Presentation and responses to S.V. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation during the Joint Press Conference Following Negotiations with H.R.Khar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Islamabad, October 4, 2012

I would like to thank Minister H.R.Khar for invitation and hospitality. This is our second meeting as a part of the special visits: in February H.R.Khar visited Moscow, now I now am in Islamabad. We also met more than once during various multilateral forums as a part of the UN and the SCO.

I think that the intensity of the meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and contacts from other departments within the Government of Russia and Pakistan underlines our commitment to develop the full range of bilateral relations and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues. We have a structured framework for cooperation, we held regular meetings at the highest level, the level of foreign ministers, security services, through action to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. A strategic dialogue between the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs is developing, the bilateral working group on combating terrorism is working. I think we have created a very important structure that will work for the benefit of business.

H.R.Khar referred to the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. This is a very promising mechanism. The last time the commission met last month in Islamabad, and certain agreements were taken there. We also support the deepening of cooperation between the two parliaments. On the agenda there is a visit of F.Mirzy, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, to the Russian Federation, and the visit of V.I. Matviyenko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Today, we also exchanged views on the regional agenda: the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, the Middle East and North Africa in general, the problems of the INP. We have identical or similar positions on all these issues. In regard to Afghanistan, it is important to focus more on the efforts of countries in the region. In this context, Russia and Pakistan are paying great attention to improving the effectiveness of Afghanistan in the SCO. We actively support the initiative of A.Zardari, President to convene Pakistan in the Regional Conference on combating the drug threat. We believe it is very important initiative and will promote it in every way.

I am satisfied with the content of our negotiations, and once again thank you H.R.Khar arrangement of work, kindness and hospitality.

Question: How reliable are, in your opinion, the accusations made by the United States against a number of people, including Russian citizens, of illegal trade of microchips? Do you think this case is a part in the U.S. race for the presidency?

S.V. Lavrov: I can only say that we are trying to sort out what happened and whether those arrested are citizens of Russia. The U.S. party told us that ten of them are Americans, and the rest are immigrants from the former Soviet Union, but we do not have specific, detailed information. Therefore I believe it is not practical to comment on something right now, and I do not see any connection between this issue and the election campaign in the U.S..

Question: Is the yesterday's incident at the border of Syria and Turkey a provocation, in particular by Turkey?

S.V. Lavrov: We are very concerned by events there. Every day the situation is getting worse, and the conflict is pushed inside. Certainly, Russia, like most other states, condemns all violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. We stand in solidarity with condolences brought to the Government and people of Turkey in connection with the deaths of innocent civilians. We believe that it is important and necessary to give full attention to the fact that the conflict in Syria has long acquired a cross-border dimension. There is a "migration" of the conflict and its recharge from the outside. Through the Russian Ambassador in Damascus we have come into contact with the Syrian party. The Syrians have assured us, in particular through L. Brahimi, that it is a sad, tragic accident, and they will take all measures to make it not happen again in the future. We consider it is important that Damascus said publicly about it.

At the same time, we can not close our eyes to other aspects of the Syrian tragedy. Yesterday, another series of bombings in Aleppo took about thirty lives, which is also largely due to the cross-border aspects of the Syrian crisis. I cannot help remembering again the sad fact that for several months our Western partners in the Security Council refused to accept a statement condemning the terrorist attacks on Syrian territory. The Security Council always respond to major terrorist attacks, always judging them, and stressing that no justification for terrorism can be found. The fact that our Western colleagues are moving away from this position in the context of what the terrorists are doing in Syria, is a deeply disturbing signal.

Returning to your original question, I want to express the hope that the Syrian and Turkish authorities, the relevant authorities will establish a connection channel, given the tension on the joint border, including due to the influx of refugees. It is important that there was a direct channel of contact.

Question: Your visit to Pakistan is a good sign for the region. At the same time, could you explain what signal did Moscow want to send to Islamabad by the way that President Vladimir Putin refused to come to Pakistan?

S.V. Lavrov: President Vladimir Putin sent a message to President A.Zardari, explaining that only the schedule did not allow him to come to Pakistan. In the same message, he expressed the hope that in the near future dates, location and format of the next summit between the presidents of Russia and Pakistan will be agreed. Today I and H.R.Khar discussed it. Here there is such signal. This is solely a problem of schedule and nothing more.

Question: (addressed to H.R.Khar): What is your reaction to the protests, initiated by Imran Khan in Waziristan, border region with Afghanistan? It seems they are not supported at the region, re they approved by the government of Pakistan?

S.V. Lavrov (in addition to the response of H.R.Khar): I would like to confirm the Russia's principled position on the unacceptable violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as we have said today. Certainly, on the basis of this position, we support the approach outlined by H.R.Khar now.

Question: As it was stated, today regional issues were discussed, with a particular focus on the situation in Afghanistan. Do you have any new proposal for a peaceful settlement of the situation in this country?

Russia is a reliable friend of India. What role does your country can play in resolving the Kashmir issue?

S.V. Lavrov: Proposal on how to end the conflict in Afghanistan has to come from the Afghans themselves, and all external partners of this country should encourage them to do so. We also remembered that there was a lot of recipes from the outside, and none of them worked in Afghanistan. There is a position of the Afghan government, which is shared by the international community and which is approved by resolutions of the UN Security Council and numerous conferences on the fact that national reconciliation is a priority, and the dialogue is open to all who accept the constitution of Afghanistan and is not involved in terrorist acts.

As regard to the relations between Pakistan and India, now we also addressed this topic. Russia welcomes the steps that New Delhi and Islamabad are doing to meet each other in an effort to build trust. I do not think that there is a problem on the agenda of Pakistan-India relations that needs to be internationalized. These are two respected countries with rich diplomatic traditions, and they quite able to deal with each other on their own.

October 4, 2012