Transcript of Remarks and Replies to Questions by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov at Press Conference Following Talks with Michel Barnier, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nakhabino, January 20, 2005

Unofficial translation from Russian

Foreign Minister Lavrov: I am glad to greet French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier here in Moscow. We held talks preceding the fourth regular meeting of the Russian-French Security Cooperation Council with participation by the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the two countries, which will take place tomorrow.

In our common opinion, Russian-French cooperation has reached a higher and better-quality level. Our dialogue bears an intensive, confidential and privileged character, it enables discussing and tackling any questions and plays an important role in the strengthening of security and cooperation both in Europe and in the world as a whole. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Jacques Chirac set the tone for our cooperation.

We discussed a broad range of bilateral questions, including economic and cultural cooperation, and agreed to encourage the implementation of the accords for building up interaction in outer space, aviation and other high-tech fields in every way.

Symbolic was the opening of a French lyceum in Moscow today before our talks. We shall actively promote contacts between people, especially between the youth.

Among international questions we devoted particular attention to the strengthening and reformation of the UN, primarily with a view to its becoming more effective in the struggle against terrorism and other threats of our time. We examined the development of the partnership between Russia and the EU, including the establishment of the Four Common Spaces. We note the active and constructive role of France in promoting such cooperation. We also agree that it is necessary to work actively on OSCE reform, although quite a few complicated problems have yet to be solved on this path. And we touched upon some questions of our interaction within the G8, in particular, in the implementation of the global partnership for nuclear security program.

In the course of tomorrow's meeting we shall consider at greater length some other aspects of our multifaceted partnership.

Question: Is it true that President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine intends to make his first visit after the inauguration ceremony to Russia and that it will take place on January 24. What is your assessment of this event?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: I can say that this information is already officially circulated in Moscow as well. That agreement has indeed been reached. President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine will visit Moscow on January 24. This is fully in accord with his statement that he intends to pay his first visit abroad to Russia exactly. He spoke of this earlier, too. Also then, the Russian leadership declared its readiness to receive him on a visit to Moscow.

As to my assessment, I don't think there is any need to repeat once more that Russia and Ukraine live together. Our peoples are bound by thousands and indeed millions of threads. Our history, culture, economy - they are all interdependent in the good sense of the word. There is probably nothing unnatural about the fact that the first visit of the new President of Ukraine is being made to the Russian Federation. At any rate, Russia presumes that this is evidence of the quality of our relations which nothing can change.

Question: When Mr. Barnier's predecessor, Mr. Dominique de Villepin, was in Moscow, he spoke about the war in Chechnya. How do you, Mr. Barnier, feel about this topic?

Foreign Minister Lavrov (adding to what Michel Barnier said): I would like to add a few words. I took note of the fact that the question was not asked about what is happening in the Chechen Republic, as in this case it should probably have been addressed to me, but the question was asked about whether Mr. Barnier had raised this topic in conversation with me. This is simply an interesting aspect. We never avoid discussing any topics with our French friends. Barnier did ask me about the state of affairs in the Chechen Republic. I told him in detail how the political process is developing, how the parliamentary elections are being prepared, which are open for all the groups and sections of Chechen society, how the operations are continuing to eradicate terrorist groups that still remain in the republic, and how all the measures are being taken to ensure that the federal forces in Chechnya are strictly guided by humanitarian norms; criminal proceedings have been initiated against the servicemen who have violated the law, and access is being provided for non-governmental organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Chechen Republic, including persons being held in detention centers.

We highly value just this interest which EU countries are showing in order to make a contribution to the restoration of normal life in the Chechen Republic, primarily on a social and economic plane.

These are well known facts. Journalists working in Russia know about them. It is indicative that yesterday during my two-hour press conference I was answering questions from Russian and foreign journalists, who were interested in a lot of things, but there were no questions about Chechnya. So come to Moscow to work and you will also enrich your knowledge of Russia.

Question: Who will represent Russia at the inauguration ceremony for Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia will be represented at a high level at the inauguration of Ukrainian President Yushchenko. This matter will be solved in the coming days.