MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. Crimea is an integral part of Russia and it bears full responsibility for it as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the Government Hour of questions and answers at the State Duma lower house of parliament on Wednesday.

“In our organizations that Russia creates, primarily in the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), we are guided by the need to defend absolutely unanimously the fundamental legal interests of our state security,” the minister said.

“We are not forcing our views on our partners, avoiding putting them in an awkward position,” Lavrov said. He added that Russia shall defend its interests. “Crimea is an integral part of Russia. And we bear full responsibility for it as a constituent entity of the Federation,” the minister said.