Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia’s close adherence to the gas agreement concluded in the beginning of the year.
“As for us, we have no intention to reconsider Naftogaz-Gazprom agreement of January 4, 2006,” stressed Lavrov in the interview to Pravda (Slovakia) newspaper.
As the press service of Russia's Foreign Ministry revealed, responding to the question why the official statements refer to friendship and cooperation when in practice it is a divergence of positions, for example, on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Lavrov opined: “I would not draw such conclusions that there is a mismatch between our words and deeds. We understand that Slovakia acts on the international scene in the mainstream of the common positions of the EU and NATO. We respect its choice.
We understand that this lays some definite obligations upon Slovakia. We have a dialogue both with the EU and with NATO. On a whole array of issues we hold similar positions, on certain issues our assessments differ. There is nothing unnatural in this, because never, probably, will there be a situation in the world where all states without exception will identically approach this or that issue. The point is not to state the differences and regard them as obstacles to cooperation, but to work on the rapprochement of positions. That's the approach of Russia in our relations with the EU and NATO. The wish that may sometimes be discerned in such matters is to treat everyone in the world as if they were all alike, which simply is unrealistic. Everybody understands that such will never be the case. We and the European Union are interested in seeing Ukraine develop as a stable, democratic state and a responsible participant in international cooperation in Europe and in the world arena as a whole. Here the interests of Russia and the EU are absolutely identical.
It's another matter that sometimes from certain European capitals, of course not from Bratislava, calls were heard that Ukraine should make up its mind with whom it wants to be - with Russia or the EU. That's a provocation. But it does not reflect the profound interests of the EU which coincide with those of Russia to see Ukraine a stable and steady country.”
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