Knowledge Day 2023: Russia's Unique Way of Starting the School Year: Part One

Yes, a long read, but it's Knowledge Day!

The commemorative stamp above was issued two years after the inaugural Knowledge Day in the USSR on 1 September 1984 and has become a very important tradition with unique rituals of top Russian government officials talking directly to students on the opening day of the school year. This year President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov made several presentations that traditionally serve as motivations for students and opportunities to make policy announcements. Mr. Lavrov traditionally gives a speech and entertains questions at MGIMO, which is an acronym for Moskovskiy Gosudarstvennyy Institut Mezhdunarodnykh Otnoshyeniy or Moscow State Institute of International Relations, which appears to be one of his most enjoyable duties. Unlike many such addresses given on September first, Lavrov’s isn’t to children just entering their first year of school but to more mature students entering one of Russia’s most prestigious universities; and so as is Mr. Lavrov’s way, he is direct and minces no words about the reality of the current global situation, which has been his approach for many years.

This year Lavrov shares some of the ceremonies with a special guest, Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates, who participated in the opening of the UAE auditorium at MGIMO, saying the following:

Today we are attending a symbolic event – the opening of the UAE auditorium at MGIMO. I am sure that it will be kept in perfect condition and will be a success for participants in various events. This fully reflects the growing nature of the strategic partnership established between our countries and confirms close cooperation based on mutual trust and the search for a balance of interests over the years.

More specifics about the ceremony and the UAE connection with MGIMO can be found here.

Lavrov also gives a short welcoming speech to all grades at the six year old Primakov Gymnasium where independent thought and critical dialog are encouraged as Russia doesn’t want a Yes Man society that was one critical fault of the Soviet Union:

Dear Andrey Yuryevich,

Dear Evgeny Alexandrovich,

Dear Maya Otarievna,

Dear friends,

It is not the first year that we have been observing the tradition of celebrating the Day of Knowledge together, opening the school year. It is pleasant that the Primakov Gymnasium is strengthening its authority, reputation and attractiveness every year for an increasing number of our citizens who want their children to be educated in this excellent educational institution. There are excellent professional teachers, modern educational methods and infrastructure that speaks for itself, does not need additional compliments.

I would like to wish first-graders to successfully enter a new quality of life - school. You are crossing its threshold today. There will be new friends, there will be successes, difficulties, trials. I have no doubt that you will overcome everything if you listen to teachers who help you learn and think independently. This is the most important thing.

I appeal to the eleventh graders. You have already received the rich knowledge that the Primakov Gymnasium provides, and now you are entering the last year before the exam tests. You will have to choose a further path in life. I wish you to make a choice that will meet your own interests and help you take place in life as an independent successful person. I don't mind if someone after the 11th grade decides to enter MGIMO. We will only be glad. Our university is replenished with the most talented school graduates from all over the Motherland, but above all from the Moscow region.

I would like to emphasise that the name of Yevgeny Primakov, which bears the gymnasium, is associated with a huge number of great events in the life of our country, with the formation of the Russian Federation as an independent, independent state, and the formation of a foreign policy that remains fully relevant today. Yevgeny Primakov will forever remain in our memory as a great diplomat, scientist and statesman.

I ask you to be worthy of his memory with your studies and deeds. Good luck and success!

MGIMO is now an 80 year-old institution. Lavrov, Zakharova, and a host of other outstanding members of Russia’s Diplomatic Corp graduated from it and went on to serve Russia, while others went into international business. As you’ll read, the questions posed by the students aren’t softballs and Lavrov’s answers are as detailed as they need to be:

Dear Anatoly Vasilyevich,

Dear Alexander Vladimirovich,

Your Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates,

Colleagues, friends,

Tradition is tradition. We have a lot of "New Year's" holidays. Today is a special day for all those who were involved in their studies at MGIMO, and now work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in other areas of public service, in science, journalism, and business. We always try to celebrate September 1 with a frank conversation about the affairs that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides. University students for natural reasons show interest in this. Today I wanted to have a conversation as interactive as possible. I will not make a long introduction.

If you have entered the University, it means that you are interested in international relations and foreign policy. World affairs are now in a difficult state. The reason is known to everyone - the desire of the United States and its allies, whom they "crushed" under themselves, to rule the whole world, to impose their unipolar world order in order, as Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized, to continue to collect "tribute" from humanity, i.e. live in a neo-colonial paradigm, when the West existed at the expense of the exploitation of others. They seek to get out of the way all those who do not agree with this approach, the dictates of the West, advocate honest cooperation, equal interaction and respect for each other.

Russia is now in this state. We are the object of the aggressive policy of the West in order to restrain us and creative development. To do this, they create threats on the borders of our country. The Ukrainian regime was chosen as an instrument. In order for him to fulfill the suicidal function assigned to him, everything is forgiven, including neo-Nazi behavior, theory, practice, which consist, among other things, in the openly declared policy of destroying everything Russian. Leaders of Vladimir Zelensky's regime say that extermination can be both legal and physical.

All this does not cause any reaction in the West, because the Ukrainian regime performs the function of containing Russia as an independent player who does not want to obey the paradigm of a unipolar world. We are not alone in this. The special military operation betrayed a powerful impetus to the movement (which was already ripening in the world community) towards justice and multipolarity. The countries of the Global South, the World Majority, no longer want to live by the rules invented and imposed by the "golden billion" under the leadership of the United States.

After the recent BRICS summit in August this year, French President Emmanuel Macron, at a meeting with French ambassadors abroad, admitted that the Global South no longer wants to rely only on the West and is becoming more and more independent. It is better to make such confessions late than never. So far, this is far from the dominant trend in Western political thought and practice. They continue to threaten to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia "on the battlefield."

Speaking about the diplomacy of the modern period, many (including some of our political scientists) begin to lament the fact that the profession of a diplomat has lost its relevance, because there used to be Brussels, Geneva, Washington, New York, Vienna and other capitals, and now Russia is isolated, cut off from all the main trends in the development of world discussions. Like, it's a pity for the diplomats, they will have to vegetate in their offices, reading newspapers. This is said by those who follow the old principle "when guns speak, diplomacy is silent." Diplomacy is silent only with those who want to talk to us with "guns". For this, we have our own "guns" without any talk. The rest communicate with us respectfully, on an equal, mutually beneficial basis. We develop relationships, look for specific, creative projects.

When they talk about the isolation of Russia, despite the fact that 85 percent of the world's population lives in countries that have not announced any sanctions against us and maintain relations with us, it is insulting to them. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky recently said that the entire civilised world condemns and isolates Russia. If the entire civilized world in his understanding is the "golden billion", then the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America are for him an uncivilized world. The mentality of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who said that Europe is a "flowering garden" and the rest are a "jungle", has penetrated deeply into the thinking of the current Ukrainian regime. We have good plans. Everyone can clearly see that Russia is on the rise of its foreign policy in those areas where there is a counter movement.

The Russia-Africa Summit was held. There are good results. Now they are being implemented, a list of specific instructions from the President is being prepared, several business missions to the countries of the African continent from Moscow and other regions are being prepared in order to identify promising areas of practical cooperation. Among the examples of strengthening multipolarity, I would like to mention the BRICS summit, following which six new countries joined the association, including the UAE (I heartily congratulate Ambassador M. Ahmad Al-Jaber). If the previous "five" of the association in terms of purchasing power parity exceeded the "Group of Seven" by 5-6 percent, today, taking into account the entry of new members, more than 7 trillion is added. The gap between the "new" BRICS and the "seven" will widen even more.

The trend will develop, this is an objective process. Professional economists see this, understand it and are interested in somehow harmonizing the interests of the entire world community. Instead of responding to new trends by expanding mutually beneficial contacts and finding ways to balance interests in all spheres (including the economy and finance), the United States and its allies are trying to build obstacles to the development of regional processes and initiatives to form alternative payment mechanisms so as not to depend on the whims of those who are now imitating reserve currencies.

There is a clash of constructive processes based on international law and, above all, on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnection, especially on the most important provision, which says that the world Organization is based on the sovereign equality of states. This principle has never been recognized by the West. They never implemented it in any of their endeavors. We have always sought to "crush" any international processes. There will be a rather long clash between those who want justice, and on the basis of not invented desires, but the principle of sovereign equality of states, with those who want to rule according to their "rules" (in our understanding - according to "concepts").

The formation of a multipolar world order will take a long period. Maybe there will be a relatively long historical era, but this process is objective and unstoppable. The course of the West, aimed at trying to slow down the course of history, will only bring additional confrontational situations and difficulties for the world community. Diplomats will have to unravel all this.

There is economic, parliamentary, scientific (today it is of particular importance) diplomacy through public organizations. We try to take all this into account in our work. In all areas, special mechanisms have been created for the Ministry's interaction with various circles of our political class, scientific experts and practicing economists dealing with international issues. We are not building our line against the United States and the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that we do not want to "ruin" the dollar, but Washington ceases to provide the role of a currency that was acceptable to everyone. We will develop relations with those who are ready for this on the basis of equality and the search for an honest balance of interests.

It is in this vein, on the basis of consensus, without leaders and followers, teachers and students, that the CSTO, the CIS, the EAEU, BRICS, and the SCO work. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, like BRICS, is becoming more and more attractive to developing countries due to the principles of its work and areas that are coordinated through consensus-building in the economic, humanitarian, financial and many other areas, including in the context of logistics and transport connectivity.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a pillar of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, which President Vladimir Putin spoke about. The EAEU, the SCO, ASEAN and other associations and countries located on our common, united, huge Eurasian continent are invited to participate in it. This is God-given and history-given competitive advantages in modern conditions, when the center of development of the world economy and finance is moving to Asia. Not to use the natural, obvious opportunities of the Eurasian continent will only mean lost profits for reasons of some political expediency. We are in favor of other forms of interaction.

I hope that this wonderful institute, our alma mater will help to satisfy all your interests in learning new things. Will strongly encourage independent thinking in each of the students. We are waiting for those who, after graduating from MGIMO, decide to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. We do not promise privileges, but we will honestly evaluate the qualities and abilities.

Question: As you have already mentioned, one of the most important and striking political events was the Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg in July this year. There were concluded declarations on joint cooperation in various fields, including information security, on the non-deployment of weapons in outer space. Please tell us if there are any partnership programs with African countries that will be and have already been concluded?

Sergey Lavrov: You have largely answered your question by listing the final documents. They are really important, they not only declare their intention to work together in various fields, but also imply concrete actions. Several business missions to the region are being prepared on economic topics.

As for food security. Practical work is being organised to provide free deliveries of up to 50,<> tonnes of Russian grain to the six most needy African countries (each state), as President of Russia Vladimir Putin announced at the Russia-Africa summit. Moreover, we pay the overhead costs and delivery of this gratuitous consignment.

We will develop our relations through the permanent Russia-Africa forum. In addition, in Russia, our Ministry has its Secretariat, the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries, which is engaged in practical projects. On the sidelines of the summit, there were many contacts between our businessmen, state corporations and private companies with their African partners. Absolutely specific plans were outlined that will be implemented. We will talk about them in detail.

I will also mention a topic that has not been paid much attention to. African countries sent a delegation of seven presidents to Russia back in June of this year, a month before the summit, in order to share their thoughts on how the situation around Ukraine is developing and how to help ensure that this situation receives a fair resolution. President Vladimir Putin held a special meeting with them in St Petersburg. We agreed to look for joint ways to promote not one-sided positive approaches, but those that would take into account the security interests of all states, not just one country and one military-political bloc. As a follow-up to this agreement, President Vladimir Putin held another meeting with his colleagues from the African Union initiative group on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit, which resulted in the adoption of a statement. It has been published, but has received little attention. In it, we noted the need to address humanitarian issues that were of particular interest to our African friends. I mean support for the long-standing process of exchanging prisoners, taking into account the interests of children during the conflict (which we have also been doing for a long time). It also mentioned the need to "resolve" the situation with the Black Sea initiative, which was suspended on July 17 this year due to the failure to comply with the Russian part of this deal. Together with African leaders, we called for all the promises made to Russia to be fulfilled. As President Vladimir Putin said, on the same day when this takes place, we will be ready to resume the Ukrainian part of this "grain package".

Of course, we have an Action Plan between the Government of the Russian Federation and the African Union Commission. There are extensive relations and mechanisms with the African Union on political issues, including dialogue to promote the resolution of various conflicts on the African continent. Russia participates in a number of these mechanisms. In particular, I will mention the Great Lakes region, where we are participants in a specially created conference. We can talk about this for a long time. We made a detailed report on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am sure you will find additional details there.

Question: You mentioned the EAEU. A logical question arose. As you know, in 2023, Russia chairs the bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union. Vladimir Putin outlined the main tasks of the country within its framework back in December 2022, among which a special place is occupied by the achievement of economic and technological independence from the West. What do you see as the main challenges for the EAEU, as well as which of the areas of cooperation within the organization seem to be the most promising and priority in the coming years?

Sergey Lavrov: These areas are defined in the decisions of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Council of Heads of Government. They are aimed at implementing mutually beneficial projects in the most important areas for our countries. And in such a way that these projects do not depend on the mechanisms for servicing international economic relations controlled by the United States and its allies, including "reserve currencies", the dollar, the euro, and the yen. It is an unreliable currency. In 2022, 76% of mutual settlements and trade between the EAEU member states were carried out not in dollars, but in national and friendly currencies. This year we are aiming for 90%.

When the Eurasian Economic Union was created, the process of de-dollarization was not put forward as an independent goal. But the actions of the United States violated all the principles of the functioning of the market economy that had been advancing for many decades. In this situation, we must protect ourselves from arbitrariness and whims. Everyone understands what will happen tomorrow. Today, Russia is the main target of American and Western sanctions, since it behaves quite independently. And tomorrow there will be any other. It is not clear what the "punishment" will be announced for. Everyone understands this. The trend of transition to alternative payment systems, payment methods is inevitable.

At the BRICS summit, Brazilian President L. da Silva actively promoted the idea of creating a separate independent currency for member countries. At one time, when he was elected again, he proposed to do the same for the entire region of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Everyone proceeds from the fact that at this stage it is quite problematic to go directly to this process, because experience has not been accumulated outside the dollar system. And it will accumulate as it is used in mutual settlements of national currencies. This is almost 90% of the EAEU. We have a significant and rapidly growing share in trade with China, Iran, India and our other partners who do not want to follow the instructions of the West and interrupt cooperation with us. On the contrary, cooperation with these countries is growing. If we take all the members of the EAEU in absolute terms, the figures are gaining momentum quite confidently.

The priorities of Russia's presidency in the EAEU were outlined. They concern the digitalization of the economy, technological sovereignty, the development of cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies, food and energy security. All this has been approved and is being implemented. I hope that by the end of this year we will be able to sum up the results that will reflect the successful resolution of the issues raised in this context in the interests of all countries that are members of the EAEU. Some of our other neighbors remain interested in the union. We actively support it.

Question: In accordance with the second Johannesburg Declaration of the BRICS summit, the UAE was invited to join the association on January 1, 2024.

Sergey Lavrov: The answer is simple. This will have a positive impact both on our bilateral relations and on the UAE's cooperation with the rest of the BRICS members. In 2022, the United Arab Emirates became Russia's number one trading partner in the entire Arab world and the League of Arab States. The trade turnover amounted to about $9 billion in 2022 and continues to grow. The reason for this successful cooperation was that both the United Arab Emirates and Russia proceed from national interests and will not tolerate any pressure to the detriment of themselves and the interests of their economies and our peoples. Our future is bright.

As far as I understand, today we will participate in another ceremony together with the UAE Ambassador to Russia and your rector – the opening of the UAE auditorium at MGIMO. This is evidence of the beginning of a new chapter of our cooperation.

Question: Russia has been under Western sanctions for several years now. How does our country deal with this? Which foreign partners help us in this?

Sergey Lavrov: We have already touched on this issue in part today. You need to deal with this by relying only on yourself.

The calculations of those who lament the collapse of our relations with our Western colleagues that everything will someday "return to normal" are built on sand. The line of the West, the proclaimed course with the aim of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia in the foreseeable future, will not disappear anywhere. We are well aware of this.

In any case, if suddenly, at some incomprehensible command from above, the West invites us to return to more or less normal contacts, we will already think about whether we should do this. If it is, then in what areas. We will not cooperate with the West in those areas on which our security depends in every sense: military-political, economic, technological, etc. This has already been proven by the experience of the last thirty years. The West, without hesitation, at any moment when it wants to restrain your own development, and this is precisely the goal - to restrain the development of competitors, will abuse all the agreements reached. None of the fundamental agreements concluded with the West after 1991 has been implemented. Therefore, you can't take your word for it. It is impossible to believe the signatures that the West put on numerous documents.

We overcome difficulties. Of course, they are obvious. No one can argue with that. They are significant and will be exacerbated, as far as can be judged from the statistics. The Russian government, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, who regularly holds meetings on various sectoral issues related to the country's economic development, is doing everything possible. These efforts are yielding positive results.

In Russia, unemployment has decreased, there is no shortage of goods, and fairly decent economic growth is expected, given the circumstances in which it is provided. We see that new projects are being implemented in the field of investment and transport. These projects will connect us more closely with countries whose decency and negotiability we have no doubts. First of all, these are our eastern and southern neighbors.

We have already seen the "negotiability" and "decency" of the West more than once. Our conclusion is unequivocal. When they "want", we will look and decide whether it is worth it, and if it is, then in what areas and to what extent.

The plans and exact figures for the development of cooperation with China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and many African countries, especially the states of North Africa (I'm afraid to offend someone, I can't list them all) are specific, realistic, and are already giving impressive results in terms of increasing trade, investment and contacts in other areas, including cultural, humanitarian and sports ties.

What the International Olympic Committee is doing now is a mockery of common sense, of the Olympic Charter. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has also spoken about this. This forces us to look for other forms of development of independent, depoliticized, competitive (honest) sports. When you see a goal and achieve it, you always get success. MGIMO teaches just such an approach to life.

Question: Not so long ago, on May 10, a quadrilateral meeting was held between the foreign ministers of Turkey and Russia. Iran and Syria on the settlement of Turkish-Syrian relations. In June of this year, Russia proposed a roadmap for the normalization of relations between the two countries. What do you think, what are the prospects for the restoration of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Syria? Is it realistic at this moment in the near future to come to an agreement, a consensus on ending the presence of Turkish troops on the territory of the SAR?

Sergey Lavrov: The process of normalising relations between Turkey and Syria began last year. Both sides expressed a desire to establish contacts. It was decided to start them with meetings between the ministries of defense and special services. They took place in December 2022, and it was initially agreed that this would be a preparation for a meeting between the foreign ministries with an eye to preparing for the summit. Turkey, Syria and Russia participated in those processes. Given that the Iranian side, together with us and the Turks, is actively participating as a member of the Astana format troika on the Syrian settlement, the Iranians also expressed interest in joining the format that creates conditions for the normalization of relations between Damascus and Tehran.

In April of this year, a meeting was held at the level of deputy foreign ministers in the format of "four", which prepared for the meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries, held in Moscow. Here, we adopted a statement expressing our interest in developing a roadmap for normalization between Syria and Turkey. In June of this year, we handed over the draft document to all our colleagues. Now it is under consideration, contacts are continuing to bring it to a generally acceptable state when it could be approved.

There are difficulties. You mentioned the presence of Turkish troops in the north of the SAR. This fact. But I would like to note that all the documents of the Astana Troika, which adopts a joint statement after each of its meetings, say that all of us, including Iran, Turkey and Russia, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and oppose any attempts to stimulate separatist tendencies in this country. Turkey is signing these documents all the time.

Another thing is that the Turks explain their presence by the preservation of the terrorist threat in northern Syria and believe that the presence of their military contingent there solves the problem of preventing the "spillover" of the terrorist threat from Syria to the south of the Republic of Turkey.

We have been dealing with this issue for a long time. Even before the consultations in this format began, we proposed in informal contacts to return to the philosophy of 1998, when the Adana Agreement was signed between Turkey and Syria. It assumed that there was a terrorist threat. In order to stop it, Turkey will have the right, in agreement with Damascus, to send its anti-terrorist structures to a certain depth of Syrian territory. This agreement continues to operate, no one has denounced it. It is necessary to agree on what the depth of such operations can be, what is the procedure for their beginning, conduct and completion. The ideological base itself exists. All participants in the mentioned process - Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran - agree with this.

Another reason that cannot be ignored when we talk about this topic is the illegal activities of the United States in northeastern Syria. It is the United States that decisively fuels the separatism of radical Kurdish organizations, which are actually designated by the Turks as a threat to their security. These processes are related.

The United States occupied a significant part of the northeast of the SAR. Moreover, these are the most important oil-bearing regions, places of grain production. For many years, the energy and food security of an independent UN member state has been directly undermined by the United States, which exports oil from there through Iraq. The proceeds are spent on the arrangement of these territories, where the creation of a quasi-state of the Kurds is encouraged. Moreover, they seized not only the traditionally historical lands of the Kurds, but also part of the territory where the Arab tribes always lived. This is a dangerous situation, a "time bomb". Especially considering that the Kurdish issue is relevant not only for Syria and Turkey, but also for Iran and other countries.

We constantly urge all our partners who maintain channels of dialogue with the United States to pay attention to this.

For the US-occupied part of Syria, they have made an exception to the sanctions regime, i.e. they already consider this occupation zone as an independent state. I am sure that our Arab friends are well aware of this and understand the risks and threats involved. I hope that this topic is not forgotten in the contacts of the Arab League and the GCC with their Western colleagues.

Question: Today we see how the issues of energy geopolitics, diplomacy and energy supplies are becoming increasingly important both for our country and for the entire world community.

Recently, Russia has been rebuilding its energy supply routes. Kazakhstan, having free capacities for the transit of Russian gas to the countries of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, can contribute to the expansion of exports to the East. Are there any prospects for developing cooperation in the gas sector with Kazakhstan for the further development of exports to Asian countries? If so, which ones?

Sergey Lavrov: We have a very close, practical dialogue and joint projects in this area with Kazakhstan and many of our other allies. As for Uzbekistan, it has a shortage of natural gas. We come to an agreement. A number of contacts took place at the level of the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on how to use the transit system of Kazakhstan to meet the needs of Uzbekistan. To do this, it is necessary to carry out some technical work "on the ground". This is quite feasible and will not take a long time.

When talking about energy policy, they often mention the problem of gasification of the most gas-producing country. Not everything has yet been decided in this area. There are corresponding plans. In the north and east of Kazakhstan, the problem of gasification is also quite serious. With the development of further cooperation and the coordination of plans, all this is fully taken into account. The EAEU and its closest neighbors are a priority for us.

We have our own transport system for exporting gas to China. We don't create problems for anyone. China's needs are such that no one will be left "in the loser", no one will be "turned off" from the game - neither Kazakhstan, nor Turkmenistan, nor any other country.

Within the framework of Russia-Central Asia cooperation in the energy sector, there is a full understanding and a whole series of specific projects, promising, long-playing. They will ensure the sustainability of our economies.

Question: At the Moscow Conference on International Security, you mentioned the process of becoming a more just and sustainable world order, as well as the gradual de-dollarisation of the world economy and trade. How long can it take on these trends around the world? What can prevent this?

Sergey Lavrov: This is a question for a doctoral dissertation. It is impossible to predict these processes. This is not the rotation of the Earth, obeying the laws of astronomy, and not other processes in the field of exact sciences. Much depends on the role of the individual in history. There is a certain personality at the head of a state - bright or gray. Every day you see in television reports, on the Internet, how many individuals who have headed a particular state make decisions aimed solely at perpetuating their, as they believe, dominance.

There are individuals who understand the need to join forces in view of the fact that there are a large number of risks and threats to all mankind and it is possible to cope with them only together, developing such methods of overcoming them that will meet the interests of all. So that it does not turn out like with the "green transition", which in the European Union was declared the "main task of the day". They began to reduce investment in hydrocarbon production, even to abandon nuclear energy. Then the wind blew wrong, the tides were not very strong, the sun shone little. Now they are disentangled in all this. Moreover, they are still forcing African countries (and other third world countries, but especially Africa) to accelerate the transition to a "green" economy. Although they themselves have long exceeded all previous indicators in terms of coal consumption. In response, African countries say that yes, it is necessary to do something with the climate and take into account these changes (although nothing has been absolutely proven), but they remind that if the West wants them to be engaged in a "green transition" now, then let's return to the promises that were made eight years ago at one of the conferences. Then the West signed a pledge to allocate $ 100 billion. per year to assist developing countries in implementing the Green Transition. Nothing has been done.

When we met within the framework of BRICS, many colleagues recalled this and compared these promises – $100 billion. annually (which were simply forgotten) and figures characterizing Western assistance to Ukraine over the past 1.5 years. I think everyone understands what is at stake. Sober voices are now being heard in Western countries (gradually and not very loudly, but more and more) calling for compromises and agreements that will take into account the interests of all states in the field of security and in the economy of all states without exception, to abandon the dictate, which has never led to anything good in my life.

They say they will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. At the BRICS summit, we discussed this with our colleagues in an informal setting. They asked me: how much, in my opinion, will the West be able to defend Ukraine so that it wins "on the battlefield"? I replied that I could not guess, but there are examples in history. Look at how long it took them in Iraq, in Afghanistan, to achieve their goals. I think the answer is clear.

To build a foreign policy on the basis of slogans, and such aggressive ones, is a road to nowhere. Rather, this is the path to war, which we are now witnessing in various regions of the world. But the process is unstoppable. This is the objective course of history. It's hard to say how long it will last.

It was thought that the era of Western domination would be eternal, but it lasted about 500 years. Now it is coming to an end. This process has deep historical roots in terms of "old" thinking. Now it reflects the objective reality from the point of view of the fact that new centers of power have appeared that no longer want to play the role of an object of international cooperation, do not want the old principle of the colonialists to "live at the expense of others" to be applied to them.

In Africa, for example, the issue of processing the natural resources with which it is endowed by God and nature is becoming increasingly urgent. Loud voices were heard at the Russia-Africa summit and the BRICS summit that Africa no longer wants to simply supply minerals that will be processed somewhere in Europe, in other Western countries, and then all the profits, all the added value will go to non-Africans. We will facilitate these processes. I repeat once again - it cannot be ruled out that somewhere someone will come to power with intentions that do not correspond to historical trends at all.

Question: Recently, a summit on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis was held in Saudi Arabia. Why did the participants meet? What did the results of the summit demonstrate and what can Russia expect?

Sergey Lavrov: This is a good and very relevant question. It reflects one aspect of what we are talking about when we mention the West's attempts to resist in every possible way a fair settlement of the problems of the world order and individual conflict situations in general.

For the first time, Vladimir Zelensky's "plan", which they call the "peace formula", was presented to the international community in 2022, and the West immediately supported it. The "plan" consists of 10 points, among which Russia is removed to the borders of 1991, pays reparations to Ukraine, the Russian leadership is sent to the tribunal for trial and some other related things. Among these absolutely crazy, unrealistic and inadequate points, it is written that it is necessary to strengthen energy security, food security, and humanitarian ties.

All these 10 points are "packed" into the "formula of Vladimir Zelensky", which the West has proclaimed the only basis for resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Few people took it seriously. But the West's obsession with the desire to restrain us, to win us, manifested itself in the fact that this absolutely inadequate paper has become part of the official position of the West. He begins to promote it, but with absolutely thimble, dirty, unscrupulous methods. What do I mean by that? We convened a meeting in Copenhagen in June of this year, invited the Group of Seven countries, some BRICS countries, and of course Ukraine itself, and began to discuss ways to implement this "formula of Vladimir Zelensky".

Our BRICS colleagues who took part in it later told us that they were just listening. There were no suggestions of taking any further steps. There were no practical decisions on how this "formula" would be implemented either.

Our Saudi friends subsequently told us that they wanted to host another meeting in this format in Jeddah and that this was done solely in order to convey to the Western participants and to Ukraine itself the idea that any discussions without the participation of the Russian Federation were completely futility. Which they did at the event, which took place in Saudi Arabia.

Our Western colleagues did not calm down on this. We received information that on August 17 of this year, a "meeting" was held not on the entire "Vladimir Zelensky formula", but several online meetings on each of the 10 points of this formula. That is, an absolutely elementary "one-way". They persuaded them to say that they understand that the Saudis are against punishing and condemning Russia in order to negotiate without Moscow. The participants were told that there was no need to support these parts of the Zelensky formula. But, they say, there are other topics. Look: food security – take "supervision" of this paragraph, energy security, humanitarian issues. This, of course, is an unscrupulous game. Everyone understands this.

It is particularly depressing that we learned in hindsight that there was an appeal to the UN Secretary-General to send his representatives to these virtual meetings of the working groups and such representatives participated. I saw Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. I told him frankly that this violates all the principles of the work of the Secretariat, which, according to the UN Charter, should be impartial and should not receive instructions from any government. In this case, we know which Government approached the Secretary-General and at whose request he sent his people there. Antonio Guterres began to explain that they were there only as consultants, because they discussed specialized issues (food, energy, ecology). I told him honestly, and I don't want to hide it, that apart from the fact that the mere fact of participating in any capacity was contrary to the responsibilities of the Secretariat, when such an invitation took place, we, as a party to many aspects of what was happening, were not even notified of this.

This confirms our long-standing fears based on the fact that the West wants to privatize the secretariats of international organizations. He has an overwhelming advantage (in terms of personnel) in these secretariats, either directly or through the granting of dual citizenship to representatives of other countries who got into the secretariat under the quota of their homeland, and then received a second citizenship.

This is a serious process. It requires a separate discussion. We will raise this issue at the UN. Returning to the processes around the "peace formula", "Vladimir Zelensky's formula". We sent relevant assessments and questions to all those who were invited there, including UN representatives. We will not leave this case like that. You need to work correctly and honestly.

It is no coincidence that information about the meetings of the working groups on August 17 of this year did not get into any media. We found out about it through our channels. The question is acute. Thank you for it.

Question: In early September, India will host the G20 summit, to which Russia has also been invited. What does the Russian side expect from the summit? What tasks do we set?

Sergey Lavrov: We are working within the framework of the Indian Presidency programme under the slogan "One Land, One Family, One Future". This is an absolutely correct philosophy emphasizing the need to follow the principles of equality enshrined in the UN Charter.

The G20 was created to solve problems in the world economy and world finance. It worked quite effectively all these years, until the West decided to "Ukrainize" everything and everyone, including the work of the G20, although no foreign policy and security issues are included in its mandate.

In 2022, we met within the framework of the G<> in Indonesia. A huge amount of time was spent there. I think it's in vain. A paragraph was agreed that does not and could not give anything to anyone. Because the "twenty" is not engaged in the settlement of certain conflict situations.

It says that some countries condemned, others expressed a different point of view, drew attention to the causes of the crisis in Ukraine, to the problem of sanctions. Then it was clearly stated: at the same time, everyone agreed that the G20 is not the place to discuss global security issues. It would seem that the topic is closed. But no.

The Indian chairmanship holds about two hundred useful events in various sectors of the world economy, the environment, investment issues, settlement mechanisms, and finance. At each of them, the West raised the topic of Ukraine. We frankly said that the issue was closed for us. If they decide to rewrite the mandate of the G20 and want it to deal with international crises, then we will give our own document, which lists the conflicts that still persist, which are rooted in the wars unleashed by the West. It is necessary to discuss everything, but then it will duplicate the work of the UN and undermine the original role of the G20 in making decisions that are designed to stabilise global economic and financial processes. It's not our choice.

In any case, there will be no joint declaration on behalf of all members of the Group of Twenty that does not reflect our position. Sometimes, due to irreconcilable differences (in this case, the whims of the West), the presidency issues a communiqué that does not commit any country to anything that is written there. It's not good, but it's not our choice. Another option is to adopt a document on specific decisions in the sphere of competence of the G20. Let everyone say the rest on their own behalf. On this we will disperse.

The West is severely undermining the institutions of global governance. This is one of the reasons why there are more and more people who want to join the BRICS, the SCO and look for ways to solve emerging economic and financial problems, bypassing any structures where the West is present. The process is not fast, but reflections on this matter are spreading in the world community.

Question: I am a future expert on Japanese politics. How do you see relations with Tokyo in the next four years? To what extent will the profession of an Orientalist-Japanese scholar be in demand in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: Are you afraid of losing your job? There is no doubt about the profession of an orientalist. This direction is getting a "second wind". MGIMO is doing a lot to train specialists and expand the number of oriental, rare languages. The prospects are good.

Japan is one of the few countries that "falls out" of the general prospect of building up our strategic cooperation, since it has made a decision to blindly, stupidly (forgive me for this word) to follow in line with US policy. And not even the containment of Russia, but an aggressive attack on our country in all spheres. It's sad.

We have always treated our Japanese neighbors well. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally paid attention to informal, trust-based contacts with all the prime ministers with whom he worked. I met regularly with my colleagues, including Fidel Kishida, who worked as foreign minister for some time and visited Moscow. It was during his tenure as Foreign Minister of Japan that we agreed, and the leaders approved, an approach to organizing joint economic activities in the southern Kuril Islands on the basis of our legislation, under which the Japanese were granted benefits. Five directions were agreed, but then (long before the current events) it "sank into oblivion".

For the Japanese, it has always been important to develop cooperation far from pragmatic. They annually condemned the northern territories, said to "give" them. This mentality sits deep. We are given different arguments. Like, Russia was not in San Francisco, so we are not involved in this. Above all "San Francisco" is the UN Charter. Article 107 says that everything that was done by the victorious powers is unshakable and holy. Hands off. Nevertheless, we were ready to look for compromises. Now the issue is finally closed. This is all the same, as mentioned above, that nothing can be negotiated with the West. Japan is part of the "collective West".

Now they are talking about the reform of the UN Security Council. Japan and Germany are listed as contenders for permanent membership. The United States supports them. This cannot happen by definition. Neither we nor other sensible countries can support a solution that will increase injustice. Today, of the 15 permanent members of the UN Security Council, six represent the West. Add two more to them? Neither Japan nor Germany will bring any added value to the activities of the main body of the world Organization. They don't have a position of their own. They blindly follow Washington's instructions. No changes are expected in the foreseeable future.

However, study Japan. It's still our neighbor. In any case, we have and will continue (at least we are for it) diplomatic relations. We are open to dialogue, but we will not run after them and offer something. They must decide for themselves. Let's see how they will act and work when sobering up. This is a neighboring country. We're going to have to live close by.

President Putin’s contribution on Knowledge Day will be the contents of the second part of this report.

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