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Richard Roskell's avatar

I don’t share your negative opinion on Sergei Lavrov in this interview. I thought he demonstrated his usual masterful diplomatic skills. That’s part of his job and there’s no one better at it.

While others on the outside are free to express their personal feelings about Palestine, Israel, Turkey and Erdogan, he is not. Regardless of the subject, his expressed viewpoint must be one that advances (or does the least possible harm to) Russia’s interests. He’s not the judge of anyone; nor can he compel other countries and their leaders to act in certain ways. All Lavrov can do is be the interlocutor between his government and another, even when that other country or its leader has acted deceitfully, or worse. As such, assuming the governments are still in contact, there’s nothing to be gained by having your top diplomat trash the other party. That’s so American!

On Erdogan, Russia understands him perfectly. That’s why Vladimir Putin has had time to meet with the leaders of countries like Bourkino Faso and Mongolia, but not with Turkey’s president. Regardless of the pro forma comments by Lavrov regarding Turkey and BRICS+, Turkey has zero friends or good will within the organization. That could largely be Erdogan’s doing, but regardless, other BRICS countries have more reason to distrust Turkey than agree to it joining. But even though that’s true, there’s no reason for Lavrov to humiliate Turkey by saying so in public.

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Edhead's avatar

Funny, I'm surprised to hear that Erdogan only has two faces.

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