MINSK, November 3. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Washington’s sharing of information about a planned terrorist attack at Moscow's Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve as routine intelligence work.
He also highlighted that Western countries are struggling to come to terms with the new global reality and remain unprepared for dialogue on Eurasian issues.
TASS has compiled the Russian foreign minister’s key statements.
West wants everyone to play by its rules
Western countries want to impose their own rules across Eurasia, including its eastern part. "The West actually wants to impose its own rules across the entire Eurasian continent, including its eastern part, and has openly stated as much. Therefore, a great deal of diplomatic work lies ahead. But, of course, this diplomatic work will be influenced by real practical actions on the ground."
Western countries are struggling to come to terms with new global realities and remain unprepared for dialogue on Eurasian issues. "The West’s plan to inflict a strategic defeat on us by arming the Kiev regime and using it as a weapon has failed. Now, the Westerners are simply trying to save face as they struggle to come to terms with the new reality. For the time being, they are unwilling to engage in any kind of dialogue on Eurasian issues. I’m talking about the need to seek a balance of interests to make sure that everyone in Eurasia feels secure and has opportunities for development."
Discussing the security framework
Europeans will sooner or later have to decide how to build relations with Russia and ensure security on the continent. "The European Union is apparently more preoccupied with its internal disputes at the moment. But at some point, they will have to decide how to move forward and how to ensure their security."
"For us, equal and indivisible security can mean non-aggression pacts if there is no other positive common ground between us. Or it could mean coexisting, as was the case during the Soviet era. Or it could involve cooperation agreements envisaging joint action, greater trust and transparency, and reciprocal visits to military facilities on an equal basis."
Russia is open to talking about anything regarding security. "We are not limiting these discussions in any way. We will see what proposals emerge, but the options I have listed are part of the experience already accumulated in this area," he said.
United States, NATO
The United States will not leave NATO, but is moving its military presence further east, and Europeans will have to take on greater responsibility. "The United States is becoming less willing to help ensure Europe’s security. It will certainly not leave NATO; that is out of the question. However, it is gradually shifting its military presence further east. At some point, Europeans began saying that they needed to take on more responsibility for their own security."
Ukraine settlement
Participants in the 4th International Conference on Eurasian Security are interested in ending the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible on a just basis. "We have sensed that the participants in today’s conference are interested in seeing the [Ukraine] crisis brought to an end as soon as possible on a just basis."
Such a principle means "above all, eliminating the root causes of the war unleashed by the West against us through a neo-Nazi regime created by the West itself."
"If Europe can't see Ukraine's Nazism, then it is unclear how we are supposed to talk to them."
Possibility of new US strikes on Iran
Russia specially did not make a request to the United States regarding reports of possible strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. "No, we made no special requests."
Reports of possible strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections have not been corroborated by other sources. "Of course, we took note of what [US journalist] Tucker Carlson said. But this has not been confirmed by other sources."
Intelligence cooperation between Russia, United States
Washington’s sharing of information about preparations for a terrorist attack at the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve in Moscow is regular intelligence work. "Well, if they learn about a planned terrorist attack and inform us, I consider that normal intelligence work."
Contacts between Moscow and Washington on counterterrorism continue. "We also helped the US counterparts in the past, by the way. This type of contact is continuing."
Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century
The first meeting to prepare the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century is expected to take place in Minsk before the end of the year, with a second meeting planned for Russia in the spring. "The first meeting to prepare this document will take place here in Minsk before the end of the year. We will probably hold the next one on our territory in the spring," Lavrov said.
These meetings will be "the main component of the current stage of work on Eurasian security."
Russia is not setting artificial deadlines for adopting the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century. "That is not our goal. We all understand that the situation is very complicated."
The result is what matters most to Russia. "We are inviting everyone else who wishes to join to do so already at this stage. The main thing is not to meet some artificial deadline, but to achieve a result."
The future of the OSCE
There is currently no clear understanding of how the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) could be saved in the foreseeable future. "I do not see how this organization can be saved in the foreseeable future. For now, it is a place where people can present their views and increasingly refute the lies that the West spreads there every day, at every meeting."