RUSSIA AND THE EU: WHAT FOLLOWS THE “STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP” THAT NEVER HAPPENED?
On June 16, the Valdai Discussion Club held a session dedicated to relations between Russia and the European Union. The Valdai Club brought together experts and politicians within the scope of the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The Club’s participants include Sergey Lavrov, head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia.
In his speech, the Minister stated that “we have taken stock of relations with the EU, set them out on paper, and the documents proved impressive. We are counting on furnishing it to our colleagues and proposing doing the same exercise together.” Mr. Lavrov also stressed that the dialogue between Russia and the EU “never stopped at all” and that “the current crisis should allow both use and the EU to determine how to go forward. We won’t take offence or withdraw into isolation.”
The Foreign Minister noted that the European Union was Moscow’s most important economic partner and that development of the most diverse link in the economy, in politics, in culture and in security is in the direct interests of both Russia and the countries of Europe.
Commenting on the so-called five principles of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy Federica Mogherini with respect to development of relations between the EU and the Russian Federation, the Minister noted that they do not answer what to do in these relations. They “fix the EU’s approach, which comes down to restricting relations with us to the maximum in individual spheres, including energy, and inviting us to collaborate where it is beneficial to the EU.” This selective approach will not work. Business as usual is out of the question”, Mr. Lavrov added.
The EU’s policy of putting a stop to cooperation with Russia in the energy sphere “is generated from across the Ocean”, Mr. Lavrov stated, noting that the Americans had their own economic interests. “Doctrinal documents in the energy sphere that the EU adopts set the task of putting an end to dependence on the Russian Federation.”
Also discussed by the Valdai Club was the Ukraine crisis. According to Sergey Lavrov, the USA and the EU are beginning to tire of Kiev’s caprices on matters relating to settling the situation on Donbass. “One can talk endlessly about how to settle the crisis in Ukraine. There are the Minsk agreements; attempts to rewrite them are unacceptable and inadmissible. We hope that educational work with Kiev will be conducted by our western partners. The document was signed, now fulfil it,” the Minister noted.
According to Mr. Lavrov, there is no progress in the political aspect of settling the Syrian situation either. He believes this is because not all the parties take part in the negotiations.
