Moscow (Voice of Russia): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow is listening to NATO’s statements about preparations for a possible war with Russia and is keeping the situation fully in view.
Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with East Timor’s Foreign Minister Bendito Freitas, Lavrov said Russia is fully aware of the potential threats to its security.
He said the most important thing for Russia is to continue working toward the objectives set by President Putin during the special military operation and to stop any threat arising from Western neighboring countries.
On reports of NATO’s plan to defend its eastern border, the Russian foreign minister said he views the matter philosophically, since NATO countries say one thing today and another the next day.
Lavrov said President Putin has made clear what Moscow’s response would be in case of an attack on Kaliningrad or any other region of Russia. He said the Russian president gave a very clear answer at the Valdai Forum to a question about a possible attack on Kaliningrad, saying there would be one response to an attack on Kaliningrad or any other region of Russia.
Discussing the Middle East situation, the Russian foreign minister blamed Western countries for the instability in the region. He said Russia’s friendly countries in the Moscow Format on Afghanistan are also facing the grave and destructive consequences of the West’s open interference in the region’s affairs.
Lavrov said the situation developing around Iran and its negative effects on the global economy are a matter of deep concern for Russia. The current tensions are inflicting heavy damage on the entire global economy.
He expressed hope that the mediation and diplomatic efforts of several countries in the region, including Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, will succeed in keeping the situation within political and diplomatic bounds.
Speaking on Asia-Pacific developments, the Russian foreign minister said the United States, some European countries, Australia, and Japan are trying to form closed alliances of three or four countries in the region.
He said this effort goes against the fundamental concept of ASEAN, which is based on comprehensive inclusion and consensus. Not only Russia but several ASEAN member states are also concerned about this trend and want to preserve the organization’s basic principles.
On the failure to adopt a joint declaration at the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format on Afghanistan, Lavrov said it was certainly an unpleasant development, but it should not be given unusual importance since such an outcome was already expected.
He said Russia has no doubt that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are interested in normalizing their mutual relations. Moscow is making every effort to help resolve existing and newly emerging issues between the two countries.
Regarding cooperation with East Timor, Lavrov said trade and economic relations between the two countries have seen only limited progress so far, but there are promising prospects for joint investment in energy, mining, fisheries, and tourism.
He said Russian companies are ready to increase energy supplies to East Timor. Russia also welcomes East Timor’s plan to open an embassy in Moscow and will provide all possible assistance upon receiving a formal request in this regard.
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