EMBASSY INFORMS
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The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is annually marked in Russia on 26 June. Every year a broad range of activities are carried out that day to promote a healthy lifestyle among the population, primarily the youth, under such mottos as “Children against Drugs – I Choose Sport”, “Sport – YES! Drugs – NO!”, etc.
I feel compelled to comment on Benjamin Rhode’s strategic comment “Russia and the Western Balkans” (17 June), in which he alleges that “Russia’s stated policy aim is to prevent the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU”. This presumption reflects a biased and politicized approach to assessing the role of Russia in the region. Mr Rhode has chosen to ignore the fact that Russia has never spoken out, or acted, against the accession of the Balkan States to the EU. What we always emphasise is that those countries must decide for themselves how far the prerequisites required for joining the EU meet their national interests.
The Russian position on that issue, in general, is based on the fact that European integration has not become a panacea for all woes and it could never be. We have some questions regarding certain methods used by Brussels when implementing its strategy in the Balkans. One such question that in many respects remains open is whether the course for European integration pursued by regional States is in harmony with their interests of cooperating with non-EU countries. It is essential for us that the accession of the Balkan States to the EU does not create new dividing lines in Europe. Western Balkan nations must not be forced to confront an artificial choice between the European Union and Russia.
Bilateral cooperation: of course, this cooperation cannot be separated from the context of our relations with the European Union, because France is a member. But at the same time, despite a difficult period in relations with the EU, to put it mildly, it is important that our ties, relations between Russia and France, continue to develop. We have agreed that we must be more active and that we must look for new opportunities, including cooperation in new spheres. And, of course, we should think about how to use every cooperation format we can.
Mr. President, We thank Under-Secretary-General J-P. Lacroix for his report. We are thankful to the Force Commanders of the UNAMID and the UNFCYP for their briefings about the state of affairs in their missions. Let me avail of the opportunity and express our appreciation to all peacekeepers for their faithful service that sometimes proceeds in precarious environment, and to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for the sake of peace.
Mr. President, We attentively listened to the briefings by Under-Secretaries-General Rosemary DiCarlo and Mark Lowcock. However, our appreciation goes to you, the humanitarian troika for convening a Security Council meeting on the situation in the North-West of the Syrian Arab Republic. I tell you frankly: we were also going to convene such a meeting, because the time has long become ripe to talk about the state of affairs in Syria, including the Idlib de-escalation zone. Some of our partners are sending signals to the international community that either have nothing to do with the real situation in Syria or distort the situation on the ground.
We are seriously concerned over the aggravation of the internal political situation in Georgia. Our compatriots – members of the official delegation of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly that took part in the session of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy – were injured as a result of the actions of the radical Georgian opposition employing anti-Russian slogans. Mass disturbances continue in Tbilisi. Therefore, the Foreign Ministry strongly recommends that Russian citizens refrain from travel to Georgia for their own personal safety.
Question: How would you comment on the statement by Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, made at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, in which she accused Russia of violating the Sochi agreement on Idlib, attacking hospitals and other civilian facilities in this province?
Answer: Russia remains committed to the agreements we have achieved with Turkey to stabilise the situation in Idlib. The military of our two countries maintain constant contacts and coordinate their activities in order to prevent further escalation of violence and destabilisation.
Due to numerous publications in the British media focused on blaming Russia for the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash the Embassy would like to state the following.
Once again we note the biased approach of British journalists in covering the topic connected with the investigation of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash. Russia finds itself the target of completely groundless accusations, blaming Russian servicemen for the tragedy, intended to discredit our country in the eyes of the international community.
We have taken note the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2019 Human Rights and Democracy Report dealing with the global human rights situation. Just like previous reports, this document features a didactic tone and shows complete disdain for the concept of sovereignty and non-interference in the domestic affairs of states, which is one of the fundamental principles of international law. The choice of focus countries for this “survey” designed to promote human rights worldwide seems even more curious.
In reality, the document’s authors have failed to examine the situation in various regions, and this is the report’s defining feature. The section dealing with Russia is telling. This part of the report essentially consists of anti-Russia clichés that are recycled from one document to the next. London uses these clichés to accuse Russia of showing disdain for human rights and of a democracy “deficit”, thereby also trying to blame Moscow for the human rights situation in neighbouring countries.
Q: How would you comment on the statement by Andrew Murrison, the FCO Minister of State, blaming President Al-Assad’s Government and Russia for the escalation of tension in the Syrian province of Idlib?
A: Representatives of the Russian Federation have repeatedly commented on the situation in Idlib. However, we are doing it once again specially for the UK.
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