MOSCOW, November 27. /TASS/. The current global situation is reminiscent of the uncertainty that surrounded the Cold War era, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said speaking on Monday at the "Primakov Readings" international forum.

"During the Cold War, there was a system of checks and balances in place, there was an intention among the great powers, among the two rival camps - the United States and the Soviet Union, NATO and the Warsaw Pact - to contain the rivalry within a political and diplomatic framework," Lavrov said.

"There were no such alarming assessments of what was happening and such serious fears for the future, the concrete future, I mean, voiced either by the United States, or by the Soviet Union, or by the Socialist camp countries," the Russian foreign minister noted.

"Today, such fears show up constantly in the speeches of many politicians of governmental organizations. This is a completely different situation," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister also said that "back then [during the Cold War] a dialogue on arms control was initiated and quickly developed, concrete results were achieved and this provided a level of comfort."

The 9th Primakov Readings international forum is being held in Moscow from November 27 to 28. TASS is the general information partner of the Primakov Readings international forum and conference.