisation will be a political resolution for the crisis
in Ukraine. In your opinion, how will potential outlines of this
federalisation look like? Could it be the creation of a South-Eastern
Autonomous Republic? If, according to diplomats, not pro-Russian
forces, but supporters of this federalisation, insurgents are acting
in the South-East, then how can you explain that Alexander Borodai
and Igor Strelkov-Girkin are quite closely related to the Russian
political establishment?
Sergey Lavrov: As to the ties within the political establishment,
I think that I can answer in an easy way. All this establishment has
its' roots back in one country - the USSR. Therefore, you should not
doubt the close ties which exist. It is a fact.
As to federalisation, I will allow myself to correct you. I
constantly emphasise that this process can be called federalisation,
decentralisation, other variants can be invented - for example,
there is an English term "devolution". The main thing is to ensure
the beginning of the negotiation process.
Ukraine is experiencing the deepest crisis of the national identity.
Nobody disputes this. It is clear that it will be impossible to
just suppress one part of the country and to make it subordinate
to the other part. But even if this happens, this will not let
us achieve a sustainable settlement. This can be reached through
direct negotiations only. During these negotiations, it can be
understood what federalisation, decentralisation or any other term
means, because this term should instil such order in the country,
which will guarantee rights and freedoms of each and every national,
who live in any Ukrainian region. In actual fact, this is it.
Therefore, the efforts, which are being undertaken right now, which
were announced yesterday and today (we support them actively), are
aimed at starting if not direct, but initially a mediated dialogue,
between the Kiev authorities and the South-East of Ukraine. I am
convinced that subsequently we will need to start direct negotiations,
within the framework of which the parameters of the state order of
Ukraine, including the status of regions inside the Ukrainian state,
should be agreed.
From: A. Papazian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
June 23, 2014 Monday
SPEECH BY THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEY LAVROV, AND HIS ANSWERS
TO QUESTIONS FROM THE MASS MEDIA DURING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
SUMMARISING THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, EDWARD NALBANDIAN, YEREVAN,
23 JUNE 2014
MOSCOW, Russia
The following information was released by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation:
Edward Agvanovich,
Our relations with Armenia are relations of allies, strategic
partnership relations, which are based on age old traditions of
friendship, neighbourliness and mutual help. In this we see an
important factor of ensuring favourable conditions for the development
of our countries and maintenance of regional stability.
A regular and trustworthy dialogue at summit level provides the
necessary impetus for our multifaceted ties. Today we have discussed
the course of the implementation of the agreements, which were reached
during the visit of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir
Putin, to Yerevan in 2013 and the meeting between the presidents of
our two countries on the 8 May in Moscow in the context of conducting
CSTO events, including those devoted to the anniversary of Victory
in the Great Patriotic War.
We coordinated our bilateral steps and advances within the framework
of the CIS, CSTO regarding the memorable events related to the
anniversaries of the First World War and the Great Patriotic War,
which will be celebrated in the forthcoming years. A respective
decision within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent
States was taken in this regard. Russia and Armenia will actively
participate in the organisation of these events.
We note the dynamic work of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic Cooperation. A respective commission is also functional for
military and technical cooperation. Just recently, there was a session
of the Inter-parliamentary commission for cooperation between the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia in Nizhny Novgorod. At the very beginning
of July, we are expecting the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament,
Georgy Saakyan, to come to Moscow. We believe that the reinforcement
and extension of inter-parliamentary ties will contribute to the
further development of our relations. We are interested in this.
The Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, has just provided
sufficiently impressive numbers - the growth in turnover of 10% per
year. This is serious in the current market situation. The Russian
capital investment into the Armenian economy is 3 billion US dollars.
Russian business leaders are working in Armenia: OAO Gazprom, OAO RZD,
OAO VTB, OAO Inter RAO EES, OAO Russian Aluminium, OAO AFK System
and many others.
70 constituent entities of the Russian Federation are involved in
economic and cultural ties with Armenia. This is another confirmation
of our close cooperation.
Today we have considered issues of Armenia's involvement into Eurasian
integration processes. Russia supports this actively. We discussed
cooperation in various international organisations, including the UN,
the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation,
as well as cooperation of foreign policy efforts within the ambit
of the CSTO and foreign policy consultations within the framework of
the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Of course, we touched upon the situation in Ukraine. We believe that
there is no alternative to an immediate cease-fire, which should not
only be announced, but should be implemented in practice, and the main
point is there is no alternative to the beginning of a true nation-wide
dialogue with participation of all the regions to ensure rights and
interests of each and all Ukrainian nationals. Russia, like Armenia,
supports the current efforts to launch the negotiation process or
create conditions for its prompt start. Russia makes a direct and
interested contribution to these efforts. We are not guided by any
geopolitical ambitions. Of course, our priority is to save human lives,
including Russian journalists who continue to die.
We considered the issues related to the events in the Middle East
and North Africa. Syria and Iraq are countries of serious interest
for Russian and Armenian compatriots, and, of course, we wish to have
peace and tranquillity there. We still have not reached this.
Unfortunately, the terrorist threat is extending, emphasising again
the importance of not putting in place an artificial task of regime
change in such situations (for example, like in Syria), but like in
any other conflict to think about the people, their security and the
prevention of civilian. If we proceed from this, we will understand
that terrorism is the main threat in the Middle East and North Africa.
This concerns Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and other countries where
the "international terrorist" is attempting to penetrate. If we
all confirm the priority of counter-terrorism efforts and join for
effective fight against this common threat, I am convinced that the
issues related to the political settlement of conflicts, will be
resolved in an easier way.
We discussed the topic of the Nagorny Karabakh settlement. Russia,
both bilaterally and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
interested to settle this conflict as soon as possible. We believe
that there are foundations for the resolution of this problem - I
mean the principles fixed in the statements by Presidents of Russian,
the United States and France in the last four or five years. The main
thing now is to agree on parameters of the practical implementation
of these principles and the consistency of the steps which should be
undertaken in this direction. The three co-chairs are working on this.
Russia, as one of the contributors aspires to continue the direct
dialogue between the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, which renewed at the end of 2013,
and to assist in finding the outcomes for unsettled issues.
We are satisfied with the results of the negotiations. I thank my
Armenian friends and hosts for their traditional hospitality. We are
waiting for another visit of Edward Nalbandian to Moscow.
Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): Taking into consideration
the good relations, which have established between Russia and Turkey
lately, can Russia contribute to the improvement of Turkish-Armenian
relations?
Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Why are you
asking the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs what Russian can do?
In the period before the signature of Armenian-Turkish protocols and
after that we expressed our willingness to make our contribution in
the forms, most appropriate for Armenia and Turkey. There were ideas
to implement infrastructure projects, including railway projects,
which could connect people, countries and the adjacent regions. All
this remains in force, but, of course, the first role belongs to
the two countries, signatories of those protocols. We are ready to
contribute to their implementation in any possible way.
Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): During his visit to the
region, in particular to Yerevan, the President of France, Fran ois
Hollande, proposed an initiative to conduct a meeting between Armenian
and Azerbaijani leaders in Paris. Some time ago, your Azerbaijani
colleague expressed an opinion that he needs details about this
meeting. Would you please comment on what he meant?
Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Russia
supports any efforts, which will lead to the resolution of this
conflict or end it. We believe that our French partners from the
"troika" of the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group promote the ideas
which will allow the transfer of the principles agreed between
co-chairs at summit level into practice. Russia is also ready to make
a contribution to these efforts. In any case, the more regular the
meetings are between presidents the more dynamic the negotiation
process will be, of course, taking into account some preliminary
preparations.. We are all for this.
Question: In March-April of this year you made statements that
federalisation will be a political resolution for the crisis
in Ukraine. In your opinion, how will potential outlines of this
federalisation look like? Could it be the creation of a South-Eastern
Autonomous Republic? If, according to diplomats, not pro-Russian
forces, but supporters of this federalisation, insurgents are acting
in the South-East, then how can you explain that Alexander Borodai
and Igor Strelkov-Girkin are quite closely related to the Russian
political establishment?
Sergey Lavrov: As to the ties within the political establishment,
I think that I can answer in an easy way. All this establishment has
its' roots back in one country - the USSR. Therefore, you should not
doubt the close ties which exist. It is a fact.
As to federalisation, I will allow myself to correct you. I
constantly emphasise that this process can be called federalisation,
decentralisation, other variants can be invented - for example,
there is an English term "devolution". The main thing is to ensure
the beginning of the negotiation process.
Ukraine is experiencing the deepest crisis of the national identity.
Nobody disputes this. It is clear that it will be impossible to
just suppress one part of the country and to make it subordinate
to the other part. But even if this happens, this will not let
us achieve a sustainable settlement. This can be reached through
direct negotiations only. During these negotiations, it can be
understood what federalisation, decentralisation or any other term
means, because this term should instil such order in the country,
which will guarantee rights and freedoms of each and every national,
who live in any Ukrainian region. In actual fact, this is it.
Therefore, the efforts, which are being undertaken right now, which
were announced yesterday and today (we support them actively), are
aimed at starting if not direct, but initially a mediated dialogue,
between the Kiev authorities and the South-East of Ukraine. I am
convinced that subsequently we will need to start direct negotiations,
within the framework of which the parameters of the state order of
Ukraine, including the status of regions inside the Ukrainian state,
should be agreed.
From: A. Papazian