Russia responsible on foreign policy during transitional period in the world – Lavrov

Given the situation, Russia seeks to pursue a responsible foreign policy, and make international collective moves in the interests of strengthening security and stability.

This came in a statement by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his address to a news briefing in Moscow, according to the Voice of Russia correspondent.

Lavrov pointed out that Moscow favours a settlement of any conflicts through reasonable compromise, via the development of a fully-fledged dialogue and cooperation with all nations.

EU ‘usurped’ investigation of ‘black transplantology’ cases in Kosovo – Lavrov

The probe into the case of "black transplantologists” in Kosovo has been staggering due to an unconstructive stance of EU investigators, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said at a big press conference.

"We have been hindered by EU’ unconstructive stand, they have ‘usurped’ the case and it’s been dragging its feet ever since,” Mr. Lavrov said, adding the EU was gradually wrapping up the investigation.

He said Moscow was set to back the legitimate demand of Serbia to pass it on to the UN Security Council.

True causes of Russian opposition activist Dolmatov's suicide must established - Lavrov

Russia wants to learn the truth about the suicide of opposition activist Alexander Dolmatov in the Netherlands, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference dedicated to last year's results.

Lavrov said he spoke to the Netherlands ambassador on Tuesday and the ambassador said that investigation was a priority.

"We are preparing documents to transport the body to the home country. The Netherlands said the procedure would take about one and a half weeks. We will insist on establishing the truth," Lavrov said.

Russia-Tajikistan CSTO cooperation to curb Afghan threat

Russia-Tajikistan CSTO cooperation will stop Afghan threat from spilling over into Central Asia, Russian foreign chief Sergei Lavrov said at today’s press conference in response to a Voice of Russia correspondent.

Mr. Lavrov told Voice of Russia’s Olga Denisova that the Russian base in Tajikistan served as an element of stability in the region and was an integral part of CSTO’s military potential.

Russia won’t transport French troops to Mali – Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hasn’t confirmed the reports alleging that Moscow was going to offer France its logistic aid in the Mali conflict. He said Paris had already apologized for this misleading information.

Lavrov said that only private airlines could help France transport its troops and equipment, adding that Russia left this mission to them.

Moscow not scaling down Russian embassy staff in Damascus – Lavrov

The Russian embassy in Syria is working as usual, despite the armed conflict, and keeps in touch with both the Assad regime and the opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said at the Moscow press conference.

"Evacuation plans have been made for all countries, but there’s no need to carry them out, because the current situation in Syria doesn’t require this,” Mr. Lavrov said.

He added the Russian embassy in Damascus wasn’t going to scale down the number of its staff.

Lavrov blames Syria opposition for torpedoing peace settlement

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesda that there could be no peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria as long as opponents of President Bashar al-Assad refuse to negotiate with his government and demand his exit from power as a precondition for peace talks.

"The decision of the US court on the Schneerson collection was unlawful, we'll have to react on this", said Russia, FM Sergey Lavrov during the press-conference

"Everything runs up against the opposition members' obsession with the idea of the overthrow of the Assad regime. As long as this irreconcilable position remains in force, nothing good will happen, armed action will continue, people will die," Lavrov told a annual news conference.

Desicion on the Schneerson collection unlawful - Lavrov

"The decision of the US court on the Schneerson collection was unlawful, we'll have to react on this", said Russian FM during press conference.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called outrageous a US court's ruling concerning the so-called Schneerson Library, i.e. a collection of old Judaic books and documents stored in Russia and being claimed by a US-based Hasidic organization.

"This is an outrageous ruling having nothing to do with justice," Lavrov said at a press conference summing up 2012 events on Wednesday.

Russia understands that the US judicial system is independent, as it is in any other country, and the White House absolutely agreed with Russia's arguments concerning the Schneerson collection, Lavrov said.

"However, they [the US administration] did virtually nothing to explain the real state of affairs to the court, and the court handed down its ruling with the US administration's very feeble position. We will seek retaliatory steps. This cannot be left unanswered," he said.

Russian fleet maintains stability in Mediterranean

The Russian fleet's presence in the Mediterranean is a stabilizing factor for the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are not interested in even more destabilization in the Mediterranean region, and our fleet's presence there is certainly a factor stabilizing the situation," Lavrov said at a press conference summing up 2012 events on Wednesday.

Russia’s Lavrov calls for unity amid global transition

Moscow will continue to respond to U.S. unfriendly moves but its primary guideline is the readiness to develop Russian-U.S. relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a Moscow press conference on results of 2012.

"Certainly, we will continue to respond to unfriendly moves but the core of our position is the readiness to develop Russian-U.S. relations in all areas and the interest in coordinated actions on the international scene based on equality, mutual respect for interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," the minister said.

Russian foreign chief Lavrov’s big press conference

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called a big press conference to draw a line under 2012.

The meeting has been convened in the Foreign Office’s congress hall. It is being broadcast in Russian, English and French on the ministry's official website.

Mr. Lavrov is expected to address the recent events in Syria, Russia’s ties with the West and all kinds of emergencies that Russians citizens sometimes face while overseas.

Voice of Russia