Gaza Ukraine China Yemen: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Holds Annual Press Conference 2024 English

Gaza Ukraine China Yemen: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Holds Annual Press Conference 2024
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivers his annual address to the international media

Establishment of Palestinian state to draw a line under Middle East conflict — Lavrov
https://tass.com/politics/1734119

"Russia is very interested to see Israel and the Israelis live in security," the top Russian diplomat stressed

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The creation of a Palestinian state should draw a line under the Middle East conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference on the achievements of Russian diplomacy in 2023.

"The main focus of efforts should be the creation of a Palestinian state in full compliance with the UN Security Council resolution. The state that is described in these decisions would be capable and would exist in security and good neighborliness side by side with Israel and other countries in the region," Lavrov said.

Without this, he stated, there will be more relapses of the kind of violence currently being seen in Gaza.

"Without the establishment of a Palestinian state, the Palestinian people will continue to feel disadvantaged and disfranchised," Lavrov pointed out. "A line is to be drawn and that will be done with the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Lavrov hopes that Israel will eventually realize this.

"Without the establishment of a Palestinian state, there can be no reliable security for Israel. Russia is very interested to see Israel and the Israelis live in security. That country is our long-standing partner," he concluded.

Strategically autonomous Europe not part of US grand plan — top Russian diplomat Lavrov
https://tass.com/politics/1734131

French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly stated the need for the European Union to achieve strategic autonomy, implying, among other things, political independence, economic competitiveness and sufficient defense capabilities to ensure its own security without having to rely on the United States

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The United States, which "calls the tune" for Europe, will simply not allow the continent to exercise any measure of strategic autonomy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at his annual news conference devoted to reviewing Moscow’s main foreign policy achievements in 2023.

It is ultimately the US and the UK that "call the tune" in Europe, Lavrov noted. "It’s embarrassing for so-called Continental Europe to hear all this talk from your neighbors in France that the European Union is [allegedly] fighting for strategic autonomy. Let me assure you: Nobody is going to give you this strategic autonomy," the top diplomat said in reply to a question from an Italian journalist.

French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly stated the need for the European Union to achieve strategic autonomy, implying, among other things, political independence, economic competitiveness and sufficient defense capabilities to ensure its own security without having to rely on the United States.