«Wonderful” – that word described the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov talks in Sochi with US Secretary of State John Kerry. This visit of the head of the State Department was the first in Russia since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis. Lavrov and Kerry constantly maintain working contacts at various international platforms and in different formats. However, these talks in Sochi were looking forward to both Moscow and Washington. Journalists from the US The Christian Science Monitor before the start of the visit were wondering: do not pour out whether the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and the United States and Kerry talks with President Vladimir Putin in a new reboot?
«The Obama administration still hopes to resume partially contacts and cooperation with Russia on some issues (Syria, North Korea and terrorist ideology IG, which has become, perhaps, the overall threat to the United States and Russia), “- said the American edition. In addition, Washington is seeking to unfreeze the cooperation in the areas where it is in the interests of the United States. In the first place, in cooperation in the field of high technology and space exploration.
Even before the beginning of the meeting State Department spokesman Marie Harf said: “Negotiations can be a first step towards a peaceful settlement of the situation, Kerry and his team for a long time think through ways return to a diplomatic script. ” The Russian Foreign Ministry preferred a more restrained wording: “The Foreign Ministry hoped that the visit will serve as Kerry normalization of relations between Russia and the United States,” because now “they are going through a difficult period.” In the dipvedomstva stressed that the meeting would be favorable if the US will “take due account of Russian interests, completely abandoning attempts to pressure Moscow».
The visit to Russia US Secretary of State began with the laying of wreaths Zavokzalnaya memorial to Sochi residents who died during the Great Patriotic War. There he was waiting for the Russian minister, who arrived at the meeting place at the wheel of the white retro cars “Victory”. After that, Lavrov and Kerry proceeded to the hotel “Rodina”, where negotiations took place, with a short break lasted about four hours. But first, the two sides exchanged gifts. Sergei Lavrov presented John Kerry T-shirts Victory, potatoes and tomatoes Krasnodar. As explained to the Russian diplomats and vegetables – “distant relatives” of those that brought the Russian State Secretary to the Minister as a gift in January last year for talks in Paris. In turn, the Secretary of State presented a list of quotes from the Russian media, which, in his view, do not reflect the real potential of Russian-American relations. And, later told the press attache of the US Embassy in Russia Will Stevens portfolio.
Initially, the Russian side said that the issue of sanctions in the negotiations would not be raised. This was on the eve of the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. “This issue was initiated not by us, not we speak the instigators and initiators of various aggravations. If the Secretary of State deems it necessary to present something on this subject, we will listen, but the agenda is, strictly speaking, this topic is not “- said the diplomat. But Secretary of State about it, apparently to warn forgotten. He touched the topic of sanctions, both during negotiations and at a press conference following their results. “When fully implemented in Minsk will be an agreement, it is clear that then starts the lifting of sanctions the United States and the European Union”, – declared John Kerry.
The central theme, as expected, was the situation in Ukraine, including the recent statement by the President Poroshenko of Kiev Donetsk airport will return under its control. Kerry warned the Ukrainian leadership in absentia by military action, noting that the US will this “very concerned.” “Washington is offered to him to think before taking action of this kind, because in this case will be threatened Minsk Agreement (…) The Ukrainian president spoke about the actions in the future or in the case of a final settlement of the problem, but at this stage it would be destructive step “- said Kerry.
We also discussed the situation in Syria, where for four years of civil war. “We agreed to continue – and even increase – its efforts to ensure a process that would lead to the implementation of the agreements laid down in the Geneva communiqué of 30 June 2012. We agree that the Syrian crisis is closely related to the problem of terrorist groups such as the “Islamic State”, “Al-Nusra Dzhabhat.” They gained momentum and continue to spread its influence, endangering the entire Middle East region, and even beyond. We are convinced that in order to combat this threat need to better unite the efforts of the major powers and to ensure a consistent struggle against this scourge in all its forms, without double standards, based on the approved principles of international law “, – said Sergey Lavrov. The United States once again expressed the need for the transfer of power in the country, otherwise, they said, “Syria will never be a peaceful state.” At the same time the Americans have agreed in the near future “to consider specific concept with Moscow».
said the head of the State Department and the issue of the transfer to Iran of S-300 Russian. In early April, the decree of the Russian president had lifted the ban on the supply of the Moscow air defense missile systems to Iran. According to the secretary of state, is worried about Moscow’s decision to Washington: “But it is not a violation of law or regulations. We simply believe that the time is not quite right, and the effect may be unsatisfactory ».
Sergey Lavrov said that Russia and the United States agreed not around. “We have an understanding of the need to avoid steps that could cause long-term damage to US-Russian relations and cooperation between our countries in various fields. Especially when you consider that from our concerted joint efforts in the international arena depends on the solution of many pressing issues of our time. This idea I would single out as one of the main conclusions of today’s meeting “, – the minister said.
Visit Kerry in Sochi showed that the West began to look for a new formula of relations with Russia, despite serious contradictions Ukraine. Here, as told to “Lente.ru” sources in the Russian delegation, hardly after his arrival in Sochi Secretary to expect any breakthrough in bilateral relations, though he called it “a gesture of goodwill, which is of great political importance».
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