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Russia-US tensions no good for American people - Lavrov

"I’m sure that it would not benefit the American people and solution to global problems, because a lot depends on our two states," Russia’s top diplomat said.

MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/. The outgoing US administration’s calls to president-elect Donald Trump to continue its anti-Russian policies run contrary to the interests of the American people, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

Commenting on outgoing US President Barack Obama’s call to the president-elect to stand up to Moscow when it violates global norms, Lavrov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have already discussed the current situation in bilateral relations, which are "at their lowest."

"If president Obama wants tensions to continue, I’m sure that it would not benefit the American people and solution to global problems, because a lot depends on our two states," Russia’s top diplomat said in a Rossiya-24 TV channel broadcast.

Lavrov added that the comment ran contrary to Obama’s previous statements, in which he stressed the necessity of cooperating with Moscow in order to solve key problems, including the conflict in Syria. "He (Obama) advised Trump to distinguish electoral fever from real practical work. I have a feeling that Obama himself is on the emotional side of the situation, and thinks less and less about how to solve real problems," he said.

"I understand that his term is running out but still expect that the common sense will prevail," Lavrov added. "On numerous occasions President Obama demonstrated his ability to take a cold-minded approach to this or that situation. I hope that he would transfer this part of his heritage to the new administration."

"Concerning the relations between us and the United States after January 20, the ball is on the side of Donald Trump," he said.

At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin late on Thursday, Obama expressed hope that Trump stops short of focusing on practical objectives in the manner of realpolitik.

"My hope is that he does not simply take a realpolitik approach and suggest that if we just cut some deals with Russia, even if it hurts people or even if it violates international norms or even if it leaves smaller countries vulnerable or creates long-term problems in regions like Syria, that we just do whatever is convenient at the time," Obama said.

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