Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇷🇺🇳🇴On October 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had talks with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Norway Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide in Kirkenes.
🔹The talks were held as part of Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of northern Norway by the Red Army from Nazi invaders. This page in history has an everlasting significance for both countries which is testified by King Harald V of Norway, Prime Minister Erna Solberg and other government officials as well as Norwegian MPs attending the anniversary events.
🔹The foreign ministers discussed current bilateral relations, prospects for stepping up trade and economic collaboration in certain industries. They shared opinions on current matters concerning Russian economic and scientific activities on the Svabald Archipelago.
Security issues in the Far North were given a special focus including in the Russia-Norway border areas. It was stressed that NATO’s increased activity in the region, the alliance’s advance to Russia’s borders, regular military preparations, engaging non-NATO countries in such activities are fraught with negative consequences for the stability in the Baltics and in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic. We called on our partners for a dialogue and a pragmatic search for solutions to the existing concerns.
🔹Mutual interest was expressed in the promotion of interaction in regional formats in the Arctic and in the North of Europe – the Arctic Council, Barents Euro Arctic Council where Norway holds the presidency at present, the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
🔹The ministers compared approaches to a number of key topics regarding the international agenda, among them the situation in Ukraine, Syria, Venezuela, in the field of arms control, including that of the future of the INF Treaty.

🔹On October 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Governor of the Murmansk Region Andrey Chibis in Kirkenes, Norway, as part of the events to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of northern Norway by the Red Army.
🔹Further expansion of cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and the Murmansk Region government in promoting interregional and cross-border ties was discussed during the talks.
🔹Andrey Chibis spoke about his region’s plans to further boost international trade and economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed the Foreign Ministry’s support for these plans.
#Russia #MFA #Murmansk #Norway

Press release on Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin’s participation in the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement http://www.mid.ru/en/foreignpolicy/news/-/assetpublisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3868689

Press release on Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov’s consultations with Russia, China, the US and Pakistan on Afghan national reconciliation http://www.mid.ru/en/foreignpolicy/news/-/assetpublisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3866954

🔹 Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov’s opening remarks at talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of #Norway Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, #Kirkenes, October 25, 2019:

💬 I am delighted to be able to visit Norway again, or more precisely, Kirkenes, where the people treasure the memory of our joint fight against the invaders.

You spoke absolutely correctly about the persisting and even growing contradictions in the world, including on the #European continent, contradictions that are connected with the organisation you mentioned – #NATO – and its desire to find a reason for its continued existence. We are aware of this. Regrettably, our Western partners, blinded by a desire to find such a reason, set their eyes on a gross violation of international law, that is, the unconstitutional military coup in #Ukraine. Today we mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of northern Norway from the Nazis. It should be noted that neo-Nazi groups were the decisive power in the Ukrainian coup. This is why we are alarmed to witness the growing strength of neo-Nazi trends in #Europe. In this context, it is especially pleasant to see that Norway is consistently upholding the outcome of #WWII, which we greatly appreciate.

Like you, we believe that differences should be forgotten because we need to cleanse relations in Europe of the superficial and ideologically charged approaches and build a joint architecture of cooperation and security. We see that more and more Europeans are in favour of relying on precisely European formats and endeavour to ensure security not against but together with #Russia. I am referring, in part, to a recent statement by President of France Emmanuel Macron, which has received considerable attention in Europe.

🔹 Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov’s answers to Russian media questions after his remarks at the meeting of the Academic Council of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations dedicated to Yevgeny #Primakov’s 90th anniversary:

❓ What can you tell us regarding the #US intention to withdraw from the #OpenSkies Treaty? This was reported by US media.

💬 I have only read what you have. It would be deplorable.

❓ Should we expect you at #Syria’s Constitutional Council meeting in Geneva?

💬 Let us be patient.