Russia 110513 Basic Political Developments

International Libya Contact group illegitimate, Russia will not join – FM

http://rt.com/news/line/
10:55

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has once again declared the Russian view on the Western powers’ campaign in Libya, stating on Friday that the Contact group keeps violating the UN resolution which makes it beyond the law. The tactics the coalition propagates are unacceptable, Lavrov insists, and Russia will not join the group. Russian officials have persistently called on the international community to put paid to NATO strikes in Libya and turn to talks instead. Lavrov also urged the parties of the North African conflict to start political dialogue without preconditions as soon as possible.

GOOGLE TRANSLATION

Lavrov said the contact group on Libya illegitimate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2011/05/110513_rn_libya_lavrov.shtml

Last Updated: Friday, May 13, 2011, 07:40 GMT 11:40 MCK

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that some of the international coalition in Libya's decision violated UN Security Council.
Lavrov said that international forces are applied to attacks on civilian targets, hospitals and diplomatic missions.
The minister also said that Russia does not intend to join the contact group on Libya because, according to Lavrov, this group has "no legitimacy from the standpoint of international law. "

10:40

INTERNATIONAL COALITION IN LIBYA COMMITTING TOO MANY VIOLATIONS OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV

http://www.interfax.com/news.asp

 

 Libya marks beginning of a dangerous new trend – Russian foreign minister

http://rt.com/news/libya-opposition-government-conflict/

Published: 13 May, 2011, 02:03

Edited: 13 May, 2011, 02:24

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT that the Libya situation has given rise to the possibility of a dangerous new trend.

He warned that opposition groups across the region may believe the West will get involved and take sides in domestic conflicts, which should instead be resolved by national governments

“The Libya case has created a temptation for many opposition groups in the region to spark similar situations, in the expectation that the West won't stay out and will intervene in a conflict, taking one side,” Lavrov warned. “It's a very alarming prospect, and I hope this won't happen. It's crucial that governments should solve their problems independently.”

 

10:38

LAVROV HOPES PROGRESS WILL BE MADE IN DIFFICULT TALKS ON MISSILE DEFENSE WITH U.S. BEFORE MEDVEDEV-OBAMA MEETING IN DEAUVILLE

http://www.interfax.com/news.asp

10:40

RUSSIA AND U.S. AGREE TO GIVE POLITICAL IMPETUS TO EXPERTS' WORK ON MISSILE DEFENSE ISSUES, CLINTON PROMISES TO TAKE MEASURES – LAVROV

http://www.interfax.com/news.asp

Russian-US negotiations on anti-missile systems going “tight”

http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/13801.html

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said in Alma-Ata that the talks between USA and Russia on the anti-missile systems “are going tight”, RIA Novosti reports.

He added that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured him that measures will be taken.

Lavrov noted that he met Clinton at the Arctic Council and discussed the issue. They agreed to boost the work of experts to reach results for the G8 summit in Douville.

10:37

MOSCOW CALLS ON CONFLICTING PARTIES IN LIBYA TO START POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – LAVROV

http://www.interfax.com/news.asp
 

10:37

RUSSIA URGES TEHRAN NOT TO DODGE SERIOUS DISCUSSION OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROBLEM – LAVROV

http://www.interfax.com/news.asp

Lavrov called on Tehran to account

http://samara.kp.ru/online/news/891183

In Russia's view, Iran should report to the IAEA
Yegor Arefiev - 13/05/2011 12:12
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Tehran not shy away from talks on the Iranian nuclear issue.

"We stand for that in a dialogue with Iran and consider the perspective of full participation of Iran in resolving various regional problems, but not at the expense of serious discussion on the Iranian nuclear program" - Lavrov said.

Russian Foreign Minister stressed that the international community must obtain the necessary confirmation of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

"We all want to be 100% sure that it has no military dimension, and that requires Iran to answer IAEA questions," - said the minister.

"So we will encourage our Iranian neighbors to ensure that they still comply with the decisions that are taken in the IAEA and supported the UN Security Council" - added the Russian minister.

He was commenting on the message of the Iranian side to the European Union, in which Tehran agreed to hold talks, but primarily on the number of international problems, "Interfax".

Session of Arctic Council wraps up work

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/13/50220923.html

May 13, 2011 02:41 Moscow Time

A session of the Arctic Council has ended work in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk. It was attended by Foreign ministers of eight countries in the region. An agreement was signed on cooperation in search and rescue operations in the Arctic.

Russia was represented at the session by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The declaration emphasizes the importance of strengthening the Arctic Council in order to respond successfully to new circumstances and challenges, particularly climate change.

02:31 13/05/2011Top News

Arctic countries sign “ground-breaking” SAR agreement http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/141340.html

NUUK (Greenland), May 13 (Itar-Tass) — Foreign ministers and leaders of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic Council met to set out future policy on Thursday and signed the Nuuk declaration and an agreement to cooperate in Search and Rescue efforts in the Arctic.

The Arctic Council said on its website the Search and Rescue (SAR) agreement is “ground-breaking in the annals of the Arctic Council, as it is the first legally-binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Council.”

It “will strengthen cooperation between the Arctic states and improve the way Arctic countries respond to emergency calls in the region,” it added.

Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, incoming chair of the Arctic Council, said that Arctic countries need enhanced cooperation on many future challenges, not the least being prevention, preparedness and response to oils spills. He said that during their chairmanship, Sweden will press forward with this on the agenda.

The ministers also decided to strengthen the Arctic Council by establishing a secretariat to increase the ability of the Council to address future challenges in the region. The secretariat will be located in Troms·, Norway.

The Arctic Council unites Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland, Sweden, and six associations of indigenous peoples of the North.

01:02 13/05/2011Top News

Russia’s Lavrov calls Arctic instance of good will, cooperation http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/141325.html

NUUK, Greenland, May 13 (Itar-Tass) — Arctic region may serve as an instance of a positive yield resulting from good will, readiness for cooperation, and consideration of one another’s interests, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Thursday as he addressed the 7th session of the Arctic Council.

“A vivid instance of this is provided by the Russian-Norwegian Treaty on delimitation of maritime spaces and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, which both countries ratified recently,” Lavrov said.

“This document has significance on the bilateral and region plane likewise,” he said. “It shows the result that was reached in the spirit of partnership, and this refuted the still circulating assertions that the clash of the Arctic littoral countries’ interests is inevitable, and craving for resources will eventually give rise to conflicts.”

“I’m confident the new Russian-U.S. START treaty will have an immediate impact on consolidation of security, trust and predictability in the region,” Lavrov said.

He underlined the important results that have been reached by way of strengthening the Arctic Council, saying that “they have the nature of hallmarks.”

“We’re adopting a package decision ion setting up the permanent secretariat of the Council, on its budget, on imparting a more legally binding character to the decisions taken by our organization, and the clarification of the role played by and criteria for observers,” Lavrov said.

“Thus we’ve made an important step towards building up the multilateral character of Arctic cooperation,” he said. “Additional prerequisites are being set up for raising the efficiency of our Council’s operations and maintaining its regional identity along with its openness for everyone who would like to contribute to the solution of problems of the Arctic region.”

“The signing of an agreement on cooperation in the air and maritime search and rescue in the Arctic – the first legally binding pan-Arctic document – will become a milestone in the Arctic Council’s work,” Lavrov said.

He indicated that the new agreement will enhance the promptness of aid to the people who have found themselves at bay and will broaden opportunities for further exploration of the Extreme North.

Lavrov voiced gratitude to all the member-states of the Council for fruitful participation in the talks.

He also pointed out the highly professional work of two co-chairmen David Bolton of the U.S. and Anton Vassilyev of Russia.

Interview of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Published in the Newspaper Moskovskiye Novosti on May 12, 2011

http://www.ln.mid.ru/bdomp/brp_4.nsf/e78a48070f128a7b43256999005bcbb3/b16f5e51d8e02230c325788f001c7496!OpenDocument

687-12-05-2011
Question: The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that it “shares the sentiments of Americans” about bin Laden’s elimination. But it was accomplished within the territory of another country and without Security Council authorization. How justified is it in terms of international law?

Sergey Lavrov: Our position is very simple. After 9/11 the Security Council adopted a resolution clearly recognizing the United States’ right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, because it was an attack against a UN member country. The right of self-defense envisages no restrictions. Those who perpetrated, planned or conceived the attack are the subject and the object of exercise of this right. There is room for questions here, and journalists (including American reporters) are asking these questions. But again, those who carried out the operation, had a sound legal basis beneath them in the form of the right of self-defense under the UN Charter, confirmed moreover in the resolution of the Security Council.

I wouldn’t take a legalist position here. Nobody in the world doubts that Bin Laden was the man behind the terrible acts of terrorism of 11 September and behind a number of other terror attacks. Al-Qaida, which he created and nurtured, is involved in numerous terrorist acts in other countries, including Russia. Certainly, the fight against terror should be carried out within the framework of international law, including rules for such cases – for armed combatants who the terrorists are. But these are details; they have yet to be sorted out. I understand that the American side is ready for explanations, we will wait for them. But the fundamental thing is what I said in the beginning.

Question: That is, Article 51 of the UN Charter allows countries to pursue terrorists?

Sergey Lavrov: It allows a country against which an attack was made to take all necessary measures to prevent any future such attacks and punish those responsible.

Question: But will this Article be used to prosecute not only terrorists, but also politicians who commit crimes in their country now?

Sergey Lavrov: Article 51 does not imply a carte blanche to kill politicians. It applies only to cases where a person not only gave the orders, but when he actually directed the specific operation. Politicians who give criminal orders are subject to trial. For this purpose the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been created, it is functioning.

Question: Russia abstained in the vote on the Libya Security Council resolution authorizing member states to “take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas.” Did Moscow not assume that “all necessary measures” might subsequently be interpreted as broadly as is currently the case?

Sergey Lavrov: No, we didn’t assume it for one simple reason that the previous paragraph 3 contains the purpose of this resolution, namely the protection of civilians by declaring a no-fly zone over Libya. We certainly shared this goal, since the Libyan air force had been used to strike at areas where there were civilians, and this practice had to be immediately stopped. However, we strongly advocated that paragraph 4 be clearly tied solely to the goal of enforcing a no-fly zone. When the formulation you refer to, was suggested by the cosponsors, we asked them what it meant. Is it about specifically designating the states that are ready to fulfill the goal of enforcing a no-fly zone? By what means will this objective be achieved and what are the limits of the use of force? Because what you quoted is a dimensionless formulation that allows one to legalistically interpret it whatever way one desires.

The fact that the cosponsors refused to specify it, reduce it to clear, absolutely verifiable actions certainly gave us cause for serious concern and we were forced to abstain. We abstained because we shared the objective of the resolution, but were unhappy that the methods of its implementation were not formulated clearly. Unfortunately, our misgivings were justified. What is now being done with respect to Libya goes far beyond the scope of the Security Council-mandated task.

Question: But what can be done? Russia calls on the coalition to stop the bombing. But then Gaddafi’s army will surely assume the offensive and there will again be casualties among the rebels and the civilian population...

Sergey Lavrov: It cannot start again because it never ended. A civil war is going on. And civilians do not care in the least about whose hands they are dying at – from the blows of Gaddafi, from the blows of the rebels or from the airstrikes the coalition inflicts, now by and large indiscriminately. The coalition, in fact, openly declares that its mission is a change of regime. That Gaddafi and his relatives – with all the equivocations that this phrase is hedged about – are a legitimate target. That's just too much.

The coalition by the way at the same time performs the tasks of the previous resolution 1970, namely to enforce an arms embargo, which implies a ban on the supply of any weapons and of any military services to anybody in Libya. Double standards are clearly beginning to be applied here. For example, coalition forces are stopping merchant ships that carry civilian goods and foodstuffs. They stopped the vessel that was on its way to Libya carrying equipment for the destruction of remaining stocks of chemical weapons there. Now the Libyans – in my opinion, rightly so – contacted the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons asking to clarify how they are to fulfill their obligations to eliminate those stocks.

On the other hand, more and more steps are being taken to support the rebels with finances and to the questions about whether the funds may be used to purchase weapons, which is prohibited by the Security Council, answers are following not very clear.

A third point. No economic sanctions have been imposed against Libya as a country. Only the accounts of Gaddafi and his inner circle have been frozen. Nevertheless, coalition members are talking openly about the need to impose a direct economic blockade on Libya – including a blockade on all operations with energy resources and other vital goods for the functioning of the state. Calls are being made out loud to impose an information blockade; that is, put a stop to Libyan mainstream media broadcasting abroad. No one was negotiating about that. Even with the richest imagination it is hard to imagine such a very, very broad interpretation of the paragraph you have quoted.

A real civil war is under way in Libya. The coalition is sliding down – if it has not already slid down – towards support of one party in this conflict. There’s only one way out: an immediate cease-fire, which Russia has already proposed in the Security Council. Then – the search for a way out through mediation efforts, especially of the African Union and UN. Five African presidents on behalf of the African Union visited Libya and talked with both Tripoli and Benghazi. I believe that this should form the basis for negotiations.

Question: People in Benghazi said that they will not negotiate with Gaddafi.

Sergey Lavrov: Frankly speaking, this can be understood. Qaddafi has made blunders and committed crimes. He gave orders to the armed forces to kill their own people, and we strongly condemned that by supporting resolution 1970 and letting resolution 1973 pass. But when they are talking about refusing to negotiate with any representatives of Qaddafi... It's either a misunderstanding of reality, because Libya has a tribal system, and a large tribal stratum, while not exactly supporting the methods of Gaddafi, represents the interests of a part of the state's population. Or – I can’t otherwise describe it – a conscious choice of a military solution to the problems, a war to a victorious end. This will have catastrophic consequences. In Arab capitals, those with whom we are consulting are all very concerned that Libya could break down into two or even more entities.

Negotiations should begin immediately, regardless of any circumstances. And then it is possible to put forward conditions and voice different proposals. They say that some reasonable conditions for Gaddafi’s departure could be arranged. All this must be discussed. But the Libyans themselves have to decide. External forces should not incite anyone and create the impression that if you show principledness, then we will continue to bomb a part of Libya ceaselessly, until the enemy one day shouts out: “I surrender!” Maybe this will meet somebody’s interests. But the number of lives that will be sacrificed in the process, we absolutely cannot accept this.

Bad peace is better than a good war, the ancients said so, and since then nothing has changed.

Question: The ICC has found Gaddafi responsible for killing civilians and issued a warrant for his arrest. Could this be the basis for a tougher Security Council resolution on Libya?

Sergey Lavrov: This is not a matter for the Security Council. It is a matter for the ICC. This is about judicial procedures which have their own logic and momentum and are going to develop exactly according to it.

Question: Although Russia did not hinder the adoption of the resolution on Libya, it did not support the draft UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Syria condemning the excessive use of force against demonstrators. What is the difference between these situations?

Sergey Lavrov: We, like more than half the members of the Security Council, were convinced of the full counter-productivity of such a move. The situation in Syria is not tantamount to Libya’s. In Syria, there are many concrete facts showing that opponents of the regime have from the very beginning used violent methods. Incoming information attests that during the clashes there have been victims among both protesters and police. This means that opponents of the regime are quite well armed. And another thing – the obvious attempt by opponents of the regime to use the Libyan scheme. Namely: we will demand the resignation of President Assad, NATO will take a decision, and the UN Security Council will be convinced that it must somehow condemn the regime. But they must all be condemned there, because the use of brute military force against civilians from whatever quarter is unacceptable.

And we shouldn’t multiply the Libyan model anymore. We showed constructiveness on Libya. This constructiveness is now being abused. We will be examining any new proposals for the Security Council to authorize intervention in an internal conflict through a huge magnifying glass, based on the sad experience of Libya.

Question: How are negotiations with the EU on a visa-free regime progressing?

Sergey Lavrov: They are progressing normally. We have arranged to elaborate a common list of extremely specific questions relating to aspects of border crossings. The questions relate to introducing biometric passports with the appropriate security features; to migration procedures at the border, readmission, facilitation of any rules of registration on a reciprocal basis, etc. The list is now at the final stage of negotiation. I hope that the upcoming June Russia- EU summit will be able to decide on this issue, and then the work will enter into a practical stage. We presume that the list will be exhaustive and that upon the closure of all the issues included in it we will immediately begin negotiations on a Russia-EU agreement on abolishing visas for short-term trips of citizens.

This is an ideal scheme. I will not hide the fact that some EU members are guided by political considerations as well. Someone based on old phobias wants to punish us. Someone wants to extract concessions from Russia on issues not related to the visa regime.

We have to treat it philosophically. Old habits die hard. We parted with them faster than some members of the EU and NATO. We have reason to believe that our natural movement towards each other will slowly but surely be cleansed of artificial accretions.

Question: How are negotiations with the US on a visa-free regime proceeding?

Sergey Lavrov: We have only proposed them so far. We are convinced that having a visa-free regime with more than 100 countries, including US allies such as Israel, having a very advanced negotiation process with the EU, there is no reason not to raise this question in our dialogue with the United States. This is a serious proposal, which reflects the new thinking, toward which we, in fact, were encouraged always. Ever since the Helsinki Final Act of the OSCE our Western partners insisted that the Soviet Union agree to freedom of movement. We then agreed.

Since then we have fully traversed our part of the road. Emigration is guaranteed by the Constitution of our country, even though the Jackson-Vanik amendment, introduced by the US in retaliation for a ban on Jewish emigration, continues to operate. And now we and our CIS partners raise in the OSCE and other formats the need to move to a visa-free regime. Our Western partners are already agreeing, but somehow bashfully and slightly glancing back.

I understand that now the problem of migrants in Europe is quite acute. This involves rethinking by European countries of many aspects of their open door policy. Now this topic is getting exacerbated due to the influx of immigrants from North Africa. But this does not mean that we will be responsive, if our European partners say: “Enough is enough. We can no longer talk with you about it.”

With the US we have increasingly more and more areas of cooperation. We have created the Presidential Commission, which covers all areas of interaction. To communicate in them a comfortable regime is important, so that our proposals are absolutely justified. Meantime, we’re concluding the negotiation of a document which will greatly facilitate mutual visits as exemplified by the agreement that we signed with the EU a few years ago as a forerunner of a visa-free regime.

Question: What is the general policy of Russia towards a visa regime? We would like visas for Russian citizens to disappear altogether?

Sergey Lavrov: Of course we are for all countries to switch to a visa-free regime. Certainly, one can’t ignore the security aspects. With all partners with whom we agree on a visa-free regime, we also conclude agreements to curb illegal migration and on readmission. Then, if a person gets into our country illegally from a state with which we have a visa-free agreement, that country will accept that offender back. So in principle, yes, a visa-free regime is our aim in relations with any country subject to the necessary safety and security precautions.

Question: However, experts call the transparency of our southern borders one of the reasons that Russia gets a large inflow of drugs.

Sergey Lavrov: The main flow of drugs into Russia comes from a country with which we have not, and in the foreseeable future, will not have a visa-free regime, I mean Afghanistan. We have a visa-free regime with our neighbors in Central Asia, through which a big flow of drugs reaches us. But you must nip the problem in the bud. It is necessary to destroy the crops and laboratories that produce heroin in Afghanistan, and we insist on this. Of course, there will always be abuses of the visa-free regime. However, they need to be dealt with not by building new walls, but via suppressing the illicit flows of drugs, weapons or anything else. And also through the elimination of the problems, in this case in Afghanistan, which we are actively engaged in.

To fence oneself off from any adversity is impossible. Violators will always find a loophole through bribery and the counterfeiting of documents. But only good citizens are bound to suffer from restrictions.

Question: Does Moscow really intend to put the question of WTO membership on the general ballot, bypassing Georgia?

Sergey Lavrov: We are engaged in consultations with the Georgian side with Swiss mediation so far. In essence, the problem posed by Georgia is the only political one. All other questions refer to the WTO regime and will be amenable to solution at the expert level. I can confirm what I said. WTO rules permit admission of countries on the basis of a vote in the absence of consensus. The Georgian colleagues have called my comments on this subject a whim. But perhaps it was done by those who are not familiar with the documents of the WTO and with the fact that there is even a precedent on this score. The WTO rules permit entry into the organization by means of voting.

06:41 13/05/2011Russia

Russia does not recognize Kosovo independence - Churkin http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c34/141401.html

UNITED NATIONS, May 13 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia supports territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and does not recognize unilaterally-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told the Security Council on Thursday adding Kosovo problem can be resolved only through negotiations.

“We proceed from the fact that the 1244 UN Security Council Resolution remains in full force and is obligatory for the whole international legal base of Kosovo settlement, as well as for ensuring security in the province,” he said and stressed the Security Council “should continue to play the leading role in the resolution of the Kosovo problem.”

The ambassador welcomed resumed dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and said representatives of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) should be officially present at the talks.

“This is due to the requirement to keep the Security Council adequately informed about the progress and contents of the negotiations and to the very agenda of the talks” as it is directly related to UNMIK activities, Churkin said.

“We believe the European Union which mediates the talks shall provide a proper place for the United Nations at them specifically now when the EU received a possibility for more active work in the framework of the global organization,” he said.

The UNMIK “shall continue to render maximum assistance to the settlement of Kosovo problem and fulfill its commitments to ensure Kosovo representation in regional and international organizations and mechanisms.”

The ambassador warned against potential explosive situation in the north of Kosovo.

“Attempts to ‘Albanize’ local units of Kosovo police, to spread to the north the activities of Kosovo customs, and to resettle there Albanian population in an uncontrolled way and without agreement with all interested parties will definitely escalate tensions,” he said.