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Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
We observe the formation of a new polycentric international system.
It has continued and at the same time has been accompanied
by increasing global competition, rivalry, also in the sphere of values and development models.
In this situation, Russia has sought to strengthen international and regional stability,
the sustainability of global governance.
We relied on the actions approved in February last year in the new edition
of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation,
which clarified the vision of our priorities in the changing world,
and the presidential decree of May 7, 2012,
"On measures to implement the foreign policy of the Russian Federation".
These documents focus on creating favorable external conditions
for the socio-economic development of the country,
facilitating a transition towards an innovative economy
and an improvement in the quality and standard of living of our citizens.
To this end, Russia has consistently promoted a positive, unifying agenda of international relations,
in order to approximate the solution of the fundamental problems of the modern world.
We worked with these approaches when chairing the G20,
and we will keep them this year when chairing the summit of the G8, which will be held on June 4-5 in Sochi.
Among our priorities in the G8 is the problem of increasing efficiency in areas
such as the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and extremism,
as well as healthcare and building a global system of managing the risks
associated with natural and man-made disasters,
and, of course, promoting the settlement of regional conflicts.
In the past year, progress has been achieved in creating the conditions
for a peaceful resolution of some of the most dangerous crises.
Russia, together with partners from the US, Europe, China and other countries,
most actively contributed to mobilizing the international community on the Syrian and Iranian tracks.
We are satisfied primarily by the fact that sensible approaches,
based on the logic of peace and the basic principles of international law, finally prevailed.
We consistently urge to build the work on this basis
- as opposed to unilateral actions, including attempts to use force against the principles of the UN Charter.
Along with participation in the program of destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons,
Russia is doing everything possible for a political settlement of the Syrian crisis.
In accordance with the Russian-American initiative, tomorrow in Montreux, Switzerland,
an international conference will start,
which aims to launch an inter-Syrian dialogue according to the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012.
The biggest challenge during the Syrian crisis is the rise of extremism and terrorism.
Today most serious politicians recognise that the main threat in Syria
comes from the actions of terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda.
Therefore, the development of measures to neutralise them should be a priority of the Geneva-2 conference.
Just yesterday the implementation of the action plan to resolve the situation
around the Iranian nuclear program started, based on the principles of gradualism and reciprocity,
as was proposed by the Russian Federation.
Together with partners in the Group 5 +1 and Iranian counterparts,
we will continue to seek a final, comprehensive solution
that would ensure the inalienable right of Iran to develop a peaceful nuclear program
under IAEA control and the security of all countries in the region, including Israel.
We are well aware that success in the above-mentioned and in other areas of world politics is not guaranteed.
There will be many dangerous situations
where we again will have to choose between the long-term strategic interests of the world community
and immediate profits or opportunistic reasons.
As for Russia, we will consistently seek to consolidate the trend
towards harmonisation of generally acceptable approaches to ensure
equal and indivisible security for all countries.
This is our key priority in the Euro-Atlantic area.
It is impossible neglect the decisions of the OSCE, the NATO-Russia Council,
that called for the creation of a common space of peace, security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region,
relying on the principles of mutual trust, transparency, predictability,
and the indivisibility of security, when no state will ensure its security at the expense of others.
This year we will commemorate the 100 years since the beginning of the First World War
and the 75 years since the beginning of the Second World,
and this should remind us of the catastrophic consequences of the belief
in one's own uniqueness and geopolitical games.
Russia has consistently worked to strengthen the strategic partnership with the EU.
We are convinced that, in the long term,
it is in our common interest to create a unified economic and humanitarian space
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
This initiative was put forward, as we know, by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Talks about the appearance of some systemic problems in relations between Russia and the EU are far-fetched.
Of course, if the principles of equality and mutual respect are kept.
We believe that these principles should be applied to all countries,
including, of course, the countries participating in the program of the so-called Eastern Partnership.
Respect for the right to determine their own fate is of fundamental importance in the modern world,
and no one should have a decision from the outside imposed on them, especially in the form of "either, or".
The reality of the 21st century is to erase and not to strengthen the dividing lines
and to harmonise and not to isolate the integration processes.
That is what we strive to develop, together with Belarus and Kazakhstan,
in the integration project aimed at creating a 2015 Eurasian Economic Union.
Our integration structures are, as we have said many times, open to other partners,
including all participants of the CIS free trade zone.