Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to media questions following talks with Foreign Minister of the State of Eritrea Osman Saleh, Moscow, April 27, 2022
27 April 2022 16:50
923-27-04-2022
Good afternoon, once again.
We held useful and substantive talks, during which we pointed out that the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Eritrea continued to develop successfully despite the current international issues. We are promoting political dialogue and contacts between our agencies that are responsible for trade, the economy and humanitarian ties. Today we agreed to provide all-round assistance to businesspeople in our countries aimed at coordinating and implementing mutually beneficial projects in energy, transport infrastructure, ICT and agriculture. Both our countries are interested in this.
We paid considerable attention to the task of protecting our practical cooperation from the negative effects of the unilateral illegal sanctions adopted by the "collective West," which has made sanctions its main and almost the only instrument of its foreign policy. We noted the similarity of our views on the main current issues, including the importance of making international affairs more democratic and ensuring the right of nations to choose their own future and their political and socioeconomic development paths and models.
We are closely coordinating our actions at the UN and other multilateral platforms. We have a common approach to countering the insistent attempts by the Western countries to undermine the foundations of the UN and the principles of international law and to establish a unipolar world by promoting the domination of the West in all spheres of international affairs under Washington's rigid guidance.
We held a detailed discussion on the African agenda, during which we pointed out the importance of normalising the situation in Africa's hot spots as soon as possible. We highlighted the developments in the African Horn region. Just like our Eritrean friends, we believe that a comprehensive approach is the main instrument for settling regional crises, which calls for coordinating the efforts of the African countries themselves with support from the international community. We reaffirmed that Russia, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to contribute to stronger stability and security in Africa, including on the basis of the African Solutions to African Problems principle. Decisions must not be forced on the Africans from without. However, many such attempts have been made.
At the request of our friends, we presented out views on the situation in and around Ukraine. We pointed out once again that the goal of our actions is to protect people from the military threat posed by the Kiev regime and to demilitarise and denazify that country.
We expressed appreciation for Eritrea's objective and responsible position regarding the situation in Ukraine. We value its understanding of the fundamental nature of that situation, which is inseparably connected with the comprehensive crisis of the European security architecture brought about by the aggressive policy of NATO and its blatant disregard for the obligations adopted at the highest level, including at the OSCE, not to strengthen one's security at the expense of the security of other states.
We informed our colleagues about yesterday's talks in Moscow with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who, among other things, emphasised the humanitarian dimension of the current situation. We also talked about Russia's truly impressive efforts to address the humanitarian issues Ukraine is facing. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke in favour of the United Nations working together with the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the creation of humanitarian convoys and evacuating civilians. President Vladimir Putin empathised with this initiative. We hold a positive view of UN's commitment to playing a constructive and impartial role. We also explained to the Secretary-General and his delegation the specific ways in which the UN could contribute to resolving humanitarian issues. The United Nations has several representatives here. They keep in touch with the Ministry of Defence and are receiving proposals they need to deliver on the initiatives put forward by the Secretary-General.
This is the gist of our discussions. These were useful talks. We agreed to keep working on all aspects of our agenda.
Question: How are preparations for the Russia-Africa summit advancing? Will it take place? What spheres of cooperation will Russia prioritise in its relations with African countries?
Sergey Lavrov: Preparations for the Russia-Africa summit are underway. This will be the second meeting of this kind at the highest level. The first one took place in 2019, in Sochi. We are now making the necessary arrangements with our African friends so that we can announce how the upcoming summit will be held considering the impact from the coronavirus-related restrictions. We must determine the time and format that would suit all the heads of state.
The resolutions adopted at the first summit in October 2019 in Sochi set forth the main spheres of cooperation with Africa. These include political dialogue, economic and investment cooperation, humanitarian and educational ties, since a large number of Africans study at Russian universities, as well as helping the African continent resolve the issues it faces. This is an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue. The Association of Economic Cooperation with African States has been established. Within our ministry, we created the Secretariat for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum and tasked it with preparing future contacts.
Question: Russia and a number of other countries made their recognition of the Taliban Government contingent on their success in ensuring inclusiveness, or the involvement of all local ethno-political forces in running the country. The Taliban have been in power for the last eight months. The former leaders of political parties have fled, with the exception of Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah. Some new alternative political forces, which would be willing to declare their readiness to join a new inclusive government, have failed to materialise over these months. Why, in your opinion, has the Taliban been unable to form a truly inclusive government? Is it possible to form a government in Afghanistan under the Taliban?
Sergey Lavrov: The question why the Taliban has succeeded or not in doing something is largely artificial. We can speculate ad infinitum as to why the Americans and their allies failed in Afghanistan. Over the 20 years that they were in the country and in total control, they created not a single facility that would generate jobs, an increase in Afghanistan's GDP, etc. The subjunctive mood is of no help to diplomacy.
As for ethno-political inclusiveness, this was not so much a condition on the part of the international community as a promise and a commitment. The Taliban itself proclaimed it after coming to power. It is among the steps they will take to establish law and order in the country and ensure national accord.
You have rightly said that political inclusiveness should be present alongside ethnic and religious accord. But this is still a problem. Despite their different ethnic origin, all members of the current Government (a provisional government par excellence) belong to the Taliban's political wing. Former President Hamid Karzai and former Senior Executive (in fact, Prime Minister) Abdullah Abdullah are still in Afghanistan. I think that they are sufficiently authoritative figures, open to dialogue with the Taliban. We are encouraging contact of this kind. Hopefully, it will facilitate Afghanistan's further stabilisation. .
Question: Head of Crimea's Civic Chamber Alexander Formanchuk spoke about the possibility of the Kherson Region becoming a part of the Russian Federation. This region and a number of other areas in southern Ukraine are controlled by the Russian Armed Forces. They are in close contact with the local people. Did you notice any signs of local people wishing to join Russia? Can we speak about a new shape of the map of Russia that includes certain regions of southern Ukraine?
Sergey Lavrov: From the very start of the Special Military Operation, we have stated that our goal is to protect civilians affected by the militarisation and Nazification of their country, by the fact that open Nazis rule the roost at the security, defence, and law enforcement agencies. They do not even hesitate to display the symbols of Hitler's Germany. The population is suffering because the government, headed by the president, approves laws that consistently murder the Russian language, culture and education in Ukraine. These laws are encouraging the theory and practice of Nazism. People are under totalitarian oppression. It is their sentiments that should be put first and prioritised.
While announcing the Special Military Operation, we said that we were proceeding from the premise that the citizens of Ukraine would decide their fate on their own. It is up to them to decide. Ukraine has been under external control for years. People are sick and tired of this.
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