Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the meeting of the United Russia Party General Council Commission on International Cooperation and Support for Compatriots Abroad, Moscow, June 19, 2023

Colleagues,

Today, we are holding the 6th meeting of the United Russia Party General Council Commission on International Cooperation and Support for Compatriots Abroad. As the chair of this commission, I will recall that its main goal is to facilitate the implementation of the foreign policy section of the election programme of the party that is steadily stepping up its activities.

Our agenda provides for the discussion of the updated version of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation and the role of party diplomacy in its implementation. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made principled assessment of the international situation. The collective West led by the US and the Anglo-Saxons is conducting an undeclared hybrid war against Russia. It is using the Kiev regime as an instrument of this war. The Ukrainian Nazis are supplied with modern weapons and ammunition; instructors and mercenaries are sent to Ukraine. The enemies are openly declaring their goals – to defeat the Russian army on the battlefield, undermine our political and economic sovereignty and push Russia to the periphery of global politics.

This policy is in line with the common efforts of Washington and Brussels to maintain global domination. They are trying to punish any country that pursues an independent foreign policy and rejects the “rules-based order.”

The Americans do not make any secret of their intention to do all they can to contain China. The vicious practice of interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign countries continues. This interference takes the most diverse forms, including threats, blackmail and the staging of colour revolutions. Six years after the successful bloody coup d’etat in Ukraine in 2014, there was an abortive attempt to repeat it in Belarus. Obviously, this is not going to be the end of it. They are openly aiming to undermine domestic political stability in Russia in the context of the 2024 presidential elections.

The situation is not simple and everyone understands this. However, it is also obvious that the strengthening of the foundations of multi-polarity is becoming the mainstream of modern international relations. President of Russia Vladimir Putin emphasised this idea in his remarks at the SPIEF, adding that the colonial method of conducting international affairs is ending. The new centres of growth and adoption of global decisions in Eurasia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are achieving impressive successes in various areas. They are doing this on the basis of their distinctive statehood, traditional values and dynamic national economy. The budding multi-polar world arrangement reflects the natural, inalienable right of nations to decide their destinies themselves. This is the source of its strength and a long-term vector of historic development.

The attempts by the collective West to isolate Russia have fallen through. About 85 percent of the world’s population lives in the countries of the global South and East and almost all of them are reluctant to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for the former metropoles. They have a great interest in Russia, as a friend that helped them in the past and a modern country with which it is possible to confidently build their future. Therefore, while defending our national interests from the threats coming from the West we are developing versatile cooperation with the world’s majority.

The international situation and related medium-term forecasts were laid down in the revised edition of the Foreign Policy Concept approved by the Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation on March 31, 2023. I will go over its key points.

Many experts have pointed out that the document proclaims Russia’s civilisational mission as a global power that plays a balancing role in international affairs and pushes for fair international relations. In practical terms, this means that we are not going to become part of the mechanisms or arrangements that serve other countries’ interests, but we will instead independently develop our foreign policy agenda and focus in our activities in the international arena primarily on our own priorities, while observing the universally recognised international law provisions contained in the UN Charter in all their fullness and interconnectedness.

As a sovereign centre in today’s world, Russia has its own vision of international politics. The concept laid down a clear understanding of the image of a future sustainable and fair international order. We will weigh our practical steps against the goal of promoting the construction of a multipolar international order which must be based on the principles of sovereign equality of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and maintaining cultural diversity and a dialogue among civilisations. The sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs are two UN Charter principles that the West never brings up.

Our flagship foreign policy project is to support the Greater Eurasian Partnership concept. We are talking about promoting the objective process for forming a broad-based integration circuit that is open to all countries and associations of our continent. Practical steps have already been taken. Among them, aligning the EAEU development plans and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, expanding cooperation within the SCO (including observers and partners) and strengthening Russia’s strategic partnership with ASEAN, and establishing working contacts between the executive bodies of the EAEU, the SCO, and ASEAN. We would like these efforts to lead us to establishing mutually beneficial infrastructural connectivity and creating a pan-continental architecture of peace, growth and cooperation in Greater Eurasia.

Differentiating foreign partners depending on the nature of their policy and conduct towards Russia and the degree to which they take into account Russia’s interests are the fundamentally new hallmarks of this concept. All countries are divided into three groups, namely, constructively minded, neutral and unfriendly states.

The concept takes account of the fact that confrontation with unfriendly states opened up new opportunities for cooperation outside the historical West with our partners in the former USSR, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Understandably, the concept prioritises these regions both in terms of their greater role in international affairs and in terms of channelling to these regions the resources that were freed up from a sharp decline in the scope of interaction with the West.

The destructive policy pursued by the United States, NATO and the EU, as well as their reluctance to work as equitable partners have been fully taken into account when setting the task of forming interaction mechanisms in various areas that are beyond the Western control. These areas range from international security to finance and sports. We plan to make the most of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the CSTO, the EAEU, and the CIS’s potential. We plan to continue to build up cooperation within the multilateral associations of a new type,such as the SCO and BRICS, which hold particular appeal for the Global Majority countries, which, just like Russia, are subject to discriminatory measures by the West. A long waiting line to join BRICS and the SCO clearly shows the growing role of these entities, which is fully in line with our interests. We will help our like-minded partners tap the creative potential of the Non-Aligned Movement (where Russia participates as an observer), and expand relations with the Group of 77, which is currently chaired by Cuba.

We will continue our pro-active work at the UN, where, together with other members of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, we will insist on reconfirming the inviolability of the fundamental norms of interstate relations, including the crucial principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.

I would like to focus on important innovations in our conceptual interpretation of the acceptable conditions for the use of force in self-defence.  We have confirmed our commitment to Art. 51 of the UN Charter. President of Russia Vladimir Putin once again stressed this at his meeting with African delegations in St Petersburg on June 17. We note that we will be ready to take symmetrical and asymmetrical measures in response to the unfriendly use of force against us. We have introduced a new postulate on it being possible to use the Armed Forces not only to rebuff but also prevent an armed attack on Russia or its allies, if this armed attack is absolutely inevitable. Thereby we unequivocally let potential aggressors know that Russia will resolutely defend its right and the right of our allies to free and safe development.

The Concept also reflects the constantly growing influence of the cultural and civilisational factor on global politics. All of us are well aware of the need to use diplomatic methods to protect traditional moral values from pernicious external impacts. This is why the document states our negative attitude to the destructive neo-liberal ideology imposed by the West. It is gratifying that we have many (I would say the majority of) allies in the world in this matter.

There is a focus on the subject of historical truth and the impermissibility of rewriting the results of World War II and glorifying Nazism. We will continue to uphold vigorously the positions of Russian culture and the Russian language in the world. It has been confirmed that we intend to collaborate with the Russian Orthodox Church and render it support in the light of the increased persecution of the Orthodox religion in many countries and regions of the world. Close cooperation with other main faiths in this country will continue as well.

Yet another priority is ensuring the interests of Russian citizens and compatriots abroad. The importance of working in this crucial sector is all the greater because of an unprecedented surge of Russophobia in the West. The Foreign Ministry and all state agencies will continue to assist with the consolidation of Russian compatriots, render them support for the defence of their rights and legitimate interests, and encourage, as far as possible, the voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of those who make a decision to do so. All of this will be performed within the framework of goals formulated in the Concept.

Colleagues,

The Foreign Policy Concept presumes interaction between executive authorities, including the Foreign Ministry and Russian political parties in order for them to develop and move foreign policy decisions forward. In this regard, I am pleased to note the energetic work by all parties represented in the Federal Assembly. It is good to know that the United Russia Party has established a constructive dialogue with dozens of foreign parties, movements and associations on almost every continent. To give you an example, the United Russia Party is quickly strengthening international ties with the Communist Party of China.

I will highlight United Russia leaders’ efforts to create a global anti-colonial coalition. The Foreign Ministry joined in from day one and is making a real contribution to preparations for the International Forum of the Supporters of Combating Modern Practices of Neo-Colonialism to be held in Moscow on October 18-20. I mentioned this initiative during all of my trips to the African countries, and at every meeting with the heads of state and ministers. Many are aware of it now, and the ruling parties have joined the organising committee’s activities. Those who have not yet done so have shown great interest in the upcoming forum. We will use our foreign missions to help United Russia gather a representative team for the October event. Based on the results, we will establish a standing international mechanism. I believe this is an important initiative and a weighty claim for intellectual leadership in shaping the international relations agenda at this challenging juncture.

The initiative to create the Russia’s Friends Club is widely commendable. This project should include an online discussion platform which is designed to maintain contact between peoples, and to popularise and spread the best achievements of Russian culture internationally.

In this regard, I urge everyone in this audience to carefully look at the potential of the International Movement of Russophiles. The founding congress was held in March. This initiative is expanding and gaining new supporters and like-minded people abroad. I believe this format could be given an interparty dimension. The first regular congress is planned for early 2024.

I would like to give credit to the youth projects promoted by the United Russia Party and others. United Russia’s initiatives include the international People of Artek drive which focuses on strengthening ties between the children of our compatriots with their historical homeland. The results will be reviewed today.

I believe that many useful and exciting proposals will be made during our meeting. For its part, the Foreign Ministry will, following its heart and in accordance with President Putin’s instructions, continue to provide comprehensive support to United Russia and other nationally-oriented political parties, which are widely represented here, for them to build up ties and partnerships with their international colleagues.