High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov approaching lectern.
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (English): “It is clear we do not share the same positions on everything but our dialogue is constant it is important, it is essential from our perspective to engage, to cooperate wherever it is possible and on many of the crisis we have exchange on today we indeed identified ground for cooperation.”
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (English): “We welcomed the announced agreement on the ceasefire in the south west of Syria that I also discussed with the Jordanian Foreign Minister yesterday and with Staffan de Mistura earlier today. We see this as a first step towards a broader nationwide ceasefire and a political solution to the crisis. I believe we agree on the need to find a political solution through the Geneva talks, UN led Geneva talks, and we discussed ways in which the European Union can further support this process as it is implemented.”
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (English): “We agreed to increase the level of contact between our people. The European Union is ready to build bridges when it comes to links between our societies.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): “In my opinion gradually the situation will return to normal.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): “This meets both Russia and the EU’s fundamental interests cleared of accretions.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): “We have already discussed with our colleagues this situation, which I believe is abnormal [regarding EU sanctions on Syria]. Sanctions have largely prevented the production of necessities in Syrian Arab Republic, including the pharmaceutical industry which has always been highly developed in Syria, and now it is cut due to the sanctions and prohibitions that our colleagues introduced.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): “As for the question of the Russian diplomatic real estate in USA, we are examining the situation. We hope that the US, as a country that has always advocated the rule of law, will respect their international obligations. If this does not happen, if we see that such a step is not considered necessary Washington, then of course we will take retaliatory measures. It is the law of diplomacy, law of international life. Reciprocity is the basis of all relations.”
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated he hopes relations between Russia and the EU will gradually return to normal, at a press conference alongside High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini, in Brussels, on Wednesday.
Mogherini stated that although Russia and the EU “do not share the same position on everything” it is important that they maintain a constant dialogue and cooperate wherever possible, noting that during their talks they “indeed identified ground for cooperation.”
She added that, “The European Union is ready to build bridges when it comes to links between our societies.”
In response to a question on the confiscation of diplomatic real estate in USA, Lavrov stated, “We hope that the US, as a country that has always advocated the rule of law, will respect their international obligations” adding, “If this does not happen, if we see that such a step is not considered necessary Washington, then of course we will take retaliatory measures.”