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Top diplomat: Russia interested in normalizing relations with West on equal footing

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that next year Moscow will be able to "make progress in addressing the key issues of today"

© AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin

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Zakharova says Russia ready for dialogue with NATO on equal terms

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Russia is interested in normalizing relations with the EU and the US on an equitable basis, says an address of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to participants in the New Year meeting of the Diplomatic Club at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy read out by its Rector, Yevgeny Bazhanov.

Lavrov noted that the outgoing year has been a difficult one, including because of the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. However, Russia "has consistently implemented the agenda both in the bilateral formats and within international organizations."

"We hope that next year we will be able to make progress in addressing the key issues of today," the address said. "Russia is interested in normalizing relations with the US and the EU on an equal footing, taking into account each other’s interests."

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