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FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH RIA NOVOSTI
MOSCOW, March 23, 2004 (RIA Novosti) - Official spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry (MID) Alexander Yakovenko said at a RIA Novosti press conference that the problems between Tbilisi and Batumi should be addressed within the Georgian state and by political means.
"From the very beginning, Russia promoted peaceful solution to all the issues facing Tbilisi and Batumi," stressed the diplomat. "This is our principled line." "We are interested in no conflicts in Georgia. Russia comes out for Georgia's territorial integrity and for its diplomatic approach to all issues," he said.
"We want to see Georgia thriving as our good neighbour and posing no terrorist threat ever again," he said.
Mr. Yakovenko said that the Russian Foreign Ministry positively assessed the efforts of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov to ease tensions in Tbilisi-Batumi relations. "As for the results of his [Luzhkov] visit to Batumi, specific agreements have been achieved and hailed by the Georgian and Adzharian leaders." As for the settlement in Transdniestria (a self-proclaimed republic of Moldova), Mr. Yakovenko expressed Moscow's readiness to pullout the remaining ammunition from it.
"Whenever possible, a relevant echelon is sent back to Russia when agreements to the effect are reached. We will continue doing so," said the diplomat.
Mr. Yakovenko also said that the United States had the opportunity of actively promoting the settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict.
"The OSCE is a mediator in the Transdniestrian conflict together with Russia and Ukraine. The United States is an active member of this organisation too," he said.
According to him, this issue was discussed during US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Moscow. "We are maintaining an active dialogue with the OSCE, and the United States has the opportunity for co-operation in this area," said Mr. Yakovenko.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman named the Kosovo situation as the focus of the Russia-Nato Council's upcoming session. "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will take part in the session," he said.
Mr. Yakovenko also elaborated on the statements of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Steven Pifer on the outcome of the presidential elections in Chechnya.
Honestly, Pifer's interview surprised me, said Mr. Yakovenko.
According to him, Akhmad Kadyrov was elected by the majority of votes, 80% of the republic's population. "I don't understand what Mr Pifer is questioning after this," said Mr. Yakovenko.
"Undoubtedly, Chechnya has opted for peace, economic development and democracy. This is the way Chechnya is following now," noted the Foreign Ministry spokesman.
The deployment of NATO aircraft in the Baltic republics contradicts the spirit of partnership between Russia and the alliance, according to Mr Yakovenko.
"The logic of NATO's activity does not correspond to the spirit and guidelines of current Russia-NATO cooperation, above all to the Rome summit, which was designed to promote stability, predictability and mutual trust," said Mr Yakovenko.
"We are studying this decision of NATO countries, above all, in terms of its compliance with the Russia-NATO Founding Act and the amended Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. NATO plans to deploy military contingents, which will include combat aircraft and anti-missile defences, in close proximity to Russia's frontiers," said the diplomat.
"These plans, undoubtedly, threaten Russia's security. The rhetoric that they are part of the anti-terrorist effort is totally unconvincing. It is deplorable that NATO members were not guided by the realistic assessment of the situation in the region when they adopted this decision. A direct terrorist threat does not emanate from the region, among other things, thanks to unprecedented efforts to reduce military potentials taken by Russia and other countries," noted the Russian diplomat.
"NATO is guided by its internal rules while it is seeking to protect its members. Whereas the alliance believes it needs additional contingents in the region, Russia may respond adequately if necessary. Russia is considering making a retaliatory move," said Mr Yakovenko.
The diplomat said Russia would not suspend the construction of a nuclear reactor in Bushehr, southern Iran. It is intent on continuing cooperation with Iran in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as no IAEA resolution whatsoever bans such cooperation, according to Mr Yakovenko.
Russia hopes Iran, for its part, will continue cooperating with the agency.
Russian-Iranian cooperation in the nuclear sphere will continue on condition that spent nuclear fuel should be returned to Russia, emphasised the diplomat. He recalled that a relative protocol would be signed in the near future, apparently, during a visit to Iran by Alexander Rumyantsev, chief of Russia's Federal Nuclear Energy Agency.