Europe Shows Distrust As Partners, Foreign Minister Lavrov: We Are Not Depending On Anyone

Menlu Russia Sergei Lavrov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - European countries show distrust as partners, while Moscow will consider possible cooperation proposals based on a 'new qualitative stance', said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"We don't close our doors if Europe changes its mind," he said, as quoted from TASS March 24.

"However, there must be an understanding, as I said before, we will not depend on anyone. Europe shows its distrust as a partner," he stressed.

"We will grow stronger, including with the help of the EAEU (Eurasia Economic Union), SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and other mechanisms. Considering the project, proposed for joint implementation, from a qualitatively new attitude," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Foreign Minister Lavrov further emphasized that after obtaining its current form of nationality, Russia is willing to cooperate with all parties, expressing mutual readiness based on equality, mutual benefit, bilateral respect and seeking a balance of interests and compromises.

"This is why we have record high trade figures with Europe for many years and reached 430 billion US dollars in 2010, 2011, 2012," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

"However, when Europe ignored and endured the humiliation of ultra-radical Ukraine after the Maidan (riots of) Maidan, when all its guarantees were spat on and (Europe) was kept from all the plans, which the neo-Nazis wanted to implement, Europe tried to compensate for its weakness by accusing us of doing everything. ," he explained.

"In such a situation, when someone tries to balance and then the left side support is taken suddenly, one should obviously intensify work towards the east, it's that simple," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

He added that trade between Russia and China rose 50 percent last year to a total of 145 billion US dollars. Meanwhile, China is also cooperating within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

"We have SCO, where we also work on major trade and economic projects and infrastructure along with security issues," he explained.

"We also have BRICS, which established the Development Bank and which is operating actively, including under the current uncomfortable situation. Finally, we have RIC (Russia, India, China)," he concluded.