MOSCOW, June 2 (Itar-Tass) —— No document on missile defence is being prepared for the upcoming meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama at the G20 summit in Mexico, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
“No document on missile defence is being prepared. We are engaged in dialogue on missile defence, but it has so far been futile because of the American partners’ categorical refusal to take into account our concerns. They have thought up their own scheme and do not want to, or cannot, step aside from it even by an inch, which does not match our understanding of cooperation,”: Lavrov told Vesti V Subbotu (News on Saturday) news programme on Russia-1 television channel on June 2.
Lavrov said earlier that Moscow would insist that Washington take its position into account “in full measure”.
“It is clear that we have no accord, but we have agreed that experts will continue the work, and we will insist that our stand be taken into consideration in full measure,” the minister stated.
“We have explained to the American colleagues what risks we see in their four-stage 'adaptive plan' and hope that the professional contacts will allow us to find possibilities to agree in such a way that this [missile defence] system does not create threats for Russia and risks for strategic stability on the global scale,” Lavrov said.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defence Policy and Verification Operations Frank Rose said in response that the U.S. was ready to make a political statement to the effect that the missile defence system in Europe will not be directed against Russia but would not give any binding guarantees.
In an interview with Vesti V Subbotu, Lavrov also touched upon by U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul’s remarks regarding Russia, which he made on May 25, 2012 at a meeting with students of the Higher School of Economics.
When asked to comment on the fact that McFaul was included in the U.S. delegation to the G20 summit to be held on June 18-19, Lavrov said, “In our profession, we have to take realities as they are, not rejoice. And realities are such that the American delegation is formed by President Obama. But at the same time realities are such that Ambassador McFaul should make conclusions from what happened.”
“We were extremely perplexed by U.S. Ambassador in Moscow Michael McFaul's remarks made on May 25, 2012 at a meeting with students of the Higher School of Economics. His assessments of interaction between Russia and the U.S. go far beyond diplomatic etiquette in form and are an intentional distortion of some aspects of the Russian-American dialogue in substance,”the ministry said.
“Just as unprofessional appear to be McFaul's assertions about some ‘linkages’ that Russia supposedly insists on when discussing acute international issues. Saying that we allegedly proposed to exchange ‘Iran for Georgia’ and 'human rights in Russia for North Korea' means to be totally unaware of Moscow's position, according to which fundamental issues, including non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, are an unconditional priority and are not subject to any bargaining.”
“This is not the first time when statements and actions by Mr. McFaul, who holds such a high post, startle” the ministry said.