Good afternoon,<\/p>\n
We are conducting a visit to the DPRK in accordance with the agreement reached by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny cosmodrome on September 13 this year. The visit is timed to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This anniversary was celebrated on October 12 this year. During the current trip, we are constructively discussing the state of affairs with the implementation of the agreements reached at the Vostochny cosmodrome.<\/p>\n
The DPRK is a close neighbor and a long\u2013standing partner of our country. We agree that the progressive development of bilateral relations meets the interests of our states and contributes to strengthening peace and security in Northeast Asia. The development of our relations with China serves the same purpose.<\/p>\n
We discussed with Comrade Minister the prospects for intensifying political dialogue, resuming full-fledged contacts, including through foreign ministries, as the consequences of the pandemic are overcome and the corresponding restrictions are lifted. We proceed from the fact that the just signed Plan of inter-ministerial exchanges for 2024-2025 will contribute to the solution of this task.<\/p>\n
We talked a lot about the prospects for trade and economic cooperation. In accordance with the decision of our leaders, specific aspects of practical cooperation will be activated. To this end, it is planned to convene the tenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in November.<\/p>\n
We considered key issues on the regional and global agenda. At the same time, they focused on the situation on the Korean peninsula. We, like our North Korean friends, are seriously concerned about the increase in military activity here by the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as Washington’s line to transfer elements of its strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, to the region. We contrast this unconstructive and dangerous line with the policy of ensuring de-escalation here and the inadmissibility of escalating tensions.\u00a0 We are conducting this line together with the DPRK and the PRC.<\/p>\n
We strive to constructively offer alternatives to escalating tensions here. We are in favor of establishing a regular negotiation process on security issues on the Korean peninsula without any preconditions. Our common interest is to ensure peace and stability in Northeast Asia on the basis of respect for each other’s security interests and equal agreements.<\/p>\n
We also talked about the problems of the Asia-Pacific region, where the United States and its allies are promoting block forms, trying to push NATO infrastructure into this region under the slogan of “Indo-Pacific Strategies”. All this also causes serious concern. We, like our friends from the DPRK, advocate the creation of reliable mechanisms here to ensure equal and indivisible security based on non-aligned approaches. It is very important. The principle of mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests is fundamental. We agreed to continue coordinating our actions at the UN and other multilateral platforms.<\/p>\n
We have confirmed our high assessment of Pyongyang’s position regarding what is happening in and around Ukraine. We have been confirmed with principled support for the actions of the Russian Federation to repel the aggression that the Western “group” led by the United States unleashed against us, using Ukraine as a tool.<\/p>\n
I think the exchange of views was useful. We will continue our coordination of actions in all areas, including, first of all, the economy. There is a great interest in significantly increasing trade turnover and economic exchanges, including our political coordination on the basis of the Plan we have just signed.<\/p>\n
Question<\/strong>:\u00a0Was the schedule of bilateral contacts at the highest and highest levels discussed in Pyongyang?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0A month ago, a high-level contact took place, and today it is at a high level. I am sure that they will continue.<\/p>\n Question:\u00a0In Oman, an attempt to organize negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides failed. In your opinion, are there any real mechanisms now capable of stopping the bloodshed in a short time?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov:<\/strong>\u00a0A real mechanism could be a decision of the UN Security Council calling on all parties to immediately stop any military and violent actions, to ensure the solution of humanitarian problems, taking into account the catastrophe that threatens the Gaza Strip and millions of people living there. Unfortunately, this resolution was not adopted. I am not sure that if it had passed, a pause would have been announced and humanitarian problems would have been solved. But the call did not work out either. The US blocked its adoption by using a veto.<\/p>\n What are the prospects? I assume that the consultation of interested countries will continue. Egypt is taking the initiative. We would all like to see de-escalation in the Gaza Strip. Contacts are coming up in the coming days, during which it will become clear how realistic it is to count on this.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong>:\u00a0A month ago, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met with the head of the DPRK Kim Jong Un in Russia. The whole world, especially the West, was closely following this meeting. Vladimir Putin agreed to come to the DPRK. Why is the West so afraid of our friendship?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0Why should I answer this question?<\/p>\n I can only express a general opinion on the actions of the West, not only in relation to our ties with North Korea, but also to any region of the world. The West considers itself in the right, first of all the United States (the Americans have long subjugated the rest of the West) to decide for everyone: to whom and with whom to meet, who and with whom should agree on something, and who is obliged to comply with prohibitions. The US constantly puts them forward: “you must and must.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said this. Who owes whom and what is owed?<\/p>\n There is one charter in the world \u2013 it is\u00a0The UN Charter, which states that the Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of states. Not once since the entry into force of this most important international legal document has the United States observed this immutable fundamental rule in any conflict or crisis.<\/p>\n Instead, they require everyone to follow their “rules”, which no one has ever published or seen anywhere. The instinctive craving for hegemony is present and does not help to solve issues, but only drives them into a dead end.<\/p>\n If you look at the history of the adventures that the United States has undertaken in various parts of the world: in Southeast Asia, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East – none of them has been crowned with success and has not led to normalization of the situation. On the contrary, seeds were sown there, still giving their sad, dangerous shoots.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong>:\u00a0A rocket attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip caused a wave of anti-Israeli demonstrations in the countries of the Islamic world. How controlled is the situation around the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? How do you assess the risks of this conflict escalating into a global confrontation involving the United States and Iran? Were these threats discussed during your meetings in Beijing and Pyongyang?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0As for the Gaza Strip, the risk of this crisis escalating into a region-wide conflict is quite serious.<\/p>\n I have already mentioned that the United States vetoed a resolution calling for stopping any hostilities and starting to resolve humanitarian issues. By doing so, the United States has shown that it is not ready to call for a truce, for a cease-fire. If this is the case, then they can probably proceed from the fact that the conflict may grow.<\/p>\n It’s hard for me to judge what goals are being pursued. We are witnessing attempts to “blame” everything on Iran again. We consider them quite provocative. Moreover, the Iranian leadership takes a responsible, balanced position and calls for preventing this conflict from spreading to the entire region, to neighboring countries. We will achieve exactly this in our contacts with the Palestinians and other Arab colleagues, and with the Israelis.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong>:\u00a0Seoul predicts an increase in block confrontation in the region, which may be even more significant than during the Cold War. \u00a0Do you agree with this statement? What is the chance of the conflict going into a “hot phase”? What is Russia doing to prevent this?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0As for Seoul’s statements, it is precisely he who is one of the factors of escalating tensions here. I have already mentioned the formation of the US\u2013South Korea\u2013Japan triple alliance to build up military potential here, including its nuclear components. This creates tension.<\/p>\n Our South Korean colleagues, instead of sounding the alarm about this, should have changed these plans and taken a different position, including on the resumption of negotiations on peace and security in Northeast Asia. Such negotiations were conducted. They were interrupted not on our initiative, not on the initiative of China, not on the initiative of the DPRK. During them, they continued to put forward unacceptable conditions, demanding unilateral concessions from the DPRK, which was clearly unrealistic. Now we are witnessing a situation that is becoming more and more alarming. But (as we discussed with Comrade Minister today) Russia and the DPRK, like the PRC, are in favor of dialogue and the resumption of negotiations without any preconditions. I think that this line will find broad support in the Southeast Asian region as a whole.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong>:\u00a0This is not the first time you have come to Pyongyang. How will you remember this trip to the DPRK? Would you recommend our tourists to relax in North Korea?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0I would.<\/p>\n Question:\u00a0Have the topics of the development of economic cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang been discussed? In what areas are our countries able and will implement joint projects?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0I have already mentioned that the tenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is scheduled for next month. All areas that were discussed in principle by our leaders at the Vostochny cosmodrome will be considered there.<\/p>\n After this summit, the Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission met in Moscow and outlined specific areas in which the plenary session of this commission will work. There is also geological exploration, and plans for the supply of energy carriers and other goods needed by our friends from the DPRK. I think that following the results of this meeting it will be clear in which direction our economic cooperation will move.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong>:\u00a0Turkey has put forward an initiative to create a system of guarantor countries for the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for a peaceful settlement.<\/p>\n How do you assess its effectiveness? Are contacts with Ankara on this issue planned in the near future? Is Russia ready to act as one of the guarantors within the framework of the proposed initiative and under what conditions?<\/p>\n S.V. Lavrov<\/strong>:\u00a0We are ready to discuss any constructive proposals. This initiative, which I heard about the other day, is clearly dictated by the desire to achieve de-escalation and normalize the situation.<\/p>\n What exactly is meant we would like to hear from our Turkish friends, with whom we are in contact, including on this issue. Let me remind you that the mechanism that ensured a stable negotiation process existed. It was a “quartet” of international mediators (Russia, the USA, the UN, the EU).<\/p>\n In recent years, the Americans (Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said this) have “closed” this quartet, stopped cooperating within its framework, trying to monopolize the entire negotiation process and reduce it to providing insignificant economic services, assistance to the Palestinian population in exchange for refusing to create a Palestinian state, as required by the decision of the Security Council UN. This is a sad experience that we would not like to repeat.<\/p>\n We advocate that any approaches should be based on a balance of interests of the parties, and not on imposing someone’s interests at the expense of infringing on others. It seems to me that the Turkish initiative is dictated by the desire to ensure such a balance. We will be ready to cooperate in its consideration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n