Briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, April 6, 2016
6 April 201618:20
653-06-04-2016
Table of contents
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev
- Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter’s working visit to Russia
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s talks with Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s talks with Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s official visit to Mongolia
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Japan
- Meeting of Russian, Indian and Chinese foreign ministers
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
- Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma to visit Russia
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s official visit to Armenia
- Developments in Nagorny Karabakh
- Situation in Syria
- Statement by US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner
- Russia’s draft statement to the press by the UN Security Council
- Escalation of violence in southeastern Turkey
- Alparslan Celik’s detention in Turkey
- Developments in Libya
- Russian idea of a convention on countering chemical terrorism
- British Parliament’s report on 'Russia’s information warfare'
- Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
- Bellingcat as an instrument to divert attention from investigating the tragedy of the Malaysian Boeing over Ukraine
- Foreign Policy File section on Foreign Minsitry’s website
- Open Door Days at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
- Would-be justification by the Polish authorities of the removal of Soviet-era monuments
- Response to Polish colleagues
- Excerpts from answers to media questions:
- Russia’s role in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- The Foreign Ministry’s website and its development
- Meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers
- Staffan de Mistura’s visit
- Top-level contacts in Tokyo
- Deportation of Russian journalists from Azerbaijan
- Peace terms for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Japan
- The Offshore Scandal
- Causes for the return of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Referendum in the Netherlands
- Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with his Armenian colleague
- Participation of the Kurds in the Geneva talks
- Dispatch of Bulgarian troops to Turkey
- Referendum in the Netherlands
- The possible opening of Turkish Kurds representative office in Moscow
- US and Russia’s positions on Bashar al-Assad’s future
- The possibility of Armenia recognising Nagorno-Karabakh
- The possibility of a federal model for Syria
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev
On April 8, ahead of the regular meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergey Lebedev.
The conversation is expected to focus on issues related to interaction between the CIS Executive Committee and Russia in preparing and holding meetings of top CIS statutory bodies.
The officials will also address the joint, coordinated efforts of the CIS Executive Committee and CIS member states in enhancing the effectiveness and optimising the activity of the organisation’s executive and sectoral structures, factoring in present-day realities.
Mr Lavrov will have a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts, the foreign ministers of the organisation’s member countries, on the sidelines of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow.
Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter’s working visit to Russia
On April 11, Didier Burkhalter, chief of the Swiss Federal Department (Ministry) of Foreign Affairs, will make a working visit to Russia on the invitation of the Russian Foreign Minister.
The talks will focus on a broad range of bilateral issues and will review past and upcoming meetings within the framework of the Russian-Swiss political dialogue. The foreign ministers will address a range of issues related to the implementation of the Swiss mandate to represent Russia’s interests in Georgia and Georgia’s interests in Russia.
There will be an exchange of opinions on current international issues, including the situation in Syria and Ukraine and the fight against international terrorism. Interaction within the OSCE in the context of European security issues will also be touched upon.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s talks with Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca
Next week, we will host a number of high-ranking guests from Latin American countries.
On April 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca as part of Mr Choquehuanca's visit to Russia.
Russia and Bolivia are linked by decades of productive collaboration (April 18 is the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries). We work closely together at the UN and other international forums, advancing Russia’s political dialogue with Latin America’s integration associations, above all, CELAC, MERCOSUR and ALBA. The signing of a joint statement on the no-first placement of weapons in outer space will be tangible evidence of this coordination.
The ministers will analyse the progress of joint efforts to develop practical cooperation, which received a significant impetus from the meeting of the two countries’ presidents, Vladimir Putin and Evo Morales, at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran on November 23, 2015 (the GECF’s next summit will take place in Bolivia). During the past six months, a package of documents on cooperation in the fuel and energy sphere were signed with Gazprom, as were intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and building a nuclear research centre, based on Russian technology, with the Rosatom State Corporation.
In the interest of coordinating further efforts, the ministers will adopt a plan of action to develop cooperation between Russia and Bolivia.
Another important event is due to take place: the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free trips for citizens. When it is signed, virtually all of South America will become a visa-free zone for Russian nationals.
On April 13, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra.
We attach particular importance to this visit factoring in the new administration coming to power in Buenos Aires. We would like to note that soon after the elections, the two presidents, Vladimir Putin and Mauricio Macri, had a telephone conversation, during which they agreed to kick start Russian-Argentine relations in the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership. The understanding reached will be reflected in a joint ministerial statement, initiated by the Argentine party.
Argentina is one of our key partners in Latin America. We closely collaborate with this country not only bilaterally, but also within international organisations, including the UN, the G20, and other internationals forums, advancing political dialogue between Russia and Latin America’s integration associations, above all, CELAC and MERCOSUR. We intend to strengthen this cooperation.
At the same time, we believe it is important to ensure the progressive development of economic and investment cooperation. Argentina is our fourth largest trade partner in the region. Minister Malcorra will be accompanied by the Federal Minister of Agroindustry, the Neuquén Province Governor and other high-ranking officials, including those responsible for the implementation of an ambitious joint investment project: the construction of the Chihuido hydropower plant in Argentina. We consider this fact as a manifestation of the Argentine government’s intention to expand practical ith Russia.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s official visit to Mongolia
I have good news for our colleagues from Asian media outlets. Today is your day.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to arrive in Mongolia on an official visit on April 14. The visit programme is being finalised. It includes talks between the two countries’ foreign ministers, discussion of the status of and prospects for advancing bilateral relations, current regional and global issues and key areas of cooperation in major international formats.
Once again, the visit programme is being finalised and we will inform you about it in detail when it is completed. In addition to the planned meetings and the busy schedule, the foreign ministers are expected to approve the medium-term programme of strategic partnership between our countries. This joint document, covering cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and international areas, has been worked out with the involvement of relevant federal executive agencies and companies, in accordance with the agreement reached at the highest level during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Ulan Bator in September 2014. Successful implementation of the programme will give Russian-Mongolian cooperation new stature and additional dynamics.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Japan
Talks between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida are scheduled to take place in Tokyo on April 15. They will have a comprehensive discussion of topical bilateral and international issues. One of the ministerial meeting’s goals will be to prepare for Russian-Japanese contacts at the top level, on which the two countries’ leaders agreed earlier.
I’d like to note that a bit later we’ll give you more details on this visit, which is now in the design stage.
Meeting of Russian, Indian and Chinese foreign ministers
On April 18, Moscow will host the 14th foreign minister meeting in the RIC format (Russia, India and China).
The ministers plan to discuss in detail current developments in the world, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Ukraine. They will also review issues of countering international terrorism through concerted efforts and ways to further coordinate practical steps on key international venues, first and foremost, the United Nations, BRICS, SCO and G20.
The agreed-upon positions of the sides on global and regional issues will be reflected in the joint communique.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers will meet on the sidelines of the RIC forum in Moscow on April 18. At the meeting, they will discuss international, regional and bilateral issues.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma to visit Russia
On April 19-21, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma will pay a working visit to Moscow.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his colleague on April 20. They plan to discuss topical issues of interaction between Russia and the African Union and map out specific steps to further develop cooperation in the context of the memorandum on mutual understanding between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the AU Commission on holding political consultations, signed in 2014. They will also review the main international and African issues and developments in the Middle East, including the struggle against international terrorism, which is a priority for Africa.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s official visit to Armenia
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to visit Yerevan on April 21-22.
He will discuss with Armenian leaders urgent bilateral, regional and international issues and exchange opinions on Eurasian topics.
Special attention will be paid to urgent measures on stabilisation in the conflict area in connection with the recent developments around Nagorny Karabakh.
Developments in Nagorny Karabakh
Switching from the minister’s schedule to regional and international issues, I’d like to start with the Nagorny Karabakh settlement and the developments in the region.
I’d like to recall that Mr Lavrov will depart for Baku today, literally in the next few hours. We informed you about this earlier. Considering recent developments, this scheduled trip is becoming particularly topical.
As you know, the Russian leaders are doing a great deal for normalisation in the conflict area. President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev spoke over the phone with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Mr Medvedev will visit Yerevan and Baku in the next few days.
To repeat, Mr Lavrov departs for Baku to take part in a trilateral meeting (Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran). He will meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in the bilateral format. Mr Lavrov also plans to meet his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian on the sidelines of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in Moscow on April 8 as part of the efforts to normalise the situation and restore peace in the region.
We hope that Russia’s intensive efforts will facilitate the durable restoration of the ceasefire and the resumption of talks on a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Russia notes with satisfaction that the ceasefire regime introduced in accordance with the Joint Statement of the United States and Russia as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group of February 22 is observed, by and large. In many cities and communities across Syria, the Government and the opposition were able to agree on a truce, which has had a positive effect in terms of reducing violence in the country in general, as well as providing humanitarian access to those who need it and making it as easy as possible.
Against this backdrop, the Syrian army, backed by the Aerospace Forces of Russia, continues its uncompromising struggle against ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists. The liberation of Palmyra on March 27 was an obvious success. Russian combat engineers are already clearing the territory of mines, and have already removed 1,500 explosive devices. Building on this achievement, terrorists were dislodged from Al-Qaryatayn on April 3. Its population is mostly Christian, and the city has strategic significance and was an important stronghold for the terrorists. With this victory, the Syrian army can continue its offensive against Raqqa, which is viewed as the capital of ISIS in Syria, as well as the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
In this situation, the terrorists are trying to reverse the momentum at any cost. Reports on ISIS fighters firing rockets with mustard gas at the Deir ez-Zor airport are a matter of grave concern. We strongly believe that actions of this kind by the terrorists should be fiercely condemned.
Statement by US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner
We have taken note of the statement by the US State Department during a press briefing by my colleague Mark Toner. Answering a question on the position of Russia and the United States regarding the fate of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, he said, among other things, that both countries agree in a sense that the future of the country’s leadership and government should be determined in a political process that would reflect the aspirations and will of the Syrian people.
The Foreign Ministry welcomes this statement and believes that its actual purpose is to ensure the constructive advancement of the political process towards an inclusive peaceful settlement in Syria.
Russia’s draft statement to the press by the UN Security Council
Unfortunately, the overall situation doesn’t inspire as much optimism as this statement.
You are all probably aware of what happened with the draft statement to the press by the UN Security Council, which was circulated by Russia, emphasising the need to ensure that the Syria talks are inclusive. Russia submitted this draft to the UN Security Council on March 31.
The main purpose of this document was to invite all opposition forces to join the talks, including representatives of the Kurds, who are among the key constituencies of Syrian society. Despite Russia’s willingness to compromise on this issue, the Western members of the UN Security Council, France, Great Britain and the United States, with Ukraine in their bandwagon, literally blocked this draft by proposing amendments that diluted the very gist of the statement and erroneously labelled the last round of talks inclusive, which was not the case. Taking this position cannot but cause regret, especially as it runs counter to the decision of the International Syria Support Group and UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This push-back is even harder to understand, especially since it came from our Western colleagues (France, Great Britain and the United States). It is obvious that the reason for doing so was probably, among other things, in order to please or under the pressure exerted by regional players, who still prioritise their ambitions instead of striving to ensure real progress in the Syrian settlement.
The Foreign Ministry continues to insist on enabling Kurds to take part in the talks, above all the Democratic Union Party. The next round of intra-Syrian talks will be very important, taking into account the gist of the issues that should be discussed by Syrians.
Escalation of violence in southeastern Turkey
Violence continues unabated in Turkey’s southeastern Kurdish communities, which remains a matter of concern. Official reports say that the ongoing counter-terrorist operation the Turkish government has been carrying out since July 2015 resulted in 285 civilian deaths, and the real number could be much higher.
For almost one month, the city of Nusaybin in the Mardin Province has been under a de-facto siege. Artillery is used in the operations against PKK supporters. In this context, the city is facing a dire humanitarian crisis comparable to that in the “liberated” town of Cizre in the Shirnak Province, which took so much suffering and where most residential buildings are in a state beyond repair.
The Foreign Ministry again urges Ankara to renounce attempts to resolve the long-standing Kurdish issue by force, which leads nowhere but to a dead-end.
Alparslan Celik’s detention in Turkey
The Foreign Ministry closely follows developments related to the arrest of Alparslan Celik in Turkey. We have been receiving numerous questions from the media on this issue. It is for that reason that we decided to elaborate on this matter today. Alparslan Celik is suspected of being directly involved in the killing of Oleg Peshkov, the pilot of the jet downed by the Turkish Air Force over Syrian territory on November 24, 2015.
Officially, his arrest resulted from an accusation of illicit arms possession. The Turkish authorities did not comment in any way whatsoever on the fact that this extremist had said in public that he was involved in the killing of the Russian pilot. Moreover, according to media reports, Alparslan Celik refuted these statements during interrogation.
The way Turkish law enforcement agencies and the judiciary will respond to this development in the course of the proceedings against this fighter, who doesn’t deny being a member of the radical nationalist Grey Wolves organisation, will be crucial to how Russia’s views future steps by the Turkish authorities.
The relevant agencies in Russia are now exploring opportunities to bring criminal charges against Alparslan Celik for involvement in the murder of the Russian pilot.
The developments in Libya remain complicated. Security continues to degrade due to the absence of unified government bodies, the army and law enforcement. Terrorists groups, including ISIS, are actively trying to expand the zone of their influence and establish control over oil facilities on the Libyan coast.
In this context, the arrival in Tripoli of the Presidential Council headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on March 30 is a major landmark in implementing the political agreement on the parameters of national reconciliation signed in Skhirat, Morocco last December. Let me recall that we welcomed its signing and the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which fixed the Skhirat agreements as a key element of the settlement.
We believe that today Mr Sarradj should concentrate on creating conditions for the normal functioning of the new government in the Libyan capital. A vote of confidence from the country’s legitimate parliament – the House of Deputies in Tobruk, as is envisaged by the aforementioned agreement – is of decisive significance in this respect. The observance of this procedure will make it possible to develop productive cooperation between the cabinet of ministers and the parliament in resolving urgent domestic problems, including the struggle against the terrorist threat. Attempts to force Libyan politicians into mutual peace and accord with various restrictions and punishments are counterproductive.
Russian idea of a convention on countering chemical terrorism
On March 1, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented a new Russian initiative at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva on countering terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists. Participants in the forum were requested to start talks on drafting an international convention on combating acts of chemical terrorism. The idea is to supplement the available counterterrorist instruments of the world community with a new document that would be at the juncture of disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and anti-terrorist efforts. We suggest drafting it at the Conference on Disarmament, where the convention on a chemical weapons ban was agreed upon in the past.
During the past month, we have carried out large-scale diplomatic work on explaining the Russian initiative, both to the delegations of the countries represented at the Conference on Disarmament and in their capitals. The initial response reflected their interest.
The responses received at the initial stage allowed us to prepare a draft of the elements of the future convention and an explanatory note to it that contains remarks and proposals by representatives of different states. These documents were officially submitted to the CD on March 29.
The main point, which I would like to draw your attention to, is the proposal made by a number of countries, including China and Italy, which we supported, to expand the convention to include the acts of biological terrorism. So now we are talking about the international convention on countering acts of chemical and biological terrorism. The expansion of this initiative has increased its “added value” and made even more justified its link to the CD, where this issue was first discussed more than 40 years ago.
Today Russia has focused on promoting this initiative. We are using our bilateral and multilateral contacts for this purpose. We will continue consultations with all interested countries. Importantly, we are addressing our appeal to start talks on this convention not only to the 65 participants of the Conference on Disarmament, but in fact to all countries that are ready to closely cooperate in elaborating a truly effective document on combating terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists. The conference’s procedures allow this via the mechanism of observers. In addition, in working on the provisions of the convention, we are planning to rely on the expert experience of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the member-states of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and UN anti-terrorist agencies.
As for potential evolution in the response of states, it is too early to make any specific assessments. We can get a more or less accurate picture only when the Conference on Disarmament resumes its session on May 16, that it, after its participants analyse the documents presented by Russia. In turn, we’ll use this time to work on the elements of the convention, factoring in its expansion.
As for the US response, notably, the reaction of Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman, I’d like to note that we have been discussing our initiative in the bilateral format since the start of the preparations for presenting it to the CD. For the time being the US side is voicing some difficult-to-understand doubts about the advisability of elaborating the convention at the CD, and the opinion that it is better to address issues of countering chemical and biological terrorism through adopting a new UN Security Council resolution to this effect. To be honest, neither suggestion is very convincing.
We’d like to hope that after further analysing our proposals, the United States will deem it possible to support them. Among other things, this will open the way to unblocking negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament, which would be in the interests of all its participants, including Washington.
British Parliament’s report on 'Russia’s information warfare'
We have carefully reviewed this material, which was made public by the British Parliament on March 28. It contains certain conclusions by “independent experts.” This latest analytical essay is called, “Russia's information warfare – airbrushing reality.” This report is presented as part of a parliamentary probe that began in the parliamentary Defence Committee on January 11, subject: “Russia: implications for UK defence and security.”
We have analysed the document, which incoherently describes the “coordinated but undeclared information campaign against the United Kingdom,” the results of which, in the authors’ own admission, are difficult to assess. It is difficult to assess but easy to publish. We have not found anything fundamentally new in this material. The only novelty is that for the first time in many years Russia stands accused of direct interference in the UK’s internal affairs, such as its possible withdrawal from the EU and the modernisation of Trident nuclear systems. Otherwise, it is a familiar stock of information and propaganda clichés regarding the insidiousness of the Russian media that purportedly mislead the British audience, as well as Russia’s global plan designed to weaken the UK, the EU and the Western world as a whole.
The authors seek to dodge facts as unnecessary impediments. For example, the Sputnik radio network, which allegedly encourages the Scots to break away from the UK, has not gone on the air yet (presumably, this is a trifle). In addition, interviews with MPs from not the largest of British parties on RT TV network programmes are due solely to the fact that representatives of the Conservative and Labour parties were instructed by their bosses a long time ago to have no contact with this Russian media outlet. Surely, if representatives of major parties are unavailable, journalists have to get information from somewhere. They get in touch with parties that are willing to do so, provide information and present their point of view. This is interesting: They don’t want to state their position on the network (in fact, there is a tacit guideline to that effect), but they watch and closely follow what is going on and are even jealous.
We understand that this pseudo-analysis, as well as many other similar materials, is aimed at scaring the British public with a mythical Russian threat. The motives are understandable: to get additional budget appropriations for military needs, as well as to counter “dangerous propaganda.”
This story has become a good business.
First they intimidate people by planting stories and preparing presentations intended to scare, and then they allocate budget money for new defence projects and various countermeasures in order to oppose this Russian “threat”. This is large-scale profiteering. All of this is used to justify the significant spending of taxpayer money, while taxpayers are urged to treat this with understanding, tighten their belts and face social spending cuts. Meanwhile, the same phrase, that this is done because of the Russian “threat,” is constantly repeated. This is an old trick. We have seen it used before. Cold war arsenals are taken out from the mothballs. Unfortunately, it seems that Britain is still nostalgic for those days.
Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
Last week, during his visit to Minsk, Pentagon representative Michael Carpenter stated that the deployment of a Russian military base in Belarus will be regarded by the United States and NATO as a threat to regional stability. At the same time, in his opinion, there are no threats to Belarus either from the East or from the West, including from NATO, while the strengthening of the alliance in countries neighbouring the republic is of an exclusively defensive nature. This logic is stunning: When NATO is strengthened, this is for defensive purposes, but when somebody else does the same, this is outright aggression. This is not a child’s essay. It was stated by an official representative of a major governmental body. This logic is simply striking. On the one hand, Mr Carpenter admits that the creation of new military bases leads to tension and even destabilisation in the region, but on the other hand, [he alleges] that NATO’s enhanced activity and new bases emerging in Eastern Europe are something totally different and only necessary for defence.
I always ask everyone to be objective. To be objective in this case it is necessary simply to use any search engine and find a map with the location of NATO bases, and everything becomes clear. The alliance is present in practically all regions and corners of the world, while the employment of its forces has led, and continues to lead, to deplorable consequences, and this is evidenced by a large number of examples.
One NATO general also recently dwelled on the value of the alliance’s additional military presence in Europe in the form of rotating motorised brigades, stating that its strong side is its ability to generate and deploy military assets to stabilise the situation in any region. Naturally, we would be interested to know exactly where “stabilisation” was achieved through the efforts of NATO forces. If they speak officially about this, we would like to see at least a couple of concrete examples. Maybe this concerns some covert operations? Don’t be shy, tell us.
We keep being told all the time that the strengthening of the “eastern flank” is a purely defensive measure that does not provoke anyone. I have cited statements by representatives of the alliance, the United States and the UK. How can such statements be taken seriously? Who can react to such statements? I will tell you. As in the case of the UK, where reports on the Russian “threat” are compiled, there are “clients” for such statements: the public, which is gradually conditioned and spooked by the prospect of Russian aggression and sometimes even Russian occupation. The scheme the alliance uses is prosaic and its methods have remained the same. First, there is intimidation and then NATO structures appear as “saviors” who declare goals of “noble democratisation". What happens in fact is that one country or another is occupied. When new military contingents are deployed in a peaceful country without any real threat whatsoever there is no other way to describe this. Somehow it so happens that the government, the authorities and the political establishment begin to take decisions that are at odds with the interests of these countries, but for some reason coincide with the interests of NATO’s leading member states. This is precisely quiet, creeping occupation. Many European states have already become hostage to this policy.
All of these games are very dangerous. The question is that they are dangerous both in and of themselves and in terms of the time that has been lost for the fight against real threats, such as international terrorism. Instead of consolidating efforts in the fight against ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, there is the constant ratcheting up of rhetoric and attempts to legitimise the need to counter a “demonic” Russia (it is clear who demonises it and for what purpose). All of this is irresponsible. The keyword here is responsibility. All of these actions are clearly irresponsible. The most dangerous part of this is that we can really lose time.
History will put everything in its place. In a couple of years, these generals and NATO representatives, among others, will be copycatting the statements of Russian representatives, talking about threats and the time that has been lost. This is exactly what will happen, no doubt. The question is the extent to which the threats that have to be countered now will become irreversible.
We took note of an interview with Bellingcat representatives for the BBC in which they sarcastically spoke about some “trolling” on the part of the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Ministry of Russia, for allegedly attacking them.
I would simply like to recall that we do not attack anyone, but rather, give our unbiased assessment of the work of both this group and those who use its materials as reliable information.
We understand the purpose of this group’s activities. Acting jointly with the current Ukrainian authorities, they continue to use all possible “fakes,” to create quasi-evidence to blame Russia. Why do we take this position and on what is it based? Even now the commission (investigating the circumstances of the Boeing tragedy over the territory of Ukraine) prefers to ignore Russia’s reasoning, which is corroborated by facts and evidence, in particular by tests and experiments. The commission ignores it to the extent that it makes no reply to this reasoning, while at the same time passing off these “fakes” for the hundredth time as proof or integrated evidence, even when this information has been debunked, and not only by Russia.
At present, we have information,that leads us to believe that loyal and handy witnesses in this case are being selected and presumably trained. This begs the question: why is all this being done? The aim is once again to give the global community fabricated proof of Russia’s aggression. This seems blasphemous in this case, because people died there and their families want to know the truth. One may endlessly combine all these invented stories and collect evidence allegedly found on social media sites and at the same time ignore the results of experiments, including those provided by Russia. All this can be done only if you neglect to consider one thing: this case is not just an information campaign, it involves human lives, the destinies of the victims’ families, who definitely want to know the truth.
Foreign Policy File section on Foreign Minsitry’s website
The Foreign Ministry will launch The Foreign Policy File, a new section on its official website today. We are improving the Ministry’s website, upgrade it taking into account, among other things, suggestions from the media and the public. We have analysed the best web resources by our colleagues and embassies and thought it would be useful to have an internet dossier on current issues regarding Russia’s approaches to the most important and controversial topics.
The page carries concise materials featuring the approaches of the Russian Federation to the key issues of the international agenda. For users’ convenience, the issues are structured into large blocks: crisis settlement and regional conflicts, international organisations and fora, the CIS space, Russia’s relations with other countries and regional associations.
We will update the page regularly and illustrate it with officials’ statements on the issues. The page will contain materials on Russia’s official position and quotes from Russian leaders and Foreign Ministry’s officials on certain topics.
I would like to qualify that the new section will not reflect the entire range of topics. For example, bilateral relations are covered in response to your suggestions. This thread will be continuously enlarged. If you cannot find materials today regarding Russia’s relations with a certain European, African or Asian nation, it does not mean that that this issue is being ignored. We shall upgrade and expand the section based on your demands.
I hope this will turn out to be a useful tool in your everyday work.
Open Door Days at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
Please be advised that the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna invites journalists to the Open Door Days marking the 60th anniversary of the Institute to be held in English for foreign journalists from April 12 to 14, and for Russian journalists from May 17 to 19.
The Institute for Nuclear Research is a world-renowned intergovernmental research center. During the Open Door Days the participants will be able to learn about the research centre’s work, to visit laboratories and see basic research equipment, and talk to the researchers.
To enter the Institute, foreign correspondents will need to present their accreditation cards and Russian journalists – their journalist IDs.
For more information please call the Institute’s press service at +7 (496) 216 3890, write to sc@jinr.ru, or go to www.jinr.ru.
