Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister: “Regarding Ukraine, Crimea, the annexation, occupation, and so on I don't even need to voice my opinion because we have facts. And the facts are as following: The West supported the coup in February of 2014. One day before the coup Germany, France, and Poland signed an agreement between the then president and the opposition giving their guarantees. Those nations proved to be untrustworthy They humiliated them by allowing this coup to happen. Instead of a national unity government provided by the agreement, those coupists declared that they were creating the government of winners. We addressed Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw: "What's going on? You're the guarantors of the agreement that provides the creation of a national unity government and early elections. Why can't you call those coupists to order? They basically spit on your guarantees". We didn't get a comprehensive answer. The first act adopted by those coupists after illegally seizing the power was the abolition of the law that provided benefits for the Russian-speaking population. The new power showed its true face on the very first day.
Two days after the coup one of those who was in charge of the violence at the central square of Kiev, the leader of the Neo-Nazi organization Right Sector who's currently a deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Yarosh, said, on February 23rd or 24th, that Russians aren't welcome in Crimea, Russians will never understand Ukrainians, and Russians will never honor the Ukrainian heroes, meaning the collaborators who helped the Nazis during WWII. That's why, continued Dmytro Yarosh, Russians must either be eliminated or expelled from Crimea. That's what triggered the processes that lead to the Crimean referendum and the decision by the Crimeans to reconcile with Russia. Don't forget that. When I remind my colleagues of that, including those who signed the agreement on February 20th, 2014, guaranteeing its implementation…
When I remind them of that when they tell me, "Get over it. Let's focus on the present. Russia must make the first step." We don't have to make the first step, they have to stick to the Minsk Agreement. In 2014, our Western counterparts ignored what happened: an illegal, armed coup. Since then, they haven't been able to bring that government to justice. They ago long realized whom they're dealing with, but having one said that the revolution was democratic, they can't begin to publicly criticize them. That's the problem.
Poroshenko and his regime realize their complete impunity and exploit it to stage provocations like the one that happened at the entrance to the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea. Look at what happened. About 24 hours after this obvious provocation the investigators searched one of the boats, you must've heard Putin mention that, and found the written orders which the crews had received from their command. The boats were ordered to traverse the Kerch Strait in a stealthy manner without submitting a formal request to the Russian authorities and reach the Sea of Azov. Six weeks before the incident, the same naval vessels complied with all procedures to cross the Kerch Strait. They dropped anchor and requested to be escorted. They were escorted through the strait and sailed towards their ports in the Sea of Azov. Why didn't they do the same this time? There's only one answer: They wanted to provoke a scandal.
24 hours after the incident, Poroshenko imposed martial law. And three days later, the US declares that it must increase its military presence in the Black Sea. Like clockwork. A minor incident gets turned into a major scandal. The president imposes martial law that'll be used to increase the currently futile chances of the incumbent president to win the next Ukrainian election. That situation opens the way for various initiatives by the West such as the USA's intent to increase its military presence in the vicinity of our coasts. So if you were looking for the beneficiary party, you're free to draw your conclusions".
- Please.
- Margarita Velikhova, Interfax. Mr. Lavrov, the German media wrote today that Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas proposed to expand the OSCE's sphere of activity to include the Sea of Azov, partially due to the Kerch incident. This idea will be discussed at the next meeting of the Normandy Four on December 11th. I'd like to ask if you discussed this matter yesterday at the bilateral meeting, and how do we feel about this idea?
Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister: "Yes, we discussed this matter at our bilateral meeting yesterday. We also discussed several other subjects. I explained to him why such initiatives are doomed to fail. Of course, nothing stops him from discussing this matter on December 11th or any other day. But the OSCE has a strict mandate which applies to the entire land territory of Ukraine. Even the regions with the representative bodies of the Special Monitoring Mission are listed there. Neither observers nor moderators are needed in either the Kerch Strait or the Sea of Azov. What is needed is to strictly comply with the rules of security while passing the Kerch Strait, as the Ukrainian Navy motor boats, I'll stress that again, did in September and what they chose not to do on the 26th of November. And, of course, one should strictly honor and respect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation and not violate our laws".
- Yes, please.
- Mister Minister, Marta Allevato, Italian news agency AGI. The question is not related to the work of OSCE.
Sergey Lavrov: And what is not related to OSCE?
- What does Russia think about the arrest of the daughter of the Huawei company founder? Thank you so much.
Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister: "Well, I think it's another display of the line which causes rejection with the majority of the normal countries, normal people, the line of the extraterritorial application of their national laws. As I understand, she was arrested in Canada at the request of the US authorities because this company leads its business in Iran, which is forbidden by the US law. What does this have to do with China and Huawei? It's a rather arrogant, great-power policy which no one accepts. It already causes rejection with the closest US allies. They should end it".
- And the last question, probably. Please.
