Russia
Source: www.nkibrics.ru

Russia says BRICS states need embracing security measures to switch to digital economy

Recent experience demonstrates the vulnerability of the digital medium to global threats

KHANTY-MANSIYSK, June 6. /TASS/. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping of the world's leading emerging market countries need to implement comprehensive security measures to switch over to a digital economy, a senior Russian Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

"The problems of crime are inherent in all countries of the world, including BRICS countries. The transition to a digital economy should, of course, be accompanied by the provision of all-embracing security measures, Alexei Moshkov, head of the Russian Interior Ministry's K Department, said at the 9th international IT-forum in Khanty-Mansiysk in West Siberia.

The experience of recent years demonstrates the vulnerability of the digital medium to global threats, Moshkov said.

This primarily relates to targeted attacks on credit and financial institutions or the threats related to the spread of malware, he noted.

"Perpetrators assimilate advanced technologies quickly and effectively, develop complex criminal schemes and use imperfections of electronic services to search for new methods of obtaining criminal incomes," he stressed.

France
Source: ipeec.org

BRICS countries this week renewed their commitment to progress energy efficiency, conserve resources and tackle climate change at the second meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Improvement of Energy Efficiency. Held in Beijing, China, under China's 2017 Presidency of the BRICS Summit, the event represented an important step in facilitating cooperation on energy efficiency between BRICS countries, which was set out in the "Memorandum on Mutual Understanding in Energy Saving and Governmental Agencies of BRICS Responsible for Energy and Energy Efficiency" and the "Joint Statement on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency amongst BRICS Countries", previously agreed to by members.

Vice-Minister Yong Zhang of China's National Development and Reform Commission and Vice-Minister Anton Inyutsyn of Russia's Ministry of Energy called on BRICS countries to play a leading role in improving energy efficiency and designing a better, energy efficient future in a collaborative manner. Discussions also centred round energy efficiency policies, key energy efficiency collaboration projects, best energy efficient technologies and practices, and energy saving and energy efficiency databases.

The BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are all members of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency (IPEEC).

China
Source: www.china.org.cn

A Chinese minister appealed for cooperation and strategic communications during an address to a BRICS political parties' forum in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, on Saturday.

In his keynote speech, Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said political parties of the BRICS countries should exhibit their advantages in dealing with domestic and foreign issues and perform well their political guiding role and influence.

It was the first time for representatives from political parties of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries to sit down and exchange views in a forum specifically designed by China, which will chair the Ninth BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian Province, in September.

The political party represented the core of decision-making and the main source of policies in most of countries in the world, so its advocacy and decisions not only affected a country's policies, but also influenced a region's peace and prosperity, he said, urging in-depth communications among the governing parties of BRICS members and learning from one another.

"BRICS parties can have strategic communication in top level design for [our] cooperation, which will enhance mutual understanding and trust, and help the five countries to work together with the same faith and direction to push cooperation to a new level."

The minister hoped BRICS parties could look beyond self-interest and protectionism so as to guide people to see the real developmental trends of the world while designing and pushing forward BRICS cooperation at a higher place in a community of shared future for mankind.

He also believed the parties, as the representatives of billions of people, could boost and guide public opinions on BRICS cooperation and enhance peoples' communication through party-level dialogue. At the same time, political parties should carry forward cooperation in a pragmatic way and turn thoughts into actions with higher cooperative efficiency, which would drive governments, enterprises and social organizations to actively participate in promoting BRICS.

"President Xi Jinping once said about BRICS cooperation, 'Our efforts today relate to the welfare of three billion people in the BRICS countries and also relate to the prospect and future of the whole world and the entire human race,'" Song said, "As political parties, we should stand at the highest level, and mastermind and guide BRICS cooperation with vision based on our historic responsibilities. The Communist Party of China would love to make contribution to this aspect and expects to work with parties of other countries to better develop the BRICS family."

The BRICS Political Parties, Think-Tanks and Civil Society Organization Forum is being held from Saturday to Monday under the theme of "Pooling Wisdom and Strength for Common Development and A Brighter Future."

Representatives will discuss ways to cement cooperation, aiming to build consensus and boost stronger BRICS cooperation through in-depth exchanges, to offer proposals and create a sound environment for the 9th BRICS Summit.

The event has drawn over 400 participants from BRICS and other developing countries. It is hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

China
Source: china.org.cn

Expanded economic cooperation among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will benefit the region, according to remarks made at the organization's yearly summit.

Speaking at the annual summit of the SCO in Astana, Kazakhstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for deepening practical cooperation, as regional integration and economic globalization are the trends of the time, and it is important for them to bring benefits to all countries and peoples.

To mobilize more resources and driving force for practical cooperation under the SCO framework, China supports the establishment of a mechanism for sub-national cooperation and has vigorously promoted SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) cooperation by its initiatives of economic think-tanks alliance and e-commerce alliance of the SCO, Xi said.

Bilateral trade relations have grown closer between China and other SCO member countries, as trade facilitation has improved, with China becoming the largest trading partner of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

Meanwhile, mutual investment has grown steadily, with China's non-financial direct investment in other SCO members as of April 2017 amounting to 74.2 billion U.S. dollars and investment in the opposite direction totaling 1.09 billion U.S. dollars, according to Zhong Shan, minister of commerce.

Zhong highlighted achievements in establishing economic and trade cooperation zones, noting that China has built a total of 21 such cooperation zones within other SCO countries, helping to expand local employment and increase tax revenue.

The potential for deeper and more expansive SCO economic cooperation remains huge as regional cooperation starts to expand from project development to synergy in economic strategy, especially over the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Belt and Road cooperation is aimed at building an infrastructure and trade network to improve the interconnectivity of Asia, Africa and Europe along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

China and other parties are exploring ways to coordinate the Belt and Road Initiative with regional cooperation initiatives such as the Eurasian Economic Union and national development strategies, including Kazakhstan's "Nurly Zhol" strategy.

The inclusion of India and Pakistan in the SCO expanded room for development of the Belt and Road Initiative in the region, whose GDP volume accounts for about one fifth of the global total.

In addition to enhanced transport connectivity, an SCO trade facilitation agreement will be an ideal first step to deepen regional economic cooperation.

The SCO will see its total GDP increase by 98.8 billion U.S. dollars if member countries exempt import tax, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Exports would increase 20 billion U.S. dollars while imports would grow 19.8 billion U.S. dollars in the region if member countries cut customs clearance time by 25 percent, benefiting all member countries, especially Central Asian nations and Pakistan, the report added.

Last month, the Ministry of Commerce and more than 80 international organizations and government agencies from other countries jointly launched the Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation along the Belt and Road during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

"We are willing to work with other SCO countries to implement the initiative to expand regional trade and investment, facilitate market integration and benefit local people," Zhong added.

Russia
Source: www.mid.ru

Mr Alikhanov,

Mr Klemeshev,

Colleagues,

Friends,

I am sincerely glad to have an opportunity to revisit Baltic Federal University whose history is marked by many outstanding events and glorious names. Based on its rich traditions, the university, which, as I understand, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, keeps abreast of the times and has by right gained a reputation as one of the leading higher educational centres in Russia that trains highly skilled specialists. We appreciate your efforts to expand international cooperation by facilitating humanitarian ties with your foreign partners whose number exceeds one hundred, today. In the final analysis, you are working to maintain friendship and trust in the international arena. We will continue to provide any support we can to your initiatives in this regard.

I am recalling with warmth the hospitable reception that was given to me and the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland six years ago in May 2011 during our tripartite meeting. Back then we said that our three countries were not indifferent to the future of our continent and its harmonious, stable, safe and progressive development. We stressed the need to use the powerful potential of cooperation more effectively.

Regrettably, the situation in Europe and the world as a whole has seriously deteriorated since then. Unfortunately, we see this as a logical result of our partners' unwillingness to maintain an equitable dialogue, their persistent wish to impose their will, values, and ways of development on everyone everywhere, and an attempt to slow the objective process of the emergence of a more just and stable polycentric world order.

One often hears allegations that Moscow violates its international commitments and therefore is to blame for the current tense situation in the Euro-Atlantic area. In this connection, I would like to remind them that it was primarily thanks to Russia's major contribution that it became possible to remove the vestiges of bipolar confrontation and the Cold War. We played, without exaggeration, the decisive role in German unification. Our country implemented the agreements on the withdrawal of forces and armaments from Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, and later, Georgia.

The principle of good-neighbourliness is an axiom for Russia with regard to the European Union and the EU member countries, with whom we share not just common historical, cultural and civilisational roots, but also rich trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian exchanges. We work consistently to promote a positive, unifying, and future-focused common European agenda aimed at keeping life on a peaceful track. We have proposed numerous initiatives for building up broad mutually advantageous cooperation, from the basic step of abolishing such relic as visas to joint work with the European Union on crisis regulation and on uniting our countries' energy markets. We have done everything we can to ensure that dialogue between countries in the Euro-Atlantic region develop on the basis of international law. Back in 2008, we proposed concluding a treaty on European security, which would have legalised the political obligations taken earlier at the highest level through the OSCE on indivisible security, which means that no country has the right to strengthen its security at the expense of others' security.

Sadly, our partners did not support this initiative. They preferred a policy of military-political containment of Russia, which is manifested in the greedy and hasty action to occupy any geopolitical space that opens up, NATO expansion to the east, despite assurances once made to Soviet leadership that this would not happen, and the European Union's Eastern Partnership. This programme, and the other Western actions mentioned, took the logic of a false choice: 'you are either with the West or with Russia,' and not the logic of the grand promises and assurances of commitment to the philosophy of a 'common European home.'

NATO said directly in its time that only NATO member countries can have legal guarantees of security. We got a clear illustration of the harm this zero-sum game can cause in the armed coup d'etat in Ukraine, which was supported by Washington and Brussels and carried out by ultra-radical forces, who continue to run the show in Ukraine today and block all efforts to implement the Minsk Agreements and settle the internal crisis in Ukraine. Their Western patrons are powerless and cannot call the radicals to order.

In May of this year, we marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Russia-NATO Founding Act and the 15th anniversary of the Rome Declaration on a new quality of relations between Russia and NATO. But we have not achieved these documents' goal of overcoming the remnants of confrontation and rivalry and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation, primarily because NATO has remained a Cold War institution that has proven itself unable to respond adequately to the new millennium's challenges. Today, NATO is taking decisions that grossly violate the NATO-Russia Founding Act's provisions. The scale of military activity has increased dramatically and there is a build-up of military presence and infrastructure in regions bordering Russia, including along the borders of the Kaliningrad Region. These actions clearly exacerbate the situation and fuel a new spiral in the arms race. What NATO calls shamefacedly the 'eastern flank' is threatening to become the 'eastern front,' with all the ensuing destructive consequences for Europe.

Our relations with the EU are facing a very difficult period as well. Seeking to divert public attention from their failure in Ukraine, where the organisers of the coup d'etat threw to the winds the agreement approved by Germany, France and Poland, the EU tried to shift the blame to others and launched the war of sanctions.

Political undercurrents have complicated practical cooperation, including in the energy sphere, which has cemented our relations for decades. The current Polish authorities are working especially hard on this. It is difficult to find logic in their decision to curtail small border traffic with the Kaliningrad Region. The attempts to provide legal substantiation for the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers cannot be described as being anything other than blasphemous, considering that the Polish state and people owe their very existence to our soldiers' heroism.

Russia has been recently accused of trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States and European countries, and to undermine European unity. In this connection I have to quote from Immanuel Kant after whom your university has been named. He repeatedly pointed to the importance of independent thinking, saying that "the power of judgment is a special talent that cannot be taught but only practised." The ongoing hysteria is clearly aimed at shifting the blame for one's problems and failures to others, instead of taking a critical look at the developments in the EU which is experiencing a system-wide crisis. Russia does want the EU to be strong, united and capable of independently determining their foreign policy priorities without any external prompting.

The latest statements by the heads of some leading EU countries give us reason to believe that the process has started. We'll see what it comes to. Anyway, we would like our partners to stop using the lowest-common-denominator approach in relations with Russia, when the EU's position is based on the opinions of a small but very aggressive Russia-hating minority.

Overall, we believe that there are no insolublee problems in our relations with the West. All parties must accept the need to promote a dialogue without lecturing and arrogance, but exclusively on the principles of equality and respect for each other and each other's interests, as well as seek to balance these interests. International law must be complied with strictly and in full rather than selectively, and there must be no further interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. In other words, everyone must go back to the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. As President Putin said at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum four days ago, "We need wisdom and a sense of responsibility, a joint search for unconventional solutions."

We know that there are many people in Europe, which is sustaining multibillion losses from sanctions, who are protesting against the dismantling of the rich cooperation traditions that have taken decades to create. We support their resolve. Of course, actions speak louder than words, and this fully concerns the United States, where anti-Russia mayhem is being raised, without a single hard fact, in an attempt to revise the results of last year's presidential election. This is regrettable. These actions are creating an artificial surreal agenda in the media space and are drawing public attention away from the pending task of coordinating our approaches to the existing rather than imaginary threats. Russians are a patient people, as we know. I am confident that this ballyhoo will eventually run out of steam, and the Western leaders will become aware of their nations' fundamental interests and resume normal relations with Russia.

At the same time, we continue pursuing our national development goals and increasing productive cooperation with our foreign partners that are willing to work with us in a spirit of equality and pragmatism, without hidden agendas and without looking to short-term political considerations. Partners like this are the vast majority in the world, as could be seen at the recent SPIEF 2017 forum, in which 8,000 people from 62 countries took part.

President Vladimir Putin put forward the initiative to establish the Greater Eurasian Partnership, which would see us develop multilateral cooperation between member countries of the EAEU, the SCO, ASEAN and eventually other countries in Asia and Europe. We would welcome the EU countries' involvement in this work to establish a common economic and humanitarian space from the Atlantic to the Pacific, which was a goal that great and far-sighted European leaders have advocated in their time. Building stronger ties between the EAEU and the European Commission in Brussels would help bolster cooperation. We sent proposals in this area to the European Commission at the end of 2015, but are still waiting for a response.

Russia is open to broad international partnership with the aim of effectively overcoming the numerous threats we face today, above all terrorism and extremism. We will ensure our citizens' security no matter what the circumstances. As President Vladimir Putin said in his remarks at the military parade on Red Square on May 9, Russia's armed forces are capable of countering any potential aggression. We continue to follow closely and respond swiftly to action that affects our interests, including deployment of increased NATO military capability along our borders and the development of the US global missile defence system with its European component. At the same time, we invite NATO to take part in an honest discussion on threat assessment and military doctrines, relative real military capability deployed in the Euro-Atlantic area, using this as a foundation for developing de-escalation and confidence building measures, and ensuring security in the Baltic. But so far, NATO has not entered this dialogue and is not responding constructively to our proposals.

Friends,

The regional government's efforts have gained deserved recognition. At the SPIEF 2017 forum plenary session, President Vladimir Putin said that the Kaliningrad Region was one of three Russian regions that have achieved particularly rapid improvement in their business climates. For our part, we will continue to focus particular attention on security, ensuring the region has the material support and conditions it needs for improved living conditions, and making it more attractive for investment and tourism. We will continue to support the expansion of international and foreign economic ties, including with our European partners, in keeping with our country's common foreign policy line. I discussed all of these matters this morning at my meeting with Governor Anton Alikhanov.

Soon, you will take on the responsibility for the situation in our country and ensure Russia's rapid growth. I hope that many of you will work for our country's interests in the civil service. This has always been a respected career path that offers good opportunities for self-realisation. As the romantic writer Ernst Hoffman, who was born and studied here, said, it was in the civil service that he "gained a broader view of life and was much more able to avoid selfishness." I hope that today's meeting will be of use to you.

I am ready to answer your questions.

Question: My question is about wars. Wars have swept the entire world. I am referring to information wars. Look at Syria or Crimea. The Kaliningrad Region is under the strong information pressure from the EU. Could you please explain how such information provocations can be withstood? How can they be resisted?

Sergey Lavrov: This takes an entire profession. Information wars are conducted by professionals. They should also expose all kinds of myths and fakes. They should conduct a daily honest analysis of facts and continuously monitor statements by those who want to demonise the Russian Federation and discredit our policy. Examples abound. If I did not occupy my current position, I would ignore this slander and craziness. That's from the perspective of a normal person. But professionally, considering that information is becoming a field of fierce confrontation, it is necessary to fight for the hearts and minds of people and not only our citizens, because as you said correctly they are also caught up in this aggressive propaganda, as are citizens of other countries, who are forming their impression of our country.

The main point is not to strike back or simply take revenge by rubbing their nose into lies. There is much more to it. We want cooperation and mutual understanding with other countries. We want friendship with other nations no matter how trite this word may sound. It will be difficult to promote this approach without trust and the exposure of lies.

The best and simplest way of seeking the truth is to invite all those who start believing various falsehoods to the Russian Federation, to show them how people live in Crimea, how we are resolving social issues, the investment climate we have, and how we are carrying out projects with our partners, for instance, in the Kaliningrad Region. Recently we have been particularly active in implementing trans-border cooperation projects with Poland and Lithuania. Our European partners and the Russian Federation are allocating tens of millions of euros to implement projects that are vital for the activities of these areas and the everyday lives of their citizens. As Kaliningrad Region Acting Governor Anton Alikhanov mentioned, this is explained by the enthusiasm of trans-border areas and the position of people who do not want to play political games, unlike their governments, and see the immediate advantages of practical daily interaction because they have to live together. This is the important purpose behind the efforts that we must make to be perceived without bias by the outside world.

Some people say it is necessary to spread a positive image of Russia in the world community. I do not want us to spread a positive image. I want us to show what kind of people we are in reality. I think this will be a strength for us.

Question: Today international youth cooperation is primarily taking place in the form of public diplomacy. The youth parliament at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation has suggested organising a venue for international internships. The Kaliningrad Region has been proposed as a pilot region. Is the Foreign Ministry prepared to support this initiative?

Sergey Lavrov: If I understand you correctly, you are referring to the parliamentary youth movement.

Question: Yes, the youth parliamentary initiative.

Sergey Lavrov: Of course, we are ready to support this. Special structures are promoting youth contacts with many of our colleagues in the CIS, BRICS and SCO. Our Foreign Ministry is doing everything to encourage contacts between councils of young diplomats (yes, they exist). We will certainly welcome parliamentary youth cooperation. Frankly speaking, I have not heard about this initiative but if you write us a detailed letter explaining what forms if support we could render, we will do this by all means.

Question: Where should Russia's foreign policy be oriented: to the East or the West?

Sergey Lavrov: We have no choice. We must work everywhere because God, Nature, our great grandfathers, our forebears left us an enormous country that occupies the lion's share of Eurasia. This term reflects the European and Asian roots of our foreign policy. We have no doubt that our approach must be multi-faceted as the foreign policy concept of the Russian Federation is. We must be active across the board.

I will add the North and the South to the East and the West. A very interesting panorama of international contacts and practical projects is unfolding in the North, in the Arctic. They are linked with more efficient high-tech methods of producing hydrocarbons because of the melting ice and the need to take tough measures on environmental protection. This is the Year of Ecology in Russia. The departments concerned and President Vladimir Putin personally are paying special attention to the need to clean up the Arctic.

Naturally, we have interests in the South as well, especially now that our Chinese neighbours from the East are moving forward with Silk Road Economic Belt initiatives. Recently Beijing hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which envisages active preparations of transport and energy routes along Russia's southern perimeter.

To sum up, we should not just turn left or right. We must be active everywhere. We must protect our borders and security everywhere but keep them open for cooperation with all those who are ready for it on the basis of equality, mutual respect and reciprocal interests.

I understand why you asked this question. There are many analytical materials and conversations about how, considering its current relations with the West and the EU, Russia has decided to turn to the East. We have no right to turn away from anyone – either Europe or Asia because this will hurt our interests and we will worsen our position. The EU is artificially restricting our economic and political cooperation and this is a "medical fact" that we cannot ignore. However, when European countries recover from this sanctions disease, we will be ready to restore ties on a scale and at a speed suitable to our European partners.

Regardless of any sanctions or squabbles with the EU, the Asia-Pacific Region (APR) is our strategic goal, the engine of the global economy where new technological alliances are taking shape. We have been involved in the region's structures for many years, such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanism. We are cooperating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They have many formats in which we have long been actively working. The task of making up for the recent lack of attention on the APR remains relevant no matter what. President Vladimir Putin set this task long before the cooling in our relations with the EU. We must work everywhere. This is our country and it has enormous geopolitical advantages that we should use to the utmost.

Question: Recently, The Washington Post described US President Donald Trump's European tour as a failure. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe, in its foreign policy, should rely only on itself. Do you think European leaders will be able in the future to build their foreign policy without looking over their shoulders at the US administration?

Sergey Lavrov: Regarding whether the US president's European tour was successful or not, this is up to the American people to decide. He is their president, he upholds his people's interests and they are the ones who should give him marks. I doubt that anybody else, including the Europeans, should pass judgment from their vantage point, making decisions for American voters.

Yes, I heard Angela Merkel said that after Brexit and Donald Trump's European trip, Europe should rely on its own resources. We have always believed that there should be as many independent players in the world as possible. If – in keeping with Sigmund Freud's theory – this is recognition of the fact that until now Europe has not been independent, then I welcome this eye opener and hope that this revelation acquires its own voice in international affairs.

Question: Will you be able to watch any matches during the Confederations Cup? What is your favourite football team?

Sergey Lavrov: Are you seriously asking who I will root for at the Confederations Cup?

Question: I mean, which of the Russian teams do you root for?

Sergey Lavrov: If you can see from over there… (shows FC Spartak's logo on his mobile phone).

Question: It is well known, Mr Lavrov, that you are a Spartak fan.

Sergey Lavrov: And I try to play there, too. Anton Andreyevich is also an athlete, and I have often been in such situations, getting injured. It's a hobby.

Question: What role does creativity play in your life? Is the Russian foreign minister primarily an efficient functionary pursuing a policy that has already been formulated, or are you free in certain respects and can you shape your own policy on certain issues?

Sergey Lavrov: Under our Constitution, foreign policy is formulated by the President of Russia. Naturally, the President does not work in a vacuum but receives an enormous amount of information from the Foreign Ministry, intelligence agencies, security services, the economic section of the cabinet, the academic community and his aides, and there are several of them each working for him in different areas. As a general rule, this information contains certain proposals. It is important not simply to report what is going on but also to suggest ways of responding to it. Sometimes it is essential even not so much to report what is going on and suggest a response as to analyse the situation in a particular region, in a particular foreign policy area as a forecast, in terms of what may happen, and propose some preemptive steps. All of these informational and analytical materials and proposals (and there can also be multi-option proposals) are put on the President's desk, and after analysing the entire array of information, he makes a decision. Needless to say, these decisions do not spell out in minute detail each phrase that diplomats should say at talks with their partners. A general course is set, a goal is formulated, and then comes the time for creativity and inventiveness. Therefore, diplomats should be very well educated and have good erudition and knowledge of the history of their own country and other states.

This is more or less the way it works.

Question: Will Europe's geopolitical image change in the context of Montenegro's recent NATO entry? If so, what will happen to our relations with Montenegro?

Sergey Lavrov: We have talked about this, before the formal decision on Montenegro's joining NATO was adopted. This issue was predetermined.

NATO's expansion towards the East or elsewhere does not have a positive effect on pan-European security. In the late 1990s the leaders of the European countries, and the United States and Canada vowed and declared indivisible security in principle. They said security can only be common, equal and indivisible and that nobody should take steps that will impinge on the security of others. This is written on paper, in the documents of the OSCE and top-level meetings of the Russia-NATO Council. This isn't about keeping military-political blocs but building a common legal foundation that will put all Euro-Atlantic countries on equal footing.

Montenegro's accession to NATO and the waves of NATO expansion in the past 15 years show that they do not want common and equal security. Indeed, when we proposed signing a treaty that would legally seal the guarantees of indivisible security they refused, saying they were ready to offer legal guarantees only to those that join NATO. This is how countries, including several in central and Eastern Europe, were tempted by NATO membership. Later, sights began to be set on the post-Soviet space. They declared at the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine would join the alliance and in the same year Mikheil Saakashvili was apparently encouraged by this statement and took action and tried to get away with it. He began to attack his own people. South Ossetia was part of Georgia and they had a conflict but it was regulated by OSCE agreements and there were peacekeepers. Saakashvili lost his mind when he heard he could join NATO. Three years ago Ukrainian radicals also decided they could do everything they wanted and staged a coup. We have seen the consequences of such crazy promises.

NATO has long been looking at the Balkans and wants to incorporate the entire region in its structure. As for pan-European security and NATO expansion, including Montenegro, they are preserving the dividing lines rather than eliminating them as they promised. Montenegro's accession does not enhance the security of the North Atlantic Alliance in any way. The only difference is that now Montenegro will also have to be defended while in reality they will simply deploy additional elements of military infrastructure there. There are nice bays there – something to get a good haul. I doubt that Montenegro's security will increase. Nobody has ever planned to attack it.

When the former Yugoslavia was falling to pieces the Union of Serbia and Montenegro was its only surviving part. This union was "knocked together" by Brussels that engineered the signing of a document between Belgrade and Podgorica, according to which they were supposed to remain a single union state for three years and upon the expiration of this term each of them was supposed to hold a referendum on how they would live – together or separately. After three years, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Xavier Solana suddenly became alarmed and began asking us to persuade the Montenegrins not to hold a referendum on independence. We asked him what Russia had to do with this. We were told that they would listen to us, because we had a common history, that they remembered how we helped them in many wars, rid them from the Turkish yoke and liberated them during World War II. At that point I asked him why after signing this document and persuading them to take a pause for three years. There was no answer. I asked him why they did not do anything during these three years.

During this time they hoped to open the road to EU membership for Serbia and Montenegro but nothing was done. And they started to ask us to persuade the Montenegrins not to follow the path of independence. We refused, saying this was their right. Montenegrins thanked us a lot at that time. As for their current leaders, it is not that they appeared to be ungrateful but they got into a serious predicament. At one time, a long time ago they had problems with law and a number of European states had claims against them, including criminal claims. I think this played a definite rather than decisive role in that the Montenegrins succumbed to persuasion to join NATO.

Their desire to distance themselves from the Russian Federation also played a role. I do not know why. This is indeed a step that does not enhance the security of either the entire Euro-Atlantic community, or NATO or Montenegro. Joining NATO can't be justified by Moscow's alleged intrigues, interference in their elections, by sending spies or infiltrators, or the recruitment of political figures. The Russophobic campaign launched against the backdrop of NATO entry shows that Montenegro does not care about any European principles but merely wants to sell its anti-Russian statements for more. Let God be their judge but we cannot ignore this.

I hear the number of Russian visitors to Montenegro has dropped by about 20 percent. We are simply warning them that their Russophobic attitudes have gone over the top. It happens in many European countries that our compatriots are captured and taken overseas. This is also a fact that must be considered.

Let me repeat that today Montenegro is not safe in this sense although I love it very much. Its nature is great and its people are wonderful but their current leaders are trying to change our relations.

Question: These days, there are a lot of youth organisations in the world that essentially perform the same tasks and have overlapping responsibilities. What is the [Foreign Ministry's] position with regard to these organisations and how do their decisions influence the decisions that are made by "mature" agencies?

Sergey Lavrov: The [ministry's] position is very positive. I've already responded to a similar question. It is very important that young people communicate and get to know each other. Through the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Cultural Cooperation, the Foreign Ministry organises regular youth tours to Russia. We always look to increase the number of places on these tours. The same goes for parliaments.

We believe that young people should be given particular attention because they are our future. Frankly, I don't know to what extent the recommendations made by parliamentary agencies are put into practice because if these are parliamentary agencies, then they give advice to "mature" parliaments. The Foreign Ministry has the Young Diplomats Council. They regularly come up with proposals, put ideas on the table, and we study them. We use quite a lot of those. I regularly communicate with them. In addition, we organise a series of competitions for young diplomats for the best work on foreign policy issues, which also stimulates the thinking process and helps young diplomats learn the ropes and become real professionals more quickly.

Question: Today, you are the most well-known Moscow State Institute of International Relations alumnus, the author of the university's anthem. Students have been on your radar for many years. What are your impressions of the evolution of youth in the history of new Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: I like young people. I'm now looking at attractive, interested faces, and I find this conversation stimulating.

Every year, on September 1, I go to the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. I used to deliver long lectures, but now I confine myself to some welcoming remarks – about a page and a half – and then respond to questions. They are very interesting people, with their own ideas, independent, and already reflecting the realities of the new, modern technological order that should also be mastered by adults, as President Vladimir Putin said at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. I like young people and would like to support them the best way I can so that they are comfortable and happy as they enter their post-college future with good results and great prospects.

Question: I consider you the best political figure in the international arena. Therefore, I'd like to hear your opinion on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. What options do you see here?

Sergey Lavrov: Agreement is the only viable option. During the long period of talks, with their ups and downs, some agreements have been reached. We were close to a resolution many times (it seemed to be just within reach), but then some instinct of distrust would come up on one side or the other. Nevertheless, this work needs to go on. Naturally, there is a general array of principles that have been approved by all parties, but the devil is in the details. If the parties agree on what the solution should be, it is important, at different stages, to coordinate a number of very complex details affecting issues that are highly sensitive for each party, including domestic political issues. We keep trying. As you know, Russia, the US and France are co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. This troika and the OSCE special representative regularly meet with the parties to the conflict. Troika experts regularly go to Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert.

Now there will be a "shift change" because the new US and French presidents have yet to appoint their new representatives. Within the framework of this troika we will think about how to deal with the apparently minor but in fact very serious details that have not been harmonised yet.

Question: The Kaliningrad Region occupies a unique geographic position and borders on wonderful countries. I think that every Kaliningrad resident has friends in Poland, Lithuania or Germany. We keep in touch with each other and so contribute to international relations. Next year, we will host FIFA World Cup matches. What policy do you plan to pursue to improve relations with the neighbouring countries whose citizens will come to Russia for the Cup matches? How do you plan to attract more tourists?

The city is trying to improve the environment now. The horrible advertising and banners that blocked the view have been removed from buildings and fences. New paving tiles are being laid on the central square in Zelenogradsk, but they are doing the job so badly that it's difficult to walk on them because there are so many holes and cracks. There is little time left before the World Cup. I hope they will do something more than removing advertising in Kaliningrad and paving the footpaths in central Zelenogradsk, and do it better.

Sergey Lavrov (speaking after Anton Alikhanov): I have no doubt that Acting Governor Alikhanov, who is a very energetic man, will do his utmost so that we see the results in the near future and will resolve the problems with the image of the city and the region to make them more attractive for tourists, in addition to the natural beauty of your region, which is enough to attract many foreign visitors.

Regarding your question about what can be done to attract more tourists, we are doing our best. Mr Alikhanov said they have prepared a solution within the framework of the special economic zone to facilitate the issuance of online visas. At this point, everything depends on the list of countries that will be approved for this. As I promised publicly, we will try to expand this list as far as we can to make travel to Russia as comfortable as possible for people from the neighbouring and other countries who wish to visit Russia and make friends with us.

You said that you have friends in Lithuania, Poland and Germany. When speaking about keeping communication channels open, we must remember that it is a two-way street. When Lithuania builds a fence on the border and Poland cancels small border traffic provisions for no obvious reason, this is creating real problems for your friends. Remind your friends about this. Let them do something to prevent physical barriers and visa regulations from standing in the way of your friendships.

Question: Social networks are an extremely important element of the modern media space. For many Russians, especially young people, social media are the main source of information. Do you monitor online news about yourself? What do you think about it?

Sergey Lavrov: I have little time and, frankly, I am not interested in looking for such information. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who was unable to attend our meeting, regularly updates me on what they write about the ministry and me. Some of it is quite funny.

Question: In which countries will interest in the Russian language grow in the near term? Which of them merit attention in this respect?

Sergey Lavrov: I don't have the statistics on hand, but I know that it does exist. Interest in the Russian language is growing around the world. Today we held talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, and the Russian language was one of the issues on our agenda. Interest in the Russian language is on the rise in Slovakia. I can say the same about many other countries based on my meetings with my colleagues from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia. If we have statistics on this issue, I will certainly forward it to you. As it is, place your stakes on internationalism.

Question: How can Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University help foster cross-border cooperation between Russia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany?

Sergey Lavrov: I'm sure you have acquaintances in university communities in other countries. If you're asking me about my attitude toward young people, I trust them. But you can organise sport competitions and festivals on a reciprocal basis, for example, a German-language competition in Kaliningrad and a Russian-language contest in Germany. Use your imagination.

Question: Foreign policy has a significant impact on foreign labour migration. We all remember conflicts and difficulties in our relations with Turkey and Russia's retaliatory measures to limit labour migration from that country. Would an improvement in relations and an alignment of positions with Moldova, Serbia and China increase labour migration from these countries?

Is there much interest among our European partners in creating a common economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok and are they taking any steps to that end?

Sergey Lavrov: Regarding external migration, just how comfortable labour migrants feel in a particular country depends on many factors. Perhaps the most important thing is the general state of relations between countries. If these relations are good and friendly and the authorities in both countries foster friendly ties between the two nations in question, then migrants, as a general rule, feel very much at home in the host country. If, however, the authorities in some country – in an effort to suit the political situation of the moment or to please certain third parties – choose to follow an anti-Russia policy, then I don't think migrants from that country will be able to live and work in Russia problem-free. Because when a confrontational approach is used against a particular country, then naturally the citizens of that country – if they are normal people – will be wary of those behind the confrontation. I understand that the average person is not to blame for what politicians, who they have brought to power in one way or another, sometimes have to do. However, this is an objective factor – human nature. Anyway, the psychological environment for labour migration will not be exactly favourable.

We are against labour migration being used as leverage in achieving some geopolitical goals, just as we are against any areas being used for such purposes. The principle is this: For example, we have many Ukrainian migrants, an estimated 2−3 million people. I believe that's about right or maybe even higher. When they accuse us of every sin imaginable; when they exonerate the putschists who overthrew a legitimate albeit unpopular president contrary to the agreement that had just been signed with support from France, Germany and Poland, who then simply clammed up and began to justify what happened; when they are throwing mud while our performers, cultural and artistic figures are declared persona non grata; when businesses are taken away from Russian investors; finally, when they seriously talk about introducing visa requirements – do you think we should just swallow that and not respond in any way? We do not have any anti-Ukrainian blacklists except just a few cases. However, if a visa regime is introduced, then of course we will respond in kind. These people should not be silent but should tell their government that they are also Ukrainian citizens and have legitimate interests. This is a huge segment of the population – several million people. Let them demand a cogent policy.

Now the Moldovan government has suddenly expelled five Russian embassy officers – mainly from the attaché's office. These are people who ensure the operation of the Joint Control Commission, which includes Moldovan, Transnistrian and Russian representatives. They regularly discuss and deal with issues related to ensuring security on the line of contact between Transnistria and the rest of Moldova. They just went and expelled them. Now this commission will be unable to work. They consta