Lavrov v. Borrell
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Ahead of their discussion, Lavrov expressed willingness to address relevant issues and respond candidly to questions posed.
“The main problem we all face is the lack of normalcy in relations between Russia and the European Union – the two largest players in the Eurasian space,” said Lavrov, adding:
“It is an unhealthy situation, which does not benefit anyone.”
“Sporadic discussions” between Russia and the EU aren’t good enough.
What’s needed is returning to a “comprehensive approach” in bilateral relations as was standard practice much earlier.
In similar fashion to how Trump regime hardliners breached their JCPOA obligations with Iran and other signatories to the landmark agreement, the EU unacceptably “dismantled” normalized relations with Russia in support of US hegemonic aims.
Lavrov: “(T)he time is ripe and even overripe for a detailed, honest review of the state of affairs in relations between Russia and the EU.”
Unsurprisingly, Lavrov’s discussion with Borrell failed to achieve desired results.
Post-WW II, Washington transformed most European countries into virtual US colonies.
Their status remains unchanged today, serving US geopolitical interests, even when harming their own, including unacceptable toughness against nonbelligerent good neighbor Russia.
According to Borrell, when EU foreign ministers meet on February 22, more (unlawful) sanctions may be imposed on Russia.
If this unacceptable action is taken, it’ll be on the phony pretext of human rights violations related to convicted felon Navalny’s 2.8 year sentence for multiple breaches of his suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars.
After meeting with Lavrov on Sunday, Borrell defied reality by falsely claiming that “Russia is progressively disconnecting itself from Europe and looking at democratic values as an existential threat (sic),” adding:
His visit was “very complicated (that included) high levels of tension.”
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said this assessment contradicts remarks made at a joint press conference with Lavrov.
Separately in response to Russia’s expulsion of EU diplomats for involvement in violent US/UK-orchestrated pro-Navalny rallies, Lavrov rejected Borrell’s unacceptable request to reverse the move.
Earlier, Moscow advised Western nations to respect international law by not interfering in Russia’s internal affairs.
Asking Moscow to reverse its legitimate sentence of Navalny last week breached the UN Charter’s non-intervention principle.
The International Court of Justice up (ICJ) upheld this principle in earlier rulings.
It affirmed the right of nation-states to “conduct (their) affairs without outside interference.”
Following their discussion, Lavrov said the following:
Russian/EU relations “are going through a rough period, partly related to the unilateral illegitimate restrictions imposed by the EU under far-fetched pretexts. We expressed this openly today.”
“We hope that during the strategic review of relations with Russia at the next EU summit scheduled for March 2021, its participants will opt for constructive, professional and pragmatic interaction.”
Instead of mutual cooperation between Russia and the US-dominated West, false accusations persist against Moscow, said Lavrov.
He had what he called “an honest discussion” with Borrell.
“We did not conceal our differences” that remain very much unresolved because of Washington’s hardline approach toward Russia that continues under Biden.
Lavrov also stressed that Russian/EU relations are “stuck on an issue that the West is trying to push into the background…attention (focused instead on) protests and demonstrations in the Russian Federation.”
“I am referring to the issue of finding the truth of what happened with Navalny, when and where,” said Lavrov, adding:
“I have spoken about this many times.”
“Neither Russian nor civilian German doctors have found what supposedly went into his body” — because there was nothing to find.
He wasn’t poisoned by deadly novichok as falsely claimed.
“Our numerous requests to receive results of (German, French, Swedish and OPCW test results) remain unanswered.”
“They simply do not answer our questions. All they say is ‘(y)ou know everything yourselves.’ ”
“But this is simply disrespectful, to put it mildly.”
“I think this arrogance on behalf of a supposedly cultured Europe is absolutely unacceptable and inadmissible.”
“But if (these countries) believe that we do not deserve to have information that would confirm their accusations against Russian leaders, let this be on their conscience.”
“We favor honesty and transparency” — polar opposite how the West operates.
Russian relations with Western countries remain strained at best.
Responsibility for this unacceptable state of affairs lies in their capitals, not Moscow.
In his remarks last weekend about Russia, Biden continued US hostility toward the country — based on bald-faced Big Lies.
During Blinken’s discussion with Lavrov last week, he falsely accused Russia of US election interference, foreign aggression, poisoning Navalny, and actions related to other issues.
All of the above turned reality on its head.
Looking ahead, unacceptable US war on Russia by other means is highly likely to continue unchanged.
The same goes for US actions on other nations free from its hegemonic control.
VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My two Wall Street books are timely reading:
“How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion, and Class War”
“Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity”
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