Lavrov at Valdai

The XX Meeting of the Valdai Club in Sochi

This week sees the XX Annual Valdai Club Meeting in Sochi. For those who don’t know, the Valdai Club is one of Russia’s premier academic think tanks that has events throughout the year along with this special meeting format that attracts members of Russia’s government and other important figures. President Putin usually participates in the Plenary Session. Unfortunately, the Club does a poor job of informing the public of its sessions. For example, there’s no video or transcript of Lavrov’s talk yesterday. What is available is his few words with media afterwards. Also, he noted his remarks were made in relation to the main paper produced for the conference, “Maturity Certificate, or The Order That Never Was: Fantasy of a Hierarchy-Free Future” which is a 30+ page essay in English. Other important essays by invited participants can be found at the Club’s website, although the Russian version is far more detailed than the English, which has always been the case over the years I’ve followed this event. Escobar is there observing and will eventually file his report. He suggests this paper related to today’s session by Brazilian Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr, the Vice President of the New Development Bank (NDB) from 2015 to 2017, and Executive Director for Brazil and other countries in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2007 to 2015. Here’s the Club’s English recap of yesterday’s event. One of the differences between the Russian and English formats is displayed in the following:

The XX Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on the topic: "Fair Multipolarity: How to Ensure Security and Development for All" will be held on October 2–5, 2023 in Sochi.

The meeting will be attended by 140 experts, politicians, diplomats from 42 countries of Eurasia, Africa, North and South America. Traditionally, for Greater Valdai, most of the guests are foreign participants.

In recent years, the reports of the Valdai Club have analyzed in detail the dynamics of changes in the world order – first the crisis, and then the dismantling of the old world. The breakdown of the old system of international relations has already occurred. The concept of multipolarity has come to life. This year, participants will try to present an image of a new world, for example, what it will be like by the beginning of the next decade.

The club proceeds from the fact that after February 24, 2022, the structure of international relations has changed completely. It is impossible to return it to its previous state. Today, the situation on the world stage is developing outside the usual idea of order, in the absence of a clearly built structure.

In the new conditions, the international architecture should be discussed, among other things, in the context of the transformation of BRICS. The countries of the community have chosen a model for further development in favor of its expansion. And the association itself attracts those who do not follow the Western model of development, common principles and universal values, but adhere to their own interests and traditions. The Valdai Club is closely following this trend and will devote the first session of the Annual Meeting to it.

Structurally, the program is divided into thematic blocks: each day will be devoted to one broad topic - politics, economics or humanitarian issues. During the 4 days of the Greater Valdai, 17 sessions will be held, at which the following issues will be discussed:

• The role of nuclear weapons and the danger of war with their use

• Food security and Russia's contribution

• The world economy without a currency monopoly and punitive measures

• Russian Economy, Society and Culture in the Era of Transformation

• Energy markets against the backdrop of military-political tensions

• Science and education in the era of confrontation

In the emerging world, Russia positions itself as an original state-civilization that has absorbed both Western culture and Eastern traditions. This conceptual basis of modern Russian foreign policy will be reflected in the program of the Annual Meeting. For the first time, the session "Russian Civilization through the Ages" will appear at the forum.

Within the framework of the meeting, the participants of the Valdai meeting are scheduled to meet with the heads and representatives of the executive and legislative authorities of the Russian Federation, including, according to tradition, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

At the kick-off session of the twentieth meeting, the annual Valdai report "Certificate of Maturity, or the Order, which has not yet been. A fantasy of a future without hierarchy." Its authors try to present an image of the future world and bring their achievements to the discussion of the entire forum.

Despite the changed geopolitical conditions, Greater Valdai promises to become one of the most representative in recent years. The forum is closer than ever to its main task: to gather an audience that, according to the Club's research director Fyodor Lukyanov, would be "a cast of the whole world."

Among the foreign participants: Professor of the Department of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent Richard Sakwa (Great Britain); Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, President of the Institute of Political and International Studies Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami (Iran); Carlos Rón, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela and President of the Simón Bolívar Institute for Peace and Solidarity among Peoples (Venezuela); Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Russia (2018-2021) Venkatesh Varma (India); Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria from 2014 to 2019 Ezzeldine Ramzi Ramzi (Egypt); Director of the Center for the Study of Russia, Director of the Center for Co-Development with Neighboring Countries at East China Normal University Feng Shaolei (China); Nelson Wong, Vice-President of the Shanghai Center for Strategic and International Studies (China); Professor of the Department of Political Studies, Director of the Research Group on Geopolitical Economics at the University of Manitoba Radika Desai (Canada); Geoffrey Roberts, Professor Emeritus of History at University College Cork, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Ireland (UK); Ahmed Bisichong Bening, Secretary-General of the Pan-African Youth Union (Ghana); Gabi Siboni, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Strategy and Security in Jerusalem (Israel); Orietta Moscatelli, columnist for the Italian geopolitical review Limes, editor-in-chief of the International Affairs Department of the Askanews news agency (Italy); Director of the TALAP Center for Applied Research Rakhim Oshakbayev (Kazakhstan); Honorary Professor of Political Science at Istanbul Bilgi University Ilter Turan (Turkey); Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of International Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Jafar Geletu (Ethiopia); Executive Director of the Institute for Global Dialogue of South Africa, Pilani Mthembu (South Africa); Taisuke Abiru, Senior Research Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Japan); Jacques Sapir, Director of Research at the École Supérieure des Sciences Sociales de Paris (EHESS) ( France); Professor, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs (USA) and others.

Among the Russian participants: President of IMEMO RAS Alexander Dynkin; Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of IMEMO RAS Fyodor Voitolovsky; Sergey Karaganov, Academic Supervisor of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the Higher School of Economics; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Naumkin; Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank; Konstantin Simonov, Director General of the National Energy Security Fund, Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation; RIAC Academic Supervisor Andrey Kortunov; Andrey Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Ivan Timofeev, Program Director of the Valdai Discussion Club, RIAC Director General, and others.

Those who read Martyanov’s blog will recognize some of the names above and recall his usual denunciations of them as “useless academics.” My suggestion is for those with time to take some and explore the website and use your translations software to see the differences between what’s provided in Russian versus English. From my POV, the Russian is richer in content, but there’re no differences between papers provided in both languages. Now for Lavrov’s remarks and his Q&A with media:

Today we talked about the changes that are taking place in the international arena. This topic is the subject of a report issued for this series of meetings - "The Certificate of Maturity, or the Order, which has not yet been." It reveals the assessments that the members of the club have regarding the processes of multipolarity and the "redrawing" of international relations, the emergence of new major players, their awareness of the need to depend as little as possible on the existing system, controlled by the West, primarily in the financial and trade spheres.

The reflections of the authors of the Valdai Discussion Club's report closely echo the assessments we make based on the results of the events that took place over the past month and a half. I am referring primarily to the BRICS summit, the EAS summit in Jakarta, the G20 summit in New Delhi and the UN General Assembly Ministerial Week. All these tendencies were fully manifested there. The world is becoming multipolar. Countries want to find reliable partners.

The main confirmation of this is the expansion of BRICS. Six more states have joined the original five members of the association, and about two dozen also want to establish special relations. BRICS is seen as reliable partners, a structure that will not let you down and will help each member country feel more confident. This is an important process that we are now witnessing. We talked about all this.

We also discussed the reform of the UN. It should reflect the realities of a multipolar world in which the West can no longer claim the roles that it is trying to retain by hook or by crook. The process is underway. We are actively participating in it.

Question: More and more European countries are banning cars with Russian license plates everywhere. There are already eight of them. Today, Bulgaria has joined them. How does the Foreign Ministry assess these measures and how can you comment on this?

Sergey Lavrov: All conceivable and inconceivable statements have already been made on this subject. There's not even much to say.

I was struck by the speed with which almost all Europeans flew off the external goodness with which they hid behind in recent years, retaining some remnants not only of diplomacy, but also of elementary ethics.

This is a manifestation of what is commonly called Nazism. Only in relation to the Russians. As well as many other things are done in relation to us. Westerners say that not only Russian President Vladimir Putin is to blame, all Russians are to blame for electing him. Pure Nazism.

Q: China will host the third Belt and Road Cooperation Forum. What are your expectations from this forum? How do you assess the results of this initiative?

Sergey Lavrov: My expectations are the most optimistic. We know that the events that our Chinese friends hold on their territory are always organised at the highest level.

I have mentioned more than once that the Belt and Road project organically fits into the processes that are developing on the Eurasian continent with the participation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We are building transport, financial and industrial logistics together. These projects have good prospects.

Question: You mentioned Nazism. There is still a scandal with the celebration of the Nazi in the Canadian parliament. Now John Trudeau is getting out in every possible way. Moreover, he now accuses Russia of spreading what he calls "false propaganda about what Ukraine is fighting for on the battlefield." In your opinion, how likely is it that neither John Trudeau, nor Vladimir Zelensky, nor everyone else in parliament knew the biography of this man, whom they applauded so vigorously?

Sergey Lavrov: We have commented on this issue many times in the Canadian Parliament. I think any sane person here understands that it could not have been the way Canadian Prime Minister John Trudeau is trying to portray the case. Of course, everyone knew. And the speaker of parliament knew, and the security service knew. J. Hunka from the 14th SS Grenadier Division "Galicia" is a well-known person. He did not hide his views. Many people know him.

What John Trudeau says about this is a pity to look at. He is still called the Prime Minister. When he, together with Vladimir Zelensky, applauded and raised his fist in greeting this Nazi, of course, they knew everything very well.

But the saddest thing is that John Trudeau, having plucked up the courage to apologize, apologized to whom? In front of the Ukrainians and in front of Vladimir Zelensky, with whom they "zigged" this figure together.

Disgrace.

Question: I would like to know about Armenia and its ongoing rapprochement with Washington against the backdrop of the appearance of US flags at protests?

Sergey Lavrov: I have commented on this situation more than once. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has also repeatedly spoken on this subject.

The decision for Karabakh to become part of Azerbaijan was made with the direct participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. When "figures" in Yerevan claimed that by signing agreements to end the war in November 2020, Vladimir Putin forced the Armenian Prime Minister to give Karabakh to Azerbaijan, this is a lie. The Agreement of November 9, 2020 stipulates that Karabakh is the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. And there was a common understanding that the dialogue on the final status of Karabakh would continue.

In October 2022, at a regular European summit in Prague, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a document stating that Armenia and Azerbaijan would recognize each other within the 1991 borders in accordance with the Alma-Ata Declaration (of December 21 of the same year). The issue is closed. Subsequently, he once again used this term - the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991 - this time in Brussels. Moreover, the document in question, distributed by the European Union, does not say that Armenia is concerned about the fate of the Armenians living in Karabakh, and that everything must be dealt with so that they do not have to suffer.

Our peacekeepers in this situation are doing everything they can. We cannot restrain people who want to leave Karabakh for Russia. We are working with our Azerbaijani colleagues and neighbours to stabilise the situation in Karabakh in order to build trust there and create conditions for the resumption of normal life together between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

I hope that Yerevan should also be interested in this, and will make efforts for this. If, as some Armenian leaders have announced, they are now, disappointed in Russia and the CSTO, and look for "colleagues" on the side to strengthen their own security, this is their sovereign choice. The choice of the Armenian leadership.

I hope that the ties that have existed for centuries between the Russian (and other peoples of Russia) and the Armenian people will not be destroyed by any provisional administrations.

The linked paper in the first paragraph is the same as the one linked up top but in Russian. There’s little Lavrov could add to the questions he was asked. Today, Lavrov’s meeting with the South Ossetians and the Abkhazians which produced this media readout:

On October 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held separate bilateral and trilateral meetings in Sochi with President of the Republic of Abkhazia A.G. Bzhania and President of the Republic of South Ossetia A.E. Gagloev, which were also attended by the foreign ministers of the republics - I.B. Ardzinba and A.M. Dzhioev.

An interested discussion took place on the entire range of issues on the agenda of Russia's bilateral relations with Sukhum and Tskhinval, with an emphasis on further strengthening military-political, socio-economic and investment cooperation. The positive dynamics of interaction with the Abkhaz and South Ossetian partners, which makes it possible to effectively solve current problems, was noted. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to their allied obligations in the context of a difficult geopolitical situation in the world.

At the trilateral meeting, a "reconciliation of watches" was held on foreign policy issues, including coordination within the framework of the Geneva discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus and the establishment of contacts between Abkhazia and South Ossetia with foreign states.

The ministers also signed plans for consultations between the foreign ministries of Russia and Abkhazia, Russia and South Ossetia for 2024-2025.

The talks that took place contributed to the strengthening of close allied ties between Moscow, Sukhum and Tskhinvali, showed the coincidence of positions on issues relevant to our countries.

The attempt by the Outlaw US Empire to destabilize the Caucasus region via Armenia makes these two small republics larger than they might otherwise be. And a closing note on Putin’s activities. He held a meeting of the Security Council about which nothing of substance was published aside from it being about the resources of the North and the Northern Sea Route.

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