Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following the CIS Foreign Ministers Council Meeting, Bishkek, October 12, 2023

The CIS member states' meeting, which was called in advance of tomorrow's CIS Summit, has come to an end. The participants approved the Consultation Plan between the foreign ministries of the CIS countries for the next two years. Several draft documents, including declarations in support of religious freedom, on international relations in a multipolar world, on cooperation in matters of digitalisation, and in support of the Russian language as a language of interethnic communication were reviewed and agreed upon for further presentation to the heads of state on October 13. Along the same lines, a document was approved which establishes the International Organisation to Support and Promote the Russian Language that is open to all countries, not necessarily CIS members, willing to join it.

Substantial emphasis was placed on the preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025, and a corresponding schedule of activities was adopted.

Considerable focus was directed towards security cooperation matters. Documents were approved to enhance interaction in countering the laundering of criminal proceeds and financing of terrorism, alongside the implementation of an action plan against criminal activities. All of these proposals will be submitted for review by the heads of state.

At Kazakhstan's proposal, a decision was made to establish the categories of observer countries and partner countries within the Commonwealth. Specific candidates will be considered after this document is approved by the heads of state.

Russia will assume the CIS chairmanship next year. Tomorrow, President Putin will present the concept of our chairmanship and the corresponding plan of activities.

I believe we had a productive day.

Question: A crisis in Yerevan-Moscow relations is now evident. The rise in anti-Russia sentiment in Armenia is the saddest part of it. What caused it? Are we approaching a point of no return where even neighbourly relations will be affected by the crisis?

Sergey Lavrov: To a significant extent, the escalation of anti-Russia sentiment is artificial. We are aware of the number of non-government organisations created in Armenia in recent years (there were quite a few even before that as well). Their goal is not to promote friendly relations between Yerevan and Moscow. On the contrary, they aim to create a fertile ground for anti-Russia sentiment and to promote the interests, primarily, of the United States, the European Union, and NATO, in this region through Armenia. We see what they are doing, and they are achieving some results.

However, we strongly believe that the overwhelming majority of the Armenian people are interested in advancing the traditional and historically fraternal ties with the Russian Federation.

A couple of days ago, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview that the country was not changing its priorities. We hope that this position will prevail, despite the attempts to pull Yerevan in a different direction.

Question: Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Muhammed Shia Al Sudani asked President Putin to initiate a ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Is Moscow prepared to put forward such a proposal and act as an intermediary? Was this issue discussed today?

Sergey Lavrov: Practically on the same day that the hot phase of the confrontation between Hamas and Israel began, the Foreign Ministry issued an official statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of direct talks between Israel and Palestine.

Today, we touched upon this issue. We will see if we can coordinate a common position for official presentation before the CIS Summit. We discussed this at a restricted-format meeting. Everyone agrees that the conflict must be stopped immediately, that international humanitarian law must be observed, and that acts of terrorism and indiscriminate use of force that may affect and have already affected a large number of civilians on both sides must be avoided.

In his Russian Energy Week address yesterday, President Putin reiterated the need to focus on the core of the matter. The UN resolution to establish a Palestinian state has been thwarted for many decades now, primarily by the United States, which wants to monopolise and usurp mediation efforts and is trying to push aside Russia, the UN, the EU, thereby undermining the work of the Quartet of international mediators, which includes all parties (Russia, the United States, the UN, and the EU). President Putin provided a comprehensive assessment of these actions.

We hope that as soon as the conflict is resolved - and we want to see this happen without delay - everyone will take their responsibilities seriously and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on creating a Palestinian state based on the UN- approved principles.