Mr. Lavrov: Dear colleagues, good afternoon.

This is our regular meeting with the EU Foreign Policy Troika. A wide range of questions was discussed including the status of and prospects for interaction between Russia and the EU, major priorities for 2009, and our joint work with the current Czech and forthcoming Swedish Chairs.

We have noted the importance of the meeting held in Moscow on 6 February between the Government of the Russian Federation and the European Commission. We believe that we have succeeded in maintaining the positive dynamics in relations between Russia and the EU. Last autumn saw a meeting of the Permanent Partnership Council on Freedom, Security and Justice as well as Foreign Ministers meeting. In the first half of the current year, there will be meetings of the Permanent Partnership Council on Freedom, Security and Justice as well as on Energy.

We noted that the work on a new agreement on strategic partnership was proceeding in a constructive way and reviewed European security issues. For our part, we informed our partners of the steps that had been planned for the near future to promote the initiative launched by President Dmitry A. Medvedev for working out a Euro-Atlantic security treaty by engaging all the venues available within such interstate structures as the OSCE, Russia-EU dialogue and possibly Russia-NATO Council, as well as in the context of fora held by non-governmental organizations with the participation of experts.

Our agenda focuses traditionally on the issues of the Middle East settlement. Russia and the EU have been actively involved in the work of the Quartet of international mediators. We have discussed possible time limits for holding a meeting of the Quartet in the near future. We also discussed our interaction on Afganistan, the Transcaucasia and the Iranian nuclear program where Russia and the EU are important international players.

Discussing the progress made in the implementation of the Road Map for external security space, we noted a number of specific steps which permit to put the cooperation in this field on a practical track. We also noted that apart from standalone joint efforts at crisis management in various regions of the world, it is important for us to strengthen the legal framework for such cooperation and develop a relevant document which would ensure mutually beneficial and equal partnership in crisis response. Combating piracy off the coast of Somalia is one of the long term new themes in this regard. In addition to our cooperation within the framework of the EU peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic and Chad we are prepared to strengthen interaction on anti-piracy issues which are now highly topical for many states.

On the whole, I am satisfied with the outcome of our work today. I hope that the forthcoming months will be actively used for a diligent preparation of a new Russia-EU summit scheduled for next May.

Question: You have mentioned that European security was discussed. Did you touch upon the issue of US missile defense deployment? What are the positions of the Russian and European sides on this issue?

Mr. Lavrov: This theme was not discussed in detail. I referred to the plans of deployment of a third missile defense site by the United States in Eastern Europe when I enumerated the issues arising in the field of European security and, together with other issues, necessitate a candid and honest discussion along the lines of the initiative launched by President Dmitry A. Medvedev concerning the development of a new instrument for ensuring Euro-Atlantic security on the basis of equality, respect for the principle of inadmissibility of ensuring one's own security at the expense of that of others, which was agreed upon earlier but which is not yet being implemented. We do not consider our possible response to the deployment of a third missile defense site a threat. This was stated long time ago and quite clearly. This is an absolutely necessary military and technological step which will be needed only if a third missile defense site is physically established. If it is not, there will be no response measures whatsoever by the Russian Federation.

Mr. Lavrov: (answers following Mr. Schwarzenberg): I wish to offer a piece of geographical information: there are groups of states in the framework of the United Nations which have been formed to handle nominations to various UN bodies. Poland and Czechia are part of the group known as the Group of Eastern European States. This is just for reference. I think that geography is the simplest matter, and we do not foresee here any particular divergences.

Question: The UN mandate in Georgia expires on 18 February. In connection with this, what are, in your opinion, the forms of further international presence in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia as far as the UN and OSCE are concerned?

Mr. Lavrov: The question of maintaining UN presence in the region has been actively discussed both in New York and Vienna. We believe that it would be useful to ensure such presence in the territory of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The negotiators have been bringing closer their ideas about the establishment of such mechanisms as would reflect new realities in the region and work, in the first place, for maintaining stability, settlement of humanitarian problems brought about by the Georgian aggression. The final say will of course, belong to those sides that would receive relevant international presence in their territory. The final decision will depend on Georgia's position, as far as the international presence in its territory is concerned, on the position of South Ossetia, as far as the OSCE presence in its territory is concerned, and on the position of Abkhazia, as far as the UN presence in the territory of Abkhazia is concerned.

Question: What is Russia's reaction to the statement made by US Vice President Joseph Biden concerning "resetting" relations between Russia and the United States? How could it be realized? For instance, in the case of Afghanistan, can Russia consider the question of not only non-military, but also military transit to Afghanistan?

Mr. Lavrov: If my impression of the events is correct, President Barack Obama was first to use the term "resetting" relations. Vice President Joseph Biden referred to this in Munich as a process which would help normalize our relationships and bring them to the level of a constructive partnership, since there are too many problems in the world which we need to resolve jointly, as well as threats which are shared by Russia, the United States, Europe and other states.

One of such problems is the situation in Afghanistan and around it. As it was reaffirmed recently by President Dmitry A. Medvedev, we are prepared to very close and broad cooperation on Afghanistan. We have already granted the right to non-military transit based on agreement with NATO. Only some days ago was the United States given our OK for making use of that agreement to supply its cargoes to the International Security Assistance Force. Further steps are also possible. Just for the record, last April-May we discussed with our NATO colleagues the possibility of using Russian military and transport aviation to deliver cargoes to the International Security Assistance Force.

Any other agreements are also possible. What matters is that relations between Russia and NATO should be returned to normal. They got off the beaten track after our proposal to convene urgently an extraordinary meeting of the Russia-NATO Council, right at the height of the Georgia's attack against South Ossetia, was vetoed by a North-Atlantic Alliance state. These relations need to be set in order. We are prepared for that, but they could be normalized only on the basis of returning to the sources and to those principles that have been embodied in the fundamental act between Russia and NATO as well as documents that brought about the Russia-NATO Council. It is very clearly stated there that we participate in the work of the Russia-NATO Council in a national capacity rather than in the format of 26 against one, even not in the format of 26 plus one, but simply on the premise that there are 27 members – all the NATO members in their national capacity and Russia.

We respect the principle of indivisibility of security under which no one must ensure one's own security to the detriment of that of others. I hope that our NATO colleagues will reaffirm their commitment to our agreements. Following that, we will look into the reasons why those agreements were implemented so badly in the past and what should be done to avoid further breakdowns and focus truly on an honest, mutually advantageous and mutually respectful interaction in the resolution of acute, rather than artificially created, problems.

Question: The Middle East settlement was discussed at today's meeting. This region has become the "hottest" of late. How close are the positions of the EU and Russia?

Yesterday, elections were held in Israel. How will Russia and the EU interact with Israel's future government in order to facilitate speeding up of the talks with the Palestinian side? Was any initiative put forward by the Quartet regarding holding peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel?

Mr. Lavrov: As to our interaction with the European Union, I have already indicated that we keep by practically identical positions on Middle East issues. We proceed from these shared positions within the Quartet and we have managed to reflect our shared approaches in the documents and those proposals which we have tabled on behalf of the Quartet for the consideration by the parties.

At present, we have been working in concert. We agree with the European Union that everyone should actively support the efforts made by Egypt that are aimed at ensuring a stable cease-fire, preventing new outbursts of violence and restoring a normal functioning of the Gaza Strip.

We are also in agreement that it is necessary to strengthen intra-Palestinian unity and to avoid perpetuation of its split. It is necessary to ensure a coherent movement towards the goals set by the Arab peace initiative. So, we have been very closely and fruitfully cooperating with the European Union in this field.

As to the outcome of Israel's elections, the government there, as far as I am aware, has not yet been formed. Negotiations are underway on the make-up of a new government coalition. No one doubts at this stage that this should be a coalition. We hope that the new government of Israel will be committed to the agreements concluded earlier within the negotiating process, including the Road Map, as well as agreements reached between the Israelis and Palestinians with the support of the world community at the Annapolis Conference. I believe that the most important thing now is to ensure resolution of all issues that have arisen after the crisis in Gaza; at the same time however – and here we are in full agreement with our European partners – it is necessary to give thought to the resumption of the peace process which was dealt a serious blow. In the very near future, we will announce the dates of holding of the Moscow Conference on Middle East settlement which will become a follow-up to the process started in Annapolis. We hope that this forum will not focus on the discussion of current tasks by responding only to past events. It should allow to focus on how to move to the objective which is shared by everyone and is reflected in the UN Security Council decisions and which envisages the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Question: How could Russia help the United States in its efforts to discontinue the Iranian nuclear program so that the US side would drop the development of a shield against the Iranian threat?

Mr. Lavrov: Russian approach to the situation around the Iranian nuclear program is not aimed at helping anyone. Russia has been dealing with problem as a member of the Six which has worked out a collective position on a peaceful, political and diplomatic resolution of this specific issue. The Six includes representatives of the European Union, United States, Russia and China. The course charted by the Six should be implemented by all members of the group. Taking into account its fresh approach toward Iran, which began to show, we hope that the United States will be able to make a more effective contribution than in the past years to the resolution of this issue.

We attach particular importance to the intention announced by the new administration in Washington to open a direct dialogue with Iran. I am convinced that this will contribute to the shared efforts by the Six to implement those proposals which the Six tabled for consideration of Iran. I hope that the efforts made by Mr. Javier Solana and his colleagues on behalf of the Six concerning the creation of conditions for opening a negotiating process will be continued and crown with success.