Excerpts from briefing by Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry Information and Press Department Alexey Zaitsev, Moscow, October 20, 2023
Presentation of the World Youth Festival
On October 24, the Foreign Ministry Mansion will host a presentation of the World Youth Festival, the largest youth event in Russia in 2024. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Ksenia Razuvayeva will speak at the presentation.
The World Youth Festival will take place in the Sirius federal area from March 1 to 7, 2024, and is expected to host 20,000 Russian and foreign young leaders from business, media, international cooperation, culture, science, education, volunteering, sports, as well as teenagers representing various youth associations.
The presentation will also include a cultural programme with performances by famous Russian jazz musicians. Heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations, representatives of federal government agencies, and Russian and foreign media are invited to attend.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the high-level international conference Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Changing World
On October 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the high-level international conference Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Changing World in Minsk, which is being organised under Belarus' chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to address the plenary session of the forum, outlining Russia’s assessments of the current security situation in Eurasia.
The Ukraine crisis
October 14 is an important date in our country’s history: in 1943, 80 years ago, the Soviet forces liberated Zaporozhye from the German invaders. Thousands of civilians died during the occupation and many of them were deported to Germany for forced labour. The Germans turned the city into a huge concentration camp. The Soviet soldiers, by their selfless and heroic efforts, created conditions for a further advance in the Krivoi Rog and Melitopol sectors and for the approach to the lower reaches of the Dnieper. The Dnieper Hydroelectric Station was saved from complete destruction.
Today, the Ukrainian neo-Nazis follow in the footsteps of their ideological predecessors from the Third Reich. They deliver artillery and missile strikes at peaceful Russian cities and villages with particular cynicism, causing pain and suffering to local residents and ruthlessly destroying civilian infrastructure. It is not accidental that the notorious Nazi from the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician), Yaroslav Hunka, described Vladimir Zelensky as a “worthy successor” to his cause.
On October 12, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) shelled Hospital No. 25 in the Kirovsky District of Donetsk. As a result, two people were killed and one wounded. On October 18, the Ukrainian nationalists delivered precision missile strikes at the central district hospital in the town of Alyoshki, destroying all eight of its ambulances. They also attacked a rural outpatient clinic at Novaya Mayachka, Kherson Region, luckily without casualties.
In the early hours of October 12, a Ukrainian drone fell on a residential house in Belgorod, Russia, destroying the building and killing three people: a 3-year-old daughter of Sputnik Afghanistan producer Khaibar Akifi and his father- and mother-in-law. On October 14, two civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling in Alyoshki and one at Radensk, Kherson Region. On October 15, a child born in 2013 was killed in an AFU missile attack on Donetsk, with two other civilians wounded.
Based on evidence collected by the Investigative Committee of Russia, Russian Federation courts continue passing sentences on Ukrainian neo-Nazis, who have committed grave crimes against civilians.
AFU commander Leonid Onupko, who ordered his men to kill 10 civilians in Mariupol in March and April, 2022, has been sentenced to life in prison, as have two other Ukrainian militants, Denis Mirza and Andrei Skorina, each of whom killed three civilians in Mariupol in March 2022.
Three Ukrainian Nazis – Vladislav Ovcharenko, Roman Makusey, and Vadim Semchuk – have been sentenced to the term of 27 to 28 years imprisonment for firing at civilians in their cars in Mariupol in March 2022.
Seven Ukrainian militants – Vladislav Stryukov, Ilya Galchukov, Artyom Buchkovsky, Vladislav Sergeichuk, Sergei Knizhnik, Sergei Krivtsun, and Alexander Matushansky – have been sentenced to the term of 16 to 22 years for abusing civilians and POWs in Mariupol in spring 2022.
Members of Ukrainian punitive squads Mikhail Gomonai and Dmitry Shatilov, who fired at residential houses from their portable grenade launchers in May 2022, were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment each.
Criminal prosecution against persons implicated in similar crimes will be continued.
On October 17, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States had secretly supplied to Ukraine long-range ATACMS missiles. Their receipt was confirmed by the Kiev regime, whose leaders obsequiously thanked their masters for making good their promises. By handing these weapons over to the Ukrainian Nazis, Washington once again demonstrated its intention to further escalate the conflict. They do not even think about the devastating consequences of their actions. The Biden administration could not care less. The main thing for them is to prevent the Kiev junta from being defeated on the battlefield.
This once again exposes the US and the US-controlled Zelensky regime as being stubbornly reluctant to look for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, no matter how hard Washington tries to rush ever more powerful and up-to-date weapons to Ukraine, these essentially hostile steps can in no way change the situation at the line of contact, nor influence the implementation of the goals of the special military operation.
The West continues to intensify the militarisation of Ukraine. On October 11, 2023, Ramstein Air Base in Germany hosted a regular meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. According to European media, the meeting participants promised to provide Kiev with another military aid package worth $500 million. That same day, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö approved the allocation of the 19th military aid package to Ukraine worth 95 million euros. Lithuania is planning to furnish the regime of Vladimir Zelensky with NASAMS mobile air defence systems in the near future and to order 155-mm artillery munitions for Kiev, together with other EU countries.
All this shows that the West is not renouncing hostilities until the last Ukrainian. The “peace formula” of Vladimir Zelensky that the West actively promotes implies war, not peace. A statement by US Senator Mark Kelly, who is convinced that Ukraine would lose if the West stopped supplying it with weapons, confirms this.
Against the backdrop of tragic developments in the Middle East, Kiev is worried that their “masters” will now focus on another region. Vladimir Zelensky requested permission to visit Israel in order to display solidarity with it. However, Israel declined to receive him. Another guest performance has failed to take place.
Zelensky also started inciting the Georgian authorities to trigger a direct conflict in the South Caucasus. Speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Leaders' Summit in Sweden, he urged Tbilisi to launch the process of restoring its territorial integrity. In other words, he directly called on the Georgian Government to unleash bloody carnage. It appears that the Kiev regime is not content with the large casualties caused by the Ukraine conflict and that it wants to wreak havoc everywhere, to organise bloodshed and to doom millions of people to suffering.
Anyone who can leave Ukraine is doing this in order to escape the arbitrary rule of the Nazi authorities. According to media reports, Ukrainian athletes staying abroad are more and more often trying to take advantage of this opportunity and avoid going home.
For example, Shakhtyor Donetsk midfielder, Alexander Rasputko, went to Russia following the away match of the junior league team in the UEFA Youth League in Belgium and requested political asylum there.
SMM (Social Media Marketing) Specialist Roman Lopatin and photographer Roman Medvedev from Ukraine’s Krivbass football club also preferred to stay abroad.
People are opting for a different lifestyle during the all-out corruption, economic ruin, rampant neo-Nazism and lawlessness in Ukraine, as well as the illegal mobilisation conducted by the Kiev authorities that journalists compare to genocide.
Today, pro-Nazi supporters of the Waffen SS Galicia Division continue to debate whether to celebrate the day of establishing the notorious collaborationist organisations, namely, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists, on October 1 or October 14. Dissenters from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, eager to please the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Washington, decided to introduce a new chronology in accordance with the New Julian Calendar and to celebrate the feast of the Intercession of the Theotokos on October 1, rather than October 14, as stipulated by canonical Ukrainian Orthodoxy. By taking this decision, they foiled the plans of those supporting Bandera and Shukhevich. On top of that, the Zelensky regime also decided to celebrate Defender of Ukraine Day on October 1.
History is a cyclical process. Almost 80 years after the defeat of Nazism, we are fighting a new manifestation of this plague in the West and in Ukraine. This territory should not threaten the safety of Ukrainian citizens and those in neighbouring countries.
Developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone
We have followed the developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone with great concern. According to the latest data, about 5,000 Palestinians and Israelis have been killed since October 7, when this large-scale armed confrontation began, with nearly 18,000 people reported as wounded. Among the victims are 19 Russian citizens. The humanitarian disaster in Gaza is growing. On October 17, a missile launched at the Arab Al-Ahli hospital killed hundreds of civilians.
Unrest has begun on the West Bank, with mass rallies spilling into fierce armed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. The Israeli Armed Forces and Hezbollah continue artillery duels across the Lebanese-Israeli border. We have to state that the situation tends dangerously towards further escalation.
Under these circumstances, we are prioritising steps to provide security to Russians in Israel and in the Palestinian territories. We are in constant contact with them via Russian diplomatic missions and consulates and are working with our partners to organise the safe evacuation of Russian citizens, who have applied for help, from the zone of hostilities. As of today, about 1,000 persons, including citizens of CIS countries and their family members, have submitted relevant applications.
We maintain high-intensity contacts with the key regional players with regard to opening humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. As part of these efforts, on October 19, the Emergencies Ministry of Russia delivered food to the Palestinian enclave on special flights.
Simultaneously, Russia is taking steps to settle the crisis as soon as possible. On October 13, we submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, designed to step up efforts to reach an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and alleviate the suffering of civilians. Regrettably, this initiative was blocked by the United States on October 16. On October 18, the UN Security Council failed to approve the resolution. Yesterday, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a relevant comment.
We want to emphasise once again that the current spiral in the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation is the direct consequence of the West disregarding the existing UN and Security Council resolutions and actually blocking the performance of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, which includes Russia, the US, the EU and the UN.
The tragic events in the region have resulted from Washington’s years-long destructive policy of undermining the solution to the fundamental issues involved in this long-standing conflict and substituting economic stop-gap measures for conscientious participation in the Middle East settlement. As events have shown, these measures are not what is needed to bring peace and stability to the region.
We reiterate our consistent position of principle: this years-long conflict cannot be settled by force. Its solution can only be brought about by political and diplomatic methods, involving the launch of a full-scale negotiation process on the well-known international legal basis, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem, a state living in peace and security with Israel.
On October 19, President Putin signed a law that denounces
The original purpose of this convention was to provide a stronger legal framework for the participating states to safeguard the rights of national minorities and to foster international collaboration in this domain.
Regrettably, the well-intentioned goals of the convention, as initially conceived by its creators, have been completely forgotten or altered to align with the political interests of Western countries.
After
In turn, the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has, during the most recent monitoring cycle, released findings and conclusions regarding our country that were clearly biased and politically motivated and based on information from biased sources. Moreover, the official data provided by
In this context, the most appropriate course of action for our country was to denounce the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe. Given that the principles enshrined in this convention have been fully integrated into Russian legislation, ending our participation in this treaty will not undermine protections for the rights of national minorities across the
It's worth noting that the majority of Council of Europe member states have taken steps to undermine the potential of the Framework Convention to provide international legal protection against gross violations of the rights of the Russian-speaking people in the Baltic countries and
Poland’s visa-related harassment of the Russian civil society
On October 2-13, Warsaw, Poland, hosted a Human Dimension Conference held under the aegis of the OSCE North Macedonian Chairmanship and supported organisationally by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
This is the second attempt by the Chairperson-in-Office to substitute a conference for the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) and accordingly it took place in violation of the rules of procedure. The Poles were the first to step onto this slippery slope in 2022, when Poland was the Chairperson-in-Office.
Therefore, like last year, the official Russian delegation and a number of others boycotted the “conference.”
At the same time, certain representatives of Russian civil society took part, or rather attempted to take part, in this event. They urged other participants to focus on such long-standing OSCE problems as the rise of neo-Nazism and nationalism in Ukraine and in the Baltic states, the attempts to rewrite history, the eradication of the Russian language, and violations of the rights of Russian speakers.
Although Western OSCE member countries always welcomed as much NGO involvement in OSCE events as possible on paper, they again failed to practice what they preach. As it transpired, Poland introduced a special and more rigorous visa regime for Russians despite its obligations (as the host country for ODIHR and HDIM) to ensure equal and free access to OSCE events. Under the new rules, citizens of Russia must obtain a “national visa” for the right to enter Poland. The Schengen visas they have obtained, which theoretically allow them to travel freely in most European countries, are no longer valid in Poland.
In the context of the Warsaw conference, the visa issue steamrolled several Russian activists, who had officially registered as its participants. At least one of them was kept for several hours, under various far-fetched pretexts, at the Warsaw airport until eventually the authorities had to let him enter the country under pressure from the conference organisers. Another activist was not allowed to board a plane following the Kutaisi–Warsaw route an hour before take-off under the pretext of the same anti-Russia visa sanctions. As a result, the plane left without him. In fact, yet another civil society activist with an alternative viewpoint was prevented from contacting his colleagues and comparing notes with them.
We are compelled to state that these incidents are not accidental. By all appearances, they are a reflection of the purposeful Polish policy of ousting Russian civil society from the OSCE. It will be recalled that in 2022, when Poland was the Chairperson-in-Office, it abused its duties by doing whatever it could to bar Russian activists from relevant human rights events not only in Warsaw but also even in Vienna.
All of this is yet further confirmation that the demand to relocate the ODIHR Headquarters and all OSCE events from Poland to another country, a demand put forward by Russia and a number of other member states, was called for.
Russophobic action of the Australian authorities
As part of a vicious attack on everything related to Russia, the government of South Australia, led by the descendant of a Baltic immigrant, Peter Malinauskas, has organised yet another campaign to cancel Russian culture. By the decision of the state's “multiculturalism” minister, Zoe Bettison, the folk ensemble Kalinka consisting of children and youth of Russian descent, was prohibited from participating in the annual ethnic communities festival scheduled for November in Adelaide. It is no secret that this “difficult but necessary” decision was made at the instigation of Australian-based Banderites who have long been involved in provoking hostile actions against Russia and are actively trying to involve their adopted country in the conflict surrounding Ukraine. This is far from the first anti-Russian move by Peter Malinauskas. In January, Australia-based organisations of compatriots, such as the Russian Cultural Centre and the Sambo Federation, were, contrary to the established tradition, excluded from participating in the parade on Australia Day.
The Russian Embassy in Canberra, through social media, has called for putting an end to discrimination against Russians in South Australia. The parent committee of the Kalinka performing company initiated an online petition campaign protesting against the actions of the authorities. It was supported by nearly 2,800 individuals in the first few days meaning that Australian society has enough right-minded people whose views sharply contrast with the narrow-minded position of the ruling elite, which has closely embraced the issue of ethnic and racial division. In fact, this constitutes a politically motivated form of segregation.
Another prominent example of this approach, this time at the federal level, is the failed referendum spearheaded by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for creating a quasi-consultative body for Australia's indigenous peoples planned by authorities as a kind of a handout to this discriminated against and oppressed segment of the population. Notably, many indigenous leaders, ranging from Senator Lidia Thorpe on one end of the political spectrum to the opposition's shadow minister Jacinta Price on the other end, condemned this awkward attempt to drive a racial wedge into Australian society.
Considering this, the collapse of ethnic policy in Australia, whether at the federal or regional levels, is indisputable.
50th anniversary of oil production limits imposed by OPEC countries to protest US policy in the Middle East
Fifty years ago (on October 17, 1973), in response to the actions of a number of Western countries, oil-exporting nations imposed an embargo on oil exports to the United States and its allies. This led to an unprecedented global energy crisis that clearly demonstrated the value of free trade in energy for the entire world.
Today, irresponsible manipulation of energy legislation by Western countries and their attempts to impose their vision on a wide range of energy agenda items on other nations has provoked instability on energy markets and led to underinvestment in the oil and gas sector. This, in turn, leads to a deficit in oil production capacity, reduced oil output, and, ultimately, undermines international energy security.
Russia is a responsible energy exporter to global markets. In this regard, we attach great importance to deepening cooperation among oil-producing countries within the framework of OPEC+, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring stability of the global oil market.
The leading oil-producing nations in OPEC+ are not susceptible to external pressure. This stance significantly stabilises global markets, especially in the context of Western manipulations related to price capping.
The 80th anniversary of the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers of the USSR, US, and Great Britain
The Moscow Conference was the first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of the USSR, US, and Great Britain Vyacheslav Molotov, Cordell Hull and Anthony Eden since the start of World War II. The conference focused on how to end the war as soon as possible, including the opening of a second front in Europe by the USSR’s allies in the spring of 1944.
The meeting participants decided to establish a European Advisory Commission in London, which was supposed to consider “European issues related to the end of hostilities.” Topics such as the post-war structure of Germany, the restoration of Austria’s independence, and the democratic reorganization of Italy were also discussed.
The ministers agreed on a Declaration on the Responsibility of the Hitlerites for Atrocities Committed by Them, which provided for the punishment of the main war criminals.
An agreement was reached on how to respond to probe peace overtures from hostile countries, according to which the allies promised to inform each other about attempts to establish such contacts.
A declaration of the four states on the issue of general security was developed together with representatives of China, which outlined the basic principles for the creation of the future United Nations.
The Moscow Conference of the three countries’ foreign ministers became an important preparatory stage before the first meeting of the Big Three in Tehran in November–December 1943.
BRICS+ International Municipal Forum on November 9-10, 2023 in St Petersburg
On November 9-10, the V BRICS+ International Municipal Forum (IMF) is scheduled to be held in St Petersburg and is expected to be attended by over 6,000 participants from more than 30 countries: representatives of local and regional authorities, scientific and expert circles, and the business community.
The forum has been held in St Petersburg since 2019. Over the past five years, it has become a popular venue for sharing the experiences of municipalities of the BRICS members states and other countries, as well as for building business contacts.
The forum agenda includes improving the quality of the urban environment, unlocking economic, tourism, cultural and educational potential, as well as the sustainable development of cities. The main topics for discussion also include the application of innovative technologies in artificial intelligence, energy, and healthcare, and more.
An exhibition of projects and investment developments will be held as part of the Forum.
75 years of United Nations’ work in Moscow
This year marks 75 years of the United Nations’ work in Moscow. In 1948, the UN Information Centre opened in Moscow to become the main agency facilitating the activities of UN bodies in this country.
As a country-cofounder of the UN and a permanent member of its Security Council, Russia attaches special importance to the constructive cooperation with this key multilateral organisation, which was established to work out collective solutions to the problems facing humankind and was expected to play the central coordinating role in international processes. We continue to facilitate, in every way possible, the efforts to boost the effectiveness of the UN, which is singularly important amid the incessant attempts by a narrow group of countries to make the UN serve exclusively their interests.
We must also mention another important event, which is the 78th anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force, which will be marked on October 24. As before, Russia remains committed to its efforts to uphold the fundamental principles of international law written into this basic document, primarily the principles of the sovereign equality of nations and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. We believe that only if the letter and the spirit of the UN Charter are conscientiously honoured can the Organisation’s creative potential be tapped in full.
Answers to media questions:
Question: The United States has blocked the resolution that provides for a humanitarian pause in the Palestine-Israel conflict. This fact speaks volumes. What can you say about these actions by the US authorities?
Alexey Zaitsev: I would like to draw your attention to the detailed comments provided on October 17 and October 19.
I can confirm that on October 16, a vote was held at the UN Security Council on the Russian draft resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
The document outlined a series of specific urgent measures aimed at stopping the violence and the suffering of civilians, releasing hostages, preventing an impending humanitarian disaster in the enclave, and avoiding the spread of hostilities to other countries in the region. The extremely tense situation called for immediate action. That is why our proposal did not contain political elements or assessments, nor did it mention any side in the conflict to avoid the risk of hampering the negotiation process. Nearly 30 countries, including 17 Arab states, co-sponsored the Russian initiative.
Despite this, the draft was not adopted. The Western troika (the United States, the UK, and France) were against it, with Japan joining them. Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland abstained.
All of this is unfolding with the UN Security Council remaining uninvolved and paralysed, as was the case earlier with the Middle East Quartet of international mediators comprising Russia, the US, the EU, and the UN. These actions are driven by the self-serving interests of individual countries, whose unilateral actions have not only ended in complete failure but have also led to a massive escalation of violence in the Middle East.
On October 18, there was a vote at the UN Security Council on a second draft resolution on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict prepared by representatives of Brazil. It is disheartening to know that the document was not adopted, even though 12 delegations voted in its favour (Albania, Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland, and the UAE) with Russia and the UK abstaining, and only the United States exercising its veto right.
The recent US veto on the UN Security Council resolution, which could have helped stop the escalation of tension and violence against the peaceful people of Palestine and Israel, clearly demonstrated Washington’s true intentions in the region.
Question: At the recent Belt and Road Forum, Xi Jinping stated that although the initiative originated in China, it brings benefits and opportunities to the world at large. When implementing this initiative, countries are guided by the principles of interconnectedness and mutual benefit for the sake of common development and mutual gain. President Xi Jinping also outlined eight steps to support the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Furthermore, he mentioned that the joint construction of the initiative is past its first decade and is now moving towards the next “golden” decade. How does the Russian side assess the Chinese leader's speech and the achievements of the initiative over the past years? What are the expectations for the next decade?
Alexey Zaitsev: It is hard not to agree with President Xi Jinping that even although the Belt and Road Initiative originally came from China, its results contribute to global economic growth. The eight steps proposed by Xi Jinping in his keynote speech at the forum are aimed at achieving additional progress in its further implementation.
In his address, President of Russia Vladimir Putin especially noted that the Chinese side has achieved success over the past 10 years in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative. We have no doubt that systematic work towards this end will help strengthen connectivity in Eurasia. The Russian initiative of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, aimed at forming a continental integration framework, has similar objectives. The alignment of development plans for the EAEU and the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to play a significant role. Importantly, these mechanisms should become harmonious elements of a single continental environment that is comfortable for all.
We are working alongside the Chinese side towards a parallel and coordinated development of the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Belt and Road Initiative in order to strengthen bilateral and multilateral integration processes.
Our approach is based on a belief that ensuring the economic growth of Russia and China, the EAEU and ASEAN areas, as well as the expanding geographical scope of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, presents a historic opportunity to establish Eurasia as a leader in global affairs, to transform the continent into the engine of the global economy, and to shape a more just and sustainable international order.
Question: What will Russia's political and diplomatic response be to the supply of the US long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine? Can it be assumed that at some point, Russia will run out of patience regarding the supply of increasingly long-range and powerful weapons to Ukraine?
Alexey Zaitsev: As mentioned in the introductory part of the briefing, it became known on October 17 that recently, the United States had secretly sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. I can reiterate that by making such weapons available to the Ukrainian Nazis, Washington has once again demonstrated its commitment to further escalating the conflict, without regard for the destructive consequences of its actions. The Biden administration is absolutely indifferent to this. Their primary goal is to prevent the collapse of the Kiev junta and its military defeat.
This once again confirms the persistent unwillingness of the United States and the Zelensky-led regime, which they have under their control, to seek a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, no matter how hard Washington tries to send increasingly powerful and modern weapons into Ukraine, it is to no avail.
Such hostile actions will not change the situation on the contact line.
Question: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia and the DPRK as well as China all stand for regular dialogue and resuming the talks without any preconditions. My first question is, what is the meaning of ‘regular dialogue without any preconditions’? The six-party talks or creating a new negotiating framework? The second question is, did the DPRK also agree to participate in regular dialogue without any preconditions? The last question is what environment do you think is necessary for the DPRK to participate in the regular dialogue?
Alexey Zaitsev: During a news conference following his visit to Pyongyang, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov clearly and unambiguously outlined Russia’s approach to developments on the Korean Peninsula. I repeat that we see no alternative to resolving problems in the subregion through political and diplomatic means. We consistently advocate for the speedy establishment of a regular negotiation process based on the security interests of all parties involved. At the same time, practical steps to de-escalate tensions are a fundamentally important prerequisite for mutually respectful dialogue. Let me remind you that over the past few years, Russia and China have put forward a number of constructive initiatives aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the problems on the Korean Peninsula, and proposed measures the implementation of which would make it possible to create an architecture of indivisible security in Northeast Asia.
However, the situation is unfortunately different. In the spirit of bloc thinking, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan persistently pursue a policy of improving joint military activity, increasing sanctions and pressure on the DPRK, including in the field of human rights. Such a policy not just leads the political process even further into a dead end, but also provokes an increase in threats to strategic security. Of course, we will carefully take into account the changed geopolitical reality in our work.
Question: How would you comment on the recent admission by US President Joe Biden that the United States behaved too emotionally and fell prey to anger after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Can these words be interpreted as an admission that the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were a mistake?
Alexey Zaitsev: We have been saying for a long time that such involvement and reckless military campaigns in countries lying thousands of kilometres from the United States lead to catastrophic consequences and chaos. We can see this in the countries you listed and in some others. If they realise this now, then that is great.
Question: As we know, President Vladimir Putin has again spoken in favour of creating a sovereign Palestinian state. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also spoke about the importance of these efforts. Do you think there is a chance that a sovereign Palestinian state will be created after the current conflict has been settled?
Alexey Zaitsev: We consistently advocate the principled position in favour of creating an independent and viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, co-existing with Israel in peace and security. Our approach is based on the international legal documents for a Middle East settlement, including the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Until this problem is resolved, it makes no sense to talk about long-term stability in the Middle East. That is why we call on the Israelis and the Palestinians to engage in direct talks on all disputable issues as soon as possible. Yet again, the current tragic events have pointed so clearly to the need for urgent collective efforts to help set the stage for the launch of a full-format negotiation process. We are ready for this and, as we understand, the majority of our partners with a constructive approach to this issue are also ready. We believe other international players will hear us too.
Question: Information has surfaced that the conflict over the status of the village of Pyla in Cyprus will be resolved with the involvement of the United Nations. What is Russia’s view on what needs to be done to preclude new incidents in this conflict and, generally, what is your position on the prospects for the Cyprus settlement process in such a difficult international situation? Reports are coming in that Russia is revising its position, that it might be using this issue as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Türkiye or that Russia plans to open a consulate in the occupied part of Northern Cyprus and/or launch direct flights to this area. What is really happening?
Alexey Zaitsev: We do not have the opportunity to comment on everything that is reported by the media. As everybody knows, we are developing effective cooperation with Türkiye in several areas and we discuss many international and regional matters, including the Cyprus settlement process.
In so doing, we have reaffirmed many times our commitment to the principled approaches to resolving the Cyprus issue, in keeping with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution No. 541 dated 1983 and Resolution No. 550 dated 1984. It is important to carefully consider the interests and concerns of both communities, primarily their humanitarian aspects. The construction of a road in the island’s buffer zone is among issues that require mutually acceptable solutions. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia is taking part in developing the UN Security Council’s approach to this situation. After the coordination of the text is completed, the final version will include our assessments.
As for the objective of launching consular services in the north of Cyprus, it is quite clear. It is about protecting the legitimate rights of the several tens of thousands of members of the local Russian community.
Question: What is the aim behind revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty? What will this change in the practical sense? Does this mean that Moscow is finding an opportunity to carry out nuclear testing? Do you expect that the withdrawal will make the United States change its position on this issue?
Alexey Zaitsev: First of all, I would like to draw your attention to what President of Russia Vladimir Putin said with regard to Russia revoking its ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). He said: “Theoretically, we may mirror the stand taken by the United States … and we may revoke the ratification.”
In the current geopolitical situation, Russia regards the imbalance in the approaches of the Russian Federation and the United States towards the CTBT as inadmissible. The Americans have been avoiding ratifying the treaty for almost 25 years. This cannot go on ad infinitum. Russia’s expected withdrawal of the ratification is meant to deal with the existing disparity.
As for a chance to stage nuclear tests, it is important to note that the CTBT has not come into force and its provisions are not legally binding until this takes place. Up until now, Russia has refrained from nuclear testing in keeping with our self-imposed moratorium on nuclear tests enshrined in Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation of October 19, 1992, No. 1267 On a Moratorium on Nuclear Testing. It is still in effect.
As for whether or not these Russian steps can compel the United States to change its approach to the CTBT, we note that, in our opinion, Washington clearly wants to refrain from ratifying the Treaty. The Americans are quite satisfied with the current state of affairs. Even without ratification, the United States enjoys all the advantages concomitant with the status of a signatory state, specifically access to the data of its verification mechanism. It is extremely difficult to change this position, but we should work on it.
Question: The US and the UK have significantly increased their presence in the Middle East after Israel and Hamas got locked in a confrontation. Two US carrier task forces and some UK warships have sailed to the Mediterranean. Do you see this as a threat? Is Russia planning to expand its military presence in the Middle East or take some diplomatic steps in response to these actions?
Alexey Zaitsev: A foreign military build-up in an armed conflict zone is inevitably fraught with the risk of further escalation. Different parties, which are directly or indirectly involved in the current stand-off, make provocative statements that may contribute to the armed confrontation spilling into neighbouring countries and the region as a whole. We do not think that this helps the search for shortcuts to improving the situation and achieving peace.
Russia has consistently favoured a political and diplomatic settlement to the Middle East conflict through the launch of Palestinian-Israeli talks. This should result in the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the well-known international legal basis. This is the only solution to the problem that guarantees a lasting stabilisation of the situation and the prevention of new violence in the future.
Question: President of Russia Vladimir Putin expressed hope that Israel’s monstrous attack on a hospital in Gaza would be a signal to end the conflict as soon as possible. But US President Joe Biden, while on visit to Israel, promised to make the country a safe place for the Jews again and ordered US warships into the Mediterranean and a vote against a draft resolution on a ceasefire at the UN Security Council. How soon, in your opinion, will the conflict end considering the above factors?
Alexey Zaitsev: Our position as regards the two recent votes was set out in our comments of October 17 and October 19. We also see the US position. There were considerable shifts during the October 18 vote. Were it not for the veto, the resolution would have been approved. Everything is in evidence, everything is clear. All the reasons are on the surface.
I would not engage in forecasting. We present our position in clear terms. We are working.
Question: The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said yesterday that the Israeli army had attacked churches in the Gaza Strip, and strongly condemned the attack. What do you think about an airstrike on a church that the Christians consider a holy place?
Alexey Zaitsev: We firmly condemn the indiscriminate use of force. It is absolutely unacceptable to attack civilian infrastructure, regardless of what side does it. We hope that this incident will be thoroughly investigated. We condemn all attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Question: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu gave instructions for the drafting of a request to Canada and Interpol to extradite former SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka, who was greeted by the Canadian Parliament during a speech by the Ukrainian President. Do you believe that the Canadian side would be prepared to deliver the war criminal to the Russian side so that he could be tried for atrocities carried out during the Great Patriotic War?
Alexey Zaitsev: The honouring of Ukrainian Nazi Yaroslav Hunka, who served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician) at the Canadian Parliament, was given a fundamental assessment by the highest Russian officials, as well as by the State Duma and the Foreign Ministry, which issued relevant statements.
As it is known, Yaroslav Hunka served in the Waffen SS Galician Division, famous for its cruelty against Russians, Poles and Jews, as well as for its punishing campaigns against partisans who fought the Nazi occupation in Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, France, Yugoslavia. It comprised militants from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and other Ukrainian nationalist organisations involved in the Lvov pogroms of 1941, the massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, suppressing the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and mass murders in Babi Yar. At the Nuremberg trials, the SS was deemed a criminal organisation and all of its members were condemned. The fact that Yaroslav Hunka, and maybe other SS soldiers, managed to avoid well-deserved punishment by hiding in Canada, is an undisguised mockery of justice.
We will insist on bringing the elderly punisher to justice and we are not going to let him live in peace in such a comfortable country as Canada, which gave a home to thousands of war criminals after the Second World War. We do not cherish illusions that official Ottawa will deliver Yaroslav Hunka, of course. In the past, Canada failed to extradite any of Hitler accomplices whose guilt was obvious and who did not hide the fact that they had served in the SS but were even proud of having fought against the Soviets and having killed Russians.
And now, when the regime of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unconditionally supports and nurses the neo-Nazi authorities in Kiev, the chances that Ottawa will develop a conscience are next to zero. Under various pretexts, the Russophobes will protect Ukrainian Nazis, whose ideology is similar to their own. But we will still use all available political, diplomatic and public channels to bring a just punishment to the Bandera supporter from the Galician Division.
Question: What are the risks of the Middle East conflict exceeding the confines of Israel and Palestine? Do you think it possible that the majority of Muslim countries bordering on Israel will unite to defend the Palestinians? Might this conflict escalate into a third world war?
Alexey Zaitsev: Your questions are truly global.
We think that the current Gaza violence could escalate into a regional conflict. This risk is rather high. The various parties, both direct participants in the confrontation and those uninvolved, are making provocative and belligerent statements.
Russia will consistently work towards achieving peace by political and diplomatic methods. We are confident that it is only this approach, which rules out belligerent rhetoric and attempts at muscle-flexing, that will make it possible to avoid a further exacerbation of the crisis, let alone its development into a region-wide conflagration.
Question: How can we characterise Israel’s actions from the point of view of international law during earlier decades and now? What is the Foreign Ministry’s assessment of efforts to suppress the Palestinians, deprive them of their rights and lands, practice reprisals and murder?
Alexey Zaitsev: As regards the present-day, current situation, we have provided comments throughout all these days.
Looking in retrospect, the UN International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion of July 9, 2004, concerning the legal consequences of building a wall in the occupied Palestinian territory stated that Israel’s actions, including in East Jerusalem, ran counter to international law.
At the same time, the ICJ stressed that both Israel and Palestine had a duty to obey meticulously the rules of international humanitarian law, specifically the fundamental norm on protecting civilian lives.
Everything that concerns the current situation and the latest developments has been repeatedly discussed today.
Question: What did President of Russia Vladimir Putin mean when he said that the United States had monopolised the Middle East settlement? Can we say that the United States has occupied the Middle East?
Alexey Zaitsev: It is on the conscience of Washington and its European accomplices that they have blocked the activities of the Quartet of international mediators, the only generally recognised international mechanism intended to support the Middle East settlement.
Washington has pursued a policy of its own, aimed at perpetuating the present status quo and substituting an “economic peace” for a settlement and normalisation of Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbours. This was done instead of collective work aimed at launching a full-scale negotiation process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, a process which should result in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Thereby, Washington is undermining the international legal basis of a Middle East settlement and prospects for a comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian problem. Under these circumstances, a relapse into a large-scale confrontation was, regrettably, inevitable.
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