EMBASSY INFORMS
Vladimir Putin took part in the Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The summit focused on fighting the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the global economy. In view of the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is urging all parties to regional armed conflicts to immediately stop hostilities, secure a ceasefire, and introduce a humanitarian pause. We have been dismayed by the article “Putin flexes soft power muscles with medical aid airlift to Italy” appearing in the Financial Times on 24 March. It contains perverted facts along with politicised statements from experts whose world view does not accept good deeds by Russia. Question: For you, Sri Lanka is your youth. What did you feel when you came back here? We are now in the new Embassy building, while you worked in the old building. Still, what memories did it stir up from when you worked here?
Sergey Lavrov: Of course, I mostly remember the old building where I worked for four years. I was an aide to Soviet Ambassador Rafik Nishanov, God bless him. We created a tight-knit group of MGIMO graduates and more experienced personnel, including first secretaries and councillors. British press are claiming that “Russian state media” are spreading disinformation and escalating the situation in Europe with regard to the coronavirus pandemic. Russia is alleged to be again attempting to set panic and stir controversy in Western societies. It is noteworthy that these publications refer Russian talk shows and opinion articles in online media. They represent personal views and have nothing to do with the Russian state. In order to ensure state security, protect public health and prevent the spread of new coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation, from 18 March 2020 to 1 May 2020, entry into the Russian Federation is temporarily restricted for foreign citizens and stateless persons. The first session of the trial on the crash of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 started in the District Court of The Hague on March 9-10. During the previous briefing we gave detailed coverage of this issue on the eve of the trial. We said the Western media had launched an unprecedented accusatory media campaign that has become direct pressure on the court and an aggravation of anti-Russia sentiment. Now that the first session has been held, it is clear that our evaluation was well grounded. Although the court dealt only with procedural issues in this session, like the schedule and the order of the sessions, and the presence of participants, the frenzy over the trial has not abated. On the contrary, it has been fueled by some Western politicians, investigators and prosecutors. The Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation, as guarantors of the observance of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian Arab Republic... Have agreed as follows, 1- Cease all military actions along the line of contact in the Idlib De-escalation area starting from 00:01 of March 6, 2020. 2- A security corridor will be established 6 km deep to the north and 6 km deep to the south from highway M4. Specific parameters of the functioning of the security corridor will be agreed between the Defense Ministries of the Turkish Republic and the Russian Federation within 7 days. 3- On March 15, 2020, joint Turkish-Russian patrolling will begin along highway M4 from the settlement of Trumba (2 km to the west from Saraqib) to the settlement of Ain-AI-Havr;
This additional protocol enters into force from the moment of signing. On 4th March 2020 Ambassador Andrei Kelin visited the Cambridge Union. His Excellency was warmly welcomed and briefed the members on the current state of relations between Russia and the UK, as well as outlined Russia’s position on most pressing international issues. The guests showed genuine interest in the discussion, while the Ambassador was more than happy to answer all possible questions from the audience after his talk. During the visit Mr Kelin also signed in the guestbook of the Union. Today marks two years since Russian nationals Sergei and Yulia Skripal were involved in an incident in Salisbury. Back in March 2018, the British government was quick in laying the blame on Russia. Huge damage was done to Russian-British political relations. However, both we and the public are yet to see convincing evidence to support the official version of what happened. Instead, the British narrative is full of discrepancies and raises a great deal of specific questions that remain unanswered.
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