Russian MFA comment on the situation around the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
We closely watch the development of affairs around Julian Assange, who is currently under the protection of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. This situation cannot but give raise to doubts regarding the observance of the spirit and letter of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and its Article 22 in particular, which grants immunity to diplomatic missions.
There is another question this situation cannot but recall. It is well known that dozens of suspects in serious crimes have found shelter and protection in Great Britain, while other states, including Russia, are seeking their extradition. It would be fair to assume that Julian Assange's right of asylum must be respected no less than the rights of these people, so ardently protected by the UK.
The representatives of the Business 20, Civil 20, and Labour 20 were invited to the third G20 Sherpas' Meeting, held in St.Petersburg on May 11-12, 2013, to discuss the upcoming G20 meetings. Alexey Zharkov, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, and John Evans, TUAC General Secretary presented the Labour 20 policy positions prior to the G20 Labour Ministers' Meeting with Social Partners on July 18 in Moscow.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, We had valuable negotiations with Elmar Mammadyarov. We review the bilateral agenda, agreed what may foreign policy agencies of Russia and Azerbaijan do for full-scale fulfilment of the agreements reached at the level of presidents of our countries and build-up of cooperation in all spheres.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Today the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Secretary General of the Council of Europe T.Jagland, but I had detailed negotiations with the Secretary General. We discussed the whole spectrum of issues topical for the Council of Europe at the modern stage.
Vladimir Putin met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland, who is in Russia on a working visit. The meeting discussed current issues concerning Russia’s relations with the Council of Europe.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, We have completed the main part of our negotiations with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He will have a meeting with the President of Russia in a few hours. As always, our conversation was very substantial and honest. We are sincerely interested in the consolidation of the role of the UN. This is one of the main tasks in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation approved by the President Vladimir Putin on 12 February 2013.
Question: I would like to start our conversation from your last international contacts and, first of all, from your meeting with US Secretary of State in Moscow on 7 May. The day after he left Moscow, John Kerry made a statement in Rome that there is no place for President Bashar al-Assad in the new transitional government. There were also statements that the White House had not made its final decision about armament of the opposition and is waiting for the results of the investigation of the use of chemical weapons in SAR to make this decision. We know about the agreements reached between Russia and the USA in Moscow, however, we would still like to understand why we have heard other statements, which do not fit within the framework of the agreements reached the day before, as soon as the US Secretary of State left Moscow.
Question: The “Partnership for Modernisation” program is a significant element of the Russian-German dialog. What else would you like to decide within the framework of this format? How do you see next stages of its implementation? Sergey Lavrov: First of all, I would like that governments do not interfere with the cooperation of companies dealing with innovations and their industrial deployment within the framework of “Partnership for Modernisation”. Governments should know how this happens, to create a legal framework, a maximally comfortable regime for such cooperation, while professionals should decide each in its sphere. The more contacts we have within the framework of “Partnership for Modernisation”, the more weighty results we achieve in the form of final products, workplaces, additional profits of companies in Russia and Germany. I think that we share these interests, especially on the background of the most magnificent events in the world and European economy.
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