It's G20 Time Again: Lavrov's Day One Presser

A number of important conferences/summits have occurred over the past several weeks. For a partial summary, I direct readers to Pepe Escobar's latest article, “Russia, India, China, Iran: the Quad that really matters,” and for Europe's disintegration, to Alastair Crooke's latest in his series of essays.

What follows is the content indicated by the above title: Lavrov's review of Day One and his responses to the media, the latter being rather monotonous since they almost universally asked about a topic not part of the G20 discussions despite rabid attempts to include Ukraine on the agenda. I'm happy to report the collective West was apparently cowed sufficiently by Indonesia's president and editorials by numerous Global South Media to not allow the G20 to become a He Said/She Said pissing match and stick to the extremely important issues now facing the vast majority of the world. Lavrov relates his version of that context. Tomorrow, I'll publish an article centering on Day Two. So, here's the machine translation of Lavrov's Presser, the official English transcript being incomplete:

During the first working day of the G20 summit, three topics were discussed: energy and food security, as well as the world health situation.

We outlined our well-known and principled approaches to the reasons that underlie the continuing crisis in the field of energy and food security. They showed the unseemly role of Western states in creating such a situation. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has repeatedly spoken about this when describing what happened when the coronavirus pandemic broke out. Then Western countries printed trillions of unsecured money to buy food and medicine, which only added to the severity of this crisis. This was done to the detriment of developing countries.

A week ago, Bloomberg published a detailed study concluding that European countries' efforts to strengthen their own energy security had led to a sharp increase in energy poverty in the developing world. We spoke in favour of moving away from the politicization of these issues. It is necessary to abandon the use of energy to settle political scores, as has been observed for many years by the European Union with regard to the Nord Streams. We called for the G20 to deal with specific tasks to remove any discriminatory and artificial obstacles from global energy markets. We proposed opening a free, honest dialogue between energy suppliers and consumers. We'll see what the reaction is.

As for food, as President Vladimir Putin has said many times, we have once again demonstrated the Russian Federation's ability to ensure the stability of global markets for grain (primarily wheat) and fertilizers. We pointed out the obstacles that still remain on this path despite the agreement reached within the framework of the package initiative of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the UN will deal with the elimination of "obstacles" in the way of exporting Russian fertilizers and grain. Despite all these difficulties and sanctions restrictions, we have already exported 10.5 million tons of grain, of which only wheat - about 8 million tons: about 60% - to Asia and about 40% - to African countries.

We spoke in favour of intensifying international cooperation to improve preparedness for infectious diseases, including those similar to the coronavirus pandemic. We supported the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), as the main international structure to coordinate the world community's response to challenges in the field of health and other threats to the world's population. Agreed on the idea of creating a fund of WHO and the World Bank, which will be designed to address the needs of developing countries in this area.

We also talked about the need to implement the decisions already taken. Vaccination must be in the public domain. Examples were given that characterize the discrepancy between the real picture and the stated goals. In particular, due to the gap in approaches to vaccination, its level in developed countries reached 60%, and in the poorest countries - only about 5%.

Another of our proposals was to abandon the monopolization of pharmaceutical markets. Recalled that the Russian drug "Sputnik V" became the first vaccine developed in the world. Despite the fact that its registration through the WHO and the European Commission was artificially inhibited, the vaccine proved its effectiveness (more than 95%) and was successfully delivered to 70 countries.

We touched upon the problem of biological security in the context of the military-biological activity that the United States has deployed under the Pentagon's programs in dozens of countries in all regions of the world, especially in Eurasia, along the perimeter of the borders of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. We noted that our attempts to find out what these military biologists are doing there are encountering resistance within the framework of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction and at the UN Security Council, where we also recently raised this issue. We will strive to create an effective transparent monitoring mechanism for such programmes.

On the sidelines of the summit, many brief conversations took place with the participants of the event from various countries. I can tell you more about this later, if you are interested.

Question: Is Russia ready to sign the final declaration of the Group of Twenty and agree on all its points? How will it mention Ukraine? Was the wording of the document acceptable?

Sergey Lavrov: The work on the declaration is almost complete. It is planned to approve this document following the results of tomorrow's meeting on digitalization, in which the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Alexander Siluanov will participate.

The Declaration covers all the areas under discussion: food, energy, healthcare, and digitalization. Our Western colleagues tried in every possible way to make this document politicized and to "push through" language suggesting condemnation of the actions of the Russian Federation on behalf of the Group of Twenty, that is, including ourselves.

We insisted that if we really want to touch on this topic - and it in no way concerns the agenda and competence of the G20 - then let's act honestly and fix the differences on this issue. Yes, there is a war in Ukraine, a hybrid war, which the West unleashed and prepared for many years from the moment when it supported the coming to power as a result of a coup d'état of openly racist, neo-Nazi forces. Since then, NATO has been actively "mastering" Ukrainian territory, conducting exercises, supplying weapons. You know how events developed further: the sabotage of the Minsk agreements, the beginning of preparations for a military operation against Donbass. The draft declaration therefore refers to an exchange of views on these issues. The parties reaffirmed their positions, which were repeatedly stated in the United Nations, in the UN Security Council and in the General Assembly, in particular, when adopting the latest resolution of the UN General Assembly, which was put to a vote and was not unanimous. We clearly confirmed that all parties had their own assessments, which were set out there. The West added the phrase that many delegations condemned Russia. We recorded that alternative points of view were also reflected. We think this is quite enough. It is not the business of the Group of Twenty to get involved in this topic. Here, it is necessary to deal with specific issues of bringing the Kiev regime to a normal state, so that it stops promoting Russophobic and racist policies.

In his speech, he asked what our Western colleagues would do if Belgium banned the French language, just as Ukraine imposed a ban on Russian in all spheres without exception, or Great Britain, if Ireland banned the English language. There were no responses.

If the West was so obsessed with its "idea" and tried to use this "approach" to disrupt the G20 summit and the adoption of its final declaration, and then also accuse us of this, then it failed to do so.

Question: Was the United States able to turn the G20 summit, replace the global agenda by turning it into an exclusively anti-Russian platform, or were the opinions and voices of countries that came to Indonesia to discuss really important issues and problems sounded behind closed doors?

Sergey Lavrov: In recent days, all the main work on the important issues on the agenda of the G20 has taken place at the level of experts and ministers. The results of these activities are reflected in the substantive parts of the declaration.

As for the Ukrainian issue, both the United States and all its allies in the course of today's discussions noted quite aggressively, accusing Russia of "unprovoked aggression against Ukraine." The more often they say "unprovoked aggression," the more everyone is convinced that it was provoked by them. And it is not "aggression" at all, but an operation to protect the legitimate security interests of our country, on the borders of which military threats were created against Russia. This is an operation to protect the Russian population of Donbass.

In this context, a parallel arises. Previously, in the Soviet Union, they gathered for party meetings, not even in our Foreign Ministry, but at some production enterprise to discuss the tasks of implementing the "five-year plan". Seems to be purely production topics. Nevertheless, it was considered a sign of good manners before the start of the discussion to "stigmatize" US imperialism. Our Western colleagues are approaching the G20 agenda in much the same way.

Question: We always say that we are supported by those countries whose population is three-quarters of the planet, including those positions on building a multipolar world that Vladimir Putin spoke about at the Valdai Forum. In the economic sphere, it is difficult to fight transnational companies. In the military field, joint exercises are taking place. As in diplomacy? What has been achieved here at the G20 forum? Who should I talk to? Whose support to enlist in the information and diplomatic field? What might that look like in the future?

Sergey Lavrov: The answer is simple: no one except the West and its closest satellites has joined the anti-Russian sanctions. All third world countries, touching on this topic (it is impossible to avoid it, since the West makes it a priority to throw the Ukrainian plot into any discussions), call for a peaceful settlement and the speedy achievement of agreements. They know perfectly well that this process is being slowed down by Ukraine itself, which, including by legislative decree of Vladimir Zelensky, has banned negotiations with the Russian Federation. Therefore, the question, as I said today during brief conversations with President of France Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Oleg Scholz, should not be addressed to us.

Question: Did you discuss the future of the grain deal at your meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres? It expires in a few days. Under what conditions is Russia ready to renew the agreement on the export of grain?

Sergey Lavrov: The conditions are simple. They are all recorded in the original agreement, which consisted of two parts approved in the "package".

The first is the export of Ukrainian grain. It is being implemented. After the Ukrainian armed forces used the humanitarian corridor to export grain for military purposes, we suspended this operation. Then the Ukrainians confirmed that they would no longer do so. Our Turkish and Western colleagues understand that they must keep Ukraine from such unacceptable actions.

The second part of the "deal" is the removal of obstacles to the export of Russian grain. Here we must pay tribute to the UN Secretariat and personally to the Secretary-General of the United Nations - they are trying as hard as they can. Five months have passed, but so far no practical results have been achieved. Today, at the meeting, A. Guterres informed about the promises that were conveyed to him, including in writing, by the United States and the EU. They set out "good intentions." If this is implemented, then the "obstacles" in the way of exporting our fertilizers and grain will be removed. However, it is not about the papers, but about how these promises will be fulfilled in practice.

We are assured by the UN Secretary-General, and he refers to his Western colleagues, that all economic operators involved in ensuring the supply chain of Russian fertilizers and grain receive "calming signals" to them. In the sense that they will not be subject to sanctions if they interact in the implementation of trade transactions with our grain, including the entry of Russian ships into European ports, and foreign ships into Russian ones, as well as ensuring the full operation of Rosselkhozbank and normal insurance rates.

All the promises are laid out. I hope that they will be implemented. The UN Secretary-General today swore that this is a priority issue for him.

Question: Our Western partners have recently been changing their rhetoric regarding relations with Russia. More and more often we hear the words "peace", "negotiations". In the EU, there are difficulties with the adoption of a new package of sanctions. What is the reason for this and what can we expect?

Sergey Lavrov: It is difficult for me to judge. "Someone else's soul is dark." Especially the "soul" of the EU - there are thick "darkness". If they dissipate, then not for long.

Today I had a brief conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron, who confirmed his intention to continue contacts with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in order to find agreements that would allow us to resolve the whole situation. I reminded you that all the problems are on the Ukrainian side, which categorically refuses to negotiate, putting forward unrealistic and inadequate conditions in this situation.

Question: Yesterday, the European Union officially launched a training mission for the Ukrainian military on its territory. This program provides for the training of 15 thousand military personnel.

How can this decision affect the further development of the Ukrainian crisis? Does this decision make the European Union a direct participant in the conflict in Ukraine?

Sergey Lavrov: I believe that the EU and NATO have long been hybrid participants in the hybrid conflict in Ukraine. These are the supply of weapons, and training, and training of military personnel, and assistance in providing a huge amount of intelligence, and participation in determining targets (the Americans are engaged in this), and the work of instructors on the ground, not to mention thousands of mercenaries.

If we touch upon the specific decision of the European Union to launch a military training mission, then there is a split consciousness. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Oleg Scholz and other European leaders are talking about the need to move towards a peaceful settlement. This is a political "split personality" or, as President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said, specific "non-traditional forms of international relations." We're getting used to it. Stuff happens.

Question: Personally, do you see the West's signals to Kiev about the resumption of peace talks with Ukraine? In your opinion, what needs to happen for them to finally take place?

Sergey Lavrov: I can't walk in circles. Russia has repeatedly confirmed through President Vladimir Putin that it is not refusing to negotiate. If anyone refuses, it is Ukraine. The longer it refuses, the harder it will ultimately be to negotiate.

We read various reports about Zelensky's signals from the West, citing some anonymous sources. Rumors are swirling that the U.S. Administration is telling him to be "more accommodating." Then it is immediately clarified: this is not in order for him to really behave constructively, but in order to remove the objections of that part of the Western world that is beginning to doubt the need to supply him with additional weapons.

Today's speech by Vladimir Zelensky at the summit was very "interesting". The Chairman of the Group of Twenty decided to give him the opportunity to speak. The speech was recorded and lasted twenty minutes, although each participant was given about three minutes so that everyone had time to speak. Vladimir Zelensky spoke for twenty minutes. It was impossible to interrupt it, because it was a record that, apparently, they did not want to turn off. From his speech he drew only one conclusion: the Ukrainian President has not yet listened to any Western advice. I won't list everything he said. It was bellicose, Russophobic and aggressive rhetoric. The content of this speech and the condition of this man is best characterized by his own phrase, out of place "twisted", but pronounced - he said that the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944 were a turning point in the Second World War. Draw your own conclusions.

Question: Today, the Politico newspaper reported that the State Department is preparing the ground for possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with the onset of winter cold. Are any practical contacts being worked out with Washington?

Yesterday you had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey M. Cavusoglu. However, no details were given on either side. Can you tell us what it was about? Is a face-to-face meeting being prepared?

Sergey Lavrov: Regarding reports that the Americans are preparing talks. These rumors constantly "surface", but just as well disappear. We're not reacting to that anymore. We want to see concrete evidence that the West is seriously interested in "disciplining" Vladimir Zelensky and explaining to him that this cannot continue, because it is not in the interests of the Ukrainian people and themselves.

Regarding the conversation with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey M. Cavusoglu. We discussed the preparation of the final declaration of the G20 summit, including the section on the grain deal. We do not plan to make face-to-face contact with him, because it only took place today.