EMBASSY INFORMS
On 15th September 2017 at the celebrations of the centenary of the Russian studies at the University of Glasgow on the instructions of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sergey Lavrov Consul General of Russia in Edinburgh Mr Andrey A.Pritsepov presented the Illustrated Chronicles of Ivan the Terrible also known as the “Tsar Book” to the University of Glasgow. In his speech Mr Pritsepov said that this literary masterpiece provided a rare opportunity for the contemporaries to reopen the turbulent history of antiquity, exploring it through the eyes of a 16th-century scholar. On 15-17 September 2017 large celebrations were held at the University of Glasgow dedicated to the centenary of Russian studies at this honorable higher education institution. Once again, I would like to thank you for the hospitality you showed us several months ago. We also look forward to your visit. As you know, we have always advocated the unity of the European Union, so we wish you all the best. We value any opportunity to hear your views on developments in the region, as well as to coordinate our further steps regarding the issues of concern to us in the interests of stability in the Balkans and the development of the region’s countries in accordance with the will of their people. Sorry for a small delay. Very nice to see you again. We believe that our dialogue is important. After your visit five years ago, this would be a good occasion to check where we are and what we get to do together to promote our very good relations and friendship. Question (in English): After your meeting with Secretary Tillerson, how would you evaluate the relationship with the United States? And has Russia given up on hopes of a significant improvement under the Trump administration?
Sergey Lavrov (in English): The relations are at a very difficult and a very low point, which is the legacy of the Obama administration. We certainly noted what President Trump was saying when he was running for president about the relations with Russia and what he continues to say. Basically, that he wants to have good relations with Russia, understanding that this would be in the American interests and the interests of solving quite a number of important and most acute world problems. And what I feel talking to Rex Tillerson is that this is the position of the administration. They are not happy with the current state of relations, and we are not happy at all. And I believe that the understanding is that we have to accept the reality which was created, as I said, by the spiral of unfriendly steps started by the Obama administration, but this reality is with us. And being responsible people, I believe the Russian Government and the US administration should exercise this responsibility in addressing the bilateral links as well as international issues. We are not yet at a point where this would become a sustained trend but understanding of the need to move in this direction is present, in my opinion. On September 18, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Under-Secretary-General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov on the sidelines of the General Debate of the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York. On September 16, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the initiative of the US side. reaffirming their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic; guided by the provisions of UNSC resolution 2254 (2015); On September 14, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the US initiative. On September 4-10, Russia was visited by a group of public figures from Alaska, including representatives of the academic community and non-governmental organisations, members of the Alaska Historical Society and prominent figures of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. On 12 September the British Government has published a future EU partnership paper on foreign policy, defence and development.
We note that hostile anti-Russian rhetoric continues to make part of British official documents. For example, Paragraph 15 contains language of “aggressive behavior by Russia”. In Paragraph 25 groundless statement about “Russian aggression in Ukraine” can be found. In Paragraph 31 Russia is being blamed for “invasion in Ukraine”. Moreover, Russia is accused of “illegal annexation of Crimea, and destabilizing activities in Ukraine” in the “Box 1” chapter of the document. On 12 September Ambassador Dr Alexander Yakovenko took part in the grand opening of the exhibition "Scythians: warriors of Ancient Siberia" at the British Museum. The exhibition, presenting to the British public the cultural heritage of the ancient people who lived in Eurasia from the Black Sea to Siberia and Central Asia for the first time in 40 years, is the result of the cooperation of the British Museum with the State Hermitage (St. Petersburg). On 11 September Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan accused the Crimean Supreme Court of illegal persecution of Mr Akthem Chiygoz, aimed at repressing political opposition in Crimea.
all messages 
| 
