New Impetus--Lavrov's Presser Post SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Astana

Despite being marred by the tragic death of Iran’s President, Foreign Minister, and other members of Iran’s government, or perhaps because of that event, Lavrov, IMO, expressed a greater resolve on the part of the SCO to grapple with the problems besetting Eurasia—all of it, including the portion occupied by NATO/EU. That resolve became clear during Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions at his presser following the SCO Foreign Minister’s Council Summit at Astana, which began on the 20th and concluded today. During the process, Lavrov met on the sidelines with all the parties attending, not just the permanent members. Some might go as far as describing Lavrov’s rhetoric as more aggressive in its tone; I find it more a response to reality, past and present. IMO, this presser isn’t one to miss:

Greetings everyone!

The meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers was useful, they did a good job. The mood was darkened by the tragic news about the crash of the helicopter carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister H. Amirabdollahian and other senior officials of the Iranian Administration from the border of Azerbaijan with Iran. At the collective meeting of the heads of delegations with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and during the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, they expressed their most sincere condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people, as well as confidence that the continuity of Tehran's foreign policy will be preserved, including with regard to active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

We actively support the SCO. In the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President of Russia Vladimir Putin on March 31, 2023, the Organisation is designated as one of the priority areas of our activities in the international arena. It is gratifying that all member states without exception are showing a similar attitude. We reaffirmed our readiness to continue to strengthen our cooperation at multilateral venues, including the UN, develop cooperation with partners such as the EAEU, the CIS, the CSTO and ASEAN, and continue to deepen contacts with BRICS.

We share the view that the SCO remains one of the pillars of the multipolar world order. It is quite capable of becoming the driving force behind the transformation of Eurasia into a single continent-wide space of peace, stability, mutual trust and development. We talked a lot about this today. We are talking about uniting the potential of all structures located in the vast Eurasian space, harmonising their programs, primarily in the field of economic development, infrastructure, logistics, as well as in the field of security. Security can only be reliably ensured by the countries of the continent themselves, without the interference of extra-regional forces.

We are witnessing such trends on the part of the United States, the European Union and NATO, which actively want to take responsibility for everything that is happening. Translated into simple language, to interfere in the processes on the entire Eurasian continent. In its western part, they "crushed" and completely privatized the OSCE, where they declared the North Atlantic Alliance the main organization to which everyone must obey. They are taking practical steps in this direction, including unleashing a war against us using the Ukrainian Nazi regime.

The same applies to the eastern part of the Eurasian continent, where the alliance is already openly moving significant parts of its infrastructure. on its own model, it is putting together military blocs of "small configuration" there: AUKUS, an unprecedented exercise in scale within the framework of the US-Japan-Republic of Korea trio, which includes a nuclear component. This also leads to well-known thoughts. The DPRK has recently expressed serious concern over the provocative actions of the United States and its allies in the region, aimed at aggravating the situation up to its hot phase. We do not rule out that these are the plans that Washington and its satellites are hatching when they are trying to provoke unrest on the Korean Peninsula.

In other parts of the Eurasian continent (Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Moldova), NATO and the EU, led by the Americans, are trying to introduce their own structures, subordinate these countries to their own order, and lure them into anti-Russian activities. Both from the point of view of severing economic ties with Russia under the pretext of complying with "secondary" sanctions, and penetration into the sphere of security and law enforcement agencies. There are obvious attempts by the "collective West" led by the United States to take control of the entire Eurasian continent. We talked about this today.

Everyone understands the need to step up the work of both the SCO itself, given its weight and role in Eurasia, and its partners – the CSTO, the CIS, the EAEU and ASEAN. The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf is also located here. We believe it is important to leave the process of normalising relations between the Arabs and Iran in the hands of these states, without attempts to impose any recipes from the outside. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is also our continent.

The task of developing common approaches to ensuring Eurasian security and cooperation by the states of this continent themselves is urgent. We stressed that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation may well play the role of a catalyst for these processes, involving other partners in the region.

We discussed a number of proposals that are being prepared on behalf of the heads of state. They are devoted to the comprehensive modernisation of the SCO's activities, the improvement of the functioning of its bodies, including giving an additional impetus to the work of the Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). We agreed to create a comprehensive centre for countering modern challenges and threats on the basis of the RATS, within the framework of which mechanisms for information security and combating organised crime will work. In addition, an anti-drug center will be created in Dushanbe. An agreement will be signed between it and the universal center for countering challenges and threats, taking into account the direct and close connection between drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism. We are preparing these decisions for the leaders who will gather in Astana in July.

As for expanding our activities with dialogue partners and observers, the SCO has two observers and 14 dialogue partners. Recently, Laos and Algeria have applied for partner status. We discussed improving the efficiency of work with these countries in the SCO Plus format. A separate dialogue will be held at the OPO summit in Astana in July in this format.

We exchanged views on key issues of the global situation. They expressed condolences in connection with the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall, as well as the death of Iranian diplomats after Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. This is a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention, which guarantees the inviolability of all diplomatic and consular institutions.

We discussed the Middle East settlement. We came to a common opinion that without the creation of a Palestinian state, which is supported throughout the world (while Israel and the United States are now trying to drag out this issue in every possible way), it is impossible to ensure stability in this region of our Eurasian continent.

We spoke in favour of resuming the activities of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. This is a useful mechanism that allows us to exchange views on how to continue normalising the situation around that country and assisting the Afghan authorities in ensuring the inclusiveness of the state-building process, including representatives of all ethnic and political groups.

The Program of Cooperation in Countering Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2025-2027 and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029, as well as the program for its implementation, are being prepared for approval by the leaders. The meeting once again confirmed the common commitment to expanding areas of cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In the economic dimension, documents are being prepared aimed at deepening cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, logistics, environmental protection, international information security, sports, and healthcare (very relevant now). In these areas, Russia is actively helping to achieve practical results.

Question: In total, the SCO already has more than twenty countries, including observers and dialogue partners. It is expected that at the summit in July, a decision will be made on the accession of Belarus to the SCO. What other countries are now closest to becoming full members of the Organisation?

Sergey Lavrov: I did not mention this, but the Belarusian Foreign Minister participated in today's meeting from the very beginning (not yet on a permanent basis). From the July summit, Belarus will become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will take part in all events of the summit in Astana without any exception. The Belarusian minister was present at our discussion. At the end of the discussion, he spoke by thanking everyone for their active support of Minsk's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

As for the further prospects for expanding this structure, as I have already said, there are two observer countries: Afghanistan, which I have already mentioned, and Mongolia. We believe, together with China and our other partners, that the Mongolian side is the obvious next candidate for joining the SCO. If you look at the map, it organically fits into the SCO space. We will encourage our Mongolian neighbours to make such a decision. All members of the Organization are unequivocally in favour of it. Another 14 countries are dialogue partners. Applications for this status have also been received from Laos and Algeria. So the process is ongoing.

As our relations with these states develop, they can apply for membership, having passed the status of "dialogue partner" and "observer". I personally think that this is a somewhat cumbersome scheme. So, as part of the work to modernise the SCO and its rules and regulations, we will pay attention to the need to straighten this distance. I hope we will get support.

Question: Did the Russian delegation have contacts with the colleagues of the meeting? Do you expect changes in Iran's domestic and foreign policy in connection with the recent tragic events? How can this affect bilateral ties?

Sergey Lavrov: I had contact with the head of the Iranian delegation. This is Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Khalifa Abdollahian, and Mr Mohamed Safari. He confirmed the continuity of our relations.

Iranian Ambassador to Moscow K. Jalali, who met on May 19 with President of Russia Vladimir Putin and representatives of our military and rescue agencies. He also stressed that no changes are expected in Iran's foreign policy, including the promotion of partnership with all its neighbors, including in the SCO.

I sincerely see no reason why it was possible to speculate on the topic of changing the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. On the contrary, the head of the delegation, Deputy Minister Mohamed Safari, who is participating in the SCO meeting here, confirmed his clear interest in implementing a number of practical projects in the field of transport and energy, which were agreed upon by the presidents and are in great demand in the interests of the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran itself and the North-South corridor.

Question: On May 19, the Iranian President's helicopter crashed in the northeast of the country. The causes of the tragedy are still being investigated. At the same time, it is known that the president flew on an American Bell-212 helicopter. But since Iran is under sanctions, it is obvious that spare parts for the helicopter were not supplied. Can we say that this did not contribute to maintaining airworthiness and could this have provoked a tragedy?

Sergey Lavrov: Former Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Javad Javad Zarif has already said this directly. He presented this version, accusing the United States of essentially putting people's lives at risk by imposing sanctions, including a ban on the supply of spare parts for American aircraft. The Americans deny this.

But in fact, other countries against which the United States imposes sanctions do not receive spare parts for American equipment, including aviation equipment. Therefore, the "incantations" that we hear all the time from the West that the sanctions they apply are aimed at correcting the behavior of the authorities of the respective countries and do not affect the interests of citizens. An obvious and outright lie. And once again confirms that the complete unreliability and inability of our Western partners to negotiate in any sphere, be it trade, economic, investment or financial, has already become the talk of the town everywhere. Just as this unreliability manifests itself, if we talk about aviation equipment, in the quality of civilian aircraft of the United States (I am referring to the constant scandals with Boeings).

In this case, we are talking about deliberately causing damage to ordinary citizens who use vehicles. If spare parts are not supplied, then this is directly related to a decrease in the level of safety. That is why the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and other departments are actively and rapidly replacing any parts that we used, receiving them from the West. Now the production of engines and other components of our equipment is being fully established on Russian territory.

Question: Recently, the media, including our media, have been actively circulating accusations that our partners in Central Asia have become more receptive to the courtship of the West, which does not hide its intentions to oust Russia's presence in areas such as energy and security. What is the real situation and is this opinion alarmism?

Sergey Lavrov: In my opening remarks, I have already said how the situation is developing on the entire Eurasian continent. In the West, the United States, its satellites "destroyed" the OSCE and "crushed" everything under NATO. At least, they are trying to do so. We "stumbled" in Ukraine, because we could not allow it and honestly warned about it.

In the southeast of the continent, the United States is trying to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, including by creating bloc military structures similar to NATO. They are also being introduced into everyday life in Central Asia. We discussed this with our Kazakh hosts on May 20 of this year, and today with the Uzbek and Tajik ministers, and also discussed it at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Of course, Central Asia is of interest and no one is against the creation of "Central Asia + 1" communication formats. But in the case of the United States and the European Union, these formats are used to try to literally get into all spheres of the organization of the country's life and in the organization of the activities of any Central Asian state. This does not mean that the West is offering equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, but is trying to "crush" these processes, threatening and demanding to report on how secondary sanctions are being implemented.

Our colleagues in conversations expressed indignation at such unceremoniousness and outright impudence. But the West is the West. The East is the East. The West wants to refute R.J. Kipling: not just to converge with the East, but to "crush" it "under itself". I don't think it will work. The problem of Eurasian security involves the activation of all of us and the countries of the continent, as well as the organizations that have been created here, including the SCO (as one of the most effective). To take into "our own hands" both the development and the order that we must establish here.

Question: At the end of last year, Russia lost its status as Kazakhstan's main trading partner, giving way to China. China's cooperation with other countries is systematically developing. It is clear that his influence is growing. Does Moscow see any risks with this situation?

Sergey Lavrov: We do not see any risks in any natural development of things.

The growth of the Chinese economy is an objective reality. It is the largest economy not only within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but also within the entire world, if we take purchasing power parity.

It is clear that the growth of the Chinese economy, which has been stable in recent years, ensures its active involvement in international trade. Its volume within the SCO is growing. For us, this is also a mutually beneficial process. But cooperation is not limited to trade and trade alone. It is necessary to take into account investment projects and plans aimed at localizing production in the context of investment activities.

The comprehensive nature of our economic partnership is beneficial for all participants, including the Russian Federation.

Question: Experts believe that the West is trying to turn Kazakhstan into a kind of "wall" for Russia. After two days of active work in Astana, do you have a feeling that the Kazakh "wall" is growing?

Sergey Lavrov: I do not know who is "dissolving" such assessments. We are well aware that the West likes to build "walls" and lower the "iron curtain".

The physical "wall" is being built nearby, by the Scandinavian countries. Finland wanted to build a similar wall on the border with us, as well as Estonia.

This is actually a reflection of a small mind and the tasks that the "collective West" led by the United States sets for itself on the world stage, including on the Eurasian continent – to take control of as many spaces as possible using blackmail, threats, sanctions and ultimatums.

I did not feel any detachment from our Kazakh and all other participants in the meeting of the SCO foreign ministers. On May 20, I had a meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who clearly confirmed his commitment to implementing all the agreements that have been reached and will be reached between him and our president.

Wishful thinking is a well-known Western manner. Let. No matter what the child is amused by, as long as he does not cry.

Question: Recently, Russia has repeatedly said its support for China's peace initiative. Can it become a real alternative to the "Vladimir Zelensky formula" for the West?

Sergey Lavrov: We have already commented on the Chinese initiative. This initiative follows a dialectical logic from the general to the particular.

What is the main thing in it? It indicates the need to understand the root causes of the situation when, with the hands of Ukraine, the West decided to "undermine" the legitimate interests of Russia.

The Chinese initiative involves considering the root causes and reaching an agreement to eliminate them by ensuring the principle of equal indivisible security in practice – the security of all states involved will be equally guaranteed.

It is impossible to disagree with this. This is a clear reflection of the analysis given by the Chinese side. Recently, in addition to these "12 points", President Xi Jinping, while in France and discussing with Emmanuel Macron at the initiative of the French side the upcoming planned events – the conference in Switzerland and other actions around the "peace formula" of Vladimir Zelensky – clearly said that the Chinese side will support the convening of an international conference that equally reflects the interests of both Russia and Ukraine and is based on a wide range of proposals and initiatives.

The Swiss conference is convened solely to discuss Vladimir Zelensky's "peace formula" in the form of an ultimatum. It is no coincidence that the Swiss themselves, including Swiss diplomats, say that it will not be about "building bridges" for peace, but about supporting Ukraine.

Josep Borrell said that the Peace Formula is the only initiative under discussion. As he said a couple of weeks ago, other proposals "disappeared." a Let me remind you that, in addition to the Chinese initiative, they came from African parties, Brazil and the Arab League.

We have the opportunity to receive information that is not usually intended for publication and publicity. At the end of April of this year, while discussing this "idea" with foreign ambassadors in Kiev about the Swiss conference, according to some participants, Vladimir Zelensky spent most of his time chaoticly improvising in heightened, almost hysterical tones, demanding support for his "peace formula" as a means of forcing Russia to "kneel." A person, when he does not feel the need to control himself, tells the truth. Those who are now under "courting" and "pressure" to come to Switzerland, create extras and take part in this "family photo" in order to talk about broad support for Vladimir Zelensky's "peace formula" should understand where they are being lured – to support the ultimatum that will then be presented to Russia. That's ridiculous.

President Vladimir Putin spoke about this quite recently. These "games" have nothing to do with diplomacy, as well as other foreign policy steps taken by our Western partners, who have lost their diplomatic skills. [My Emphasis]

Lavrov was more outspoken about the Outlaw US Empire’s intent then at any previous occasion. I also agree with his use of the term “crushed” with regard to the OSCE which included Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet European nations. The term is a natural result of what was done by NATO to all the OSCE treaties aimed at providing indivisible security for OSCE members. Those treaties were extensively reviewed in December 2021 and their breaking is what prompted Russia’s December 2021 Security Proposals that were never formally replied to. IMO, there are other treaties that were crushed in similar fashion, the two Minsk Agreements being most recent, but also all UNSC resolutions related to Palestine should be included as the Outlaw US Empire’s undiplomatic habit goes back many decades, even to the end of WW2 when it was negotiating a separate peace with the Nazis. Events in Moldova, Georgia and Armenia show the Outlaw Empire’s desire to control Eurasia—its fundamental megalomania is now very overt and impossible to deny.

I was very pleased to see RATS gain a higher level of status as what it aims to control are the tools the Outlaw US Empire employs to destabilize all nations. Also, the obvious need to further combine the efforts of all Eurasian organizations, although it’s probably too early to think about some of them merging. And not all such organizations were named by Lavrov. Elevating the Palestinian issue to one of Eurasian importance was also timely. I note than most GCC members are now SCO Dialog Partners. IMO, the Palestinians need to be invited ASAP. It wasn’t asked and Lavrov didn’t say, but IMO all Eurasian nations ought to adopt the sort of Foreign Agent law that exists within the Empire to prevent penetration by such agents. Let the baby scream and howl. BTW, in Georgia, only a simple majority is needed to override a veto. This observation IMO is critical:

“We came to a common opinion that without the creation of a Palestinian state,… it is impossible to ensure stability in this region of our Eurasian continent.”

And that’s a very large and strategic region. I understand the desire for Russia and China for the regional nations to solve the problem, but that won’t happen until the Outlaw US Empire’s interference is removed. IMO, the current impasse can’t be allowed to continue into 2025. Lavrov’s proper inclusion of West Asia within Eurasia further broadens the SCO’s horizon and reflects its increasing membership. Less than two months from the SCO Heads of State Summit!

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