The IX International Cultural Forum will take place in St.Petersburg on 16-18 November, 2023.

The project is organised by the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Government of St.Petersburg.

At the event leading cultural figures, representatives of authorities and business community of Russia and foreign countries will exchange their ideas as well as discuss current cultural development trends and issues.

The business programme of the Forum will consist of three units: History learning through culture, Artificial Intelligence – a threat or a benefit for culture, Traditional culture as a foundation for building a civilized society.

You can find more detailed information about the event on its official website: https://culturalforum.ru/en .

#spbicf2023

🎙 Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following UNSC consultations on the Middle East (October 13, 2023)

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💬 We unequivocally condemn the acts of extreme brutality, killings and the horrifying scale of violence. Any killings and violence against peaceful civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian citizens, is inadmissible.

What happened on October 7 on Israeli territory is unacceptable. Israel by all means has the right to protect its own citizens. We also reiterate the right of Israel to ensure its security.

However, there are two inseparable dimensions of the unfolding tragedy, and we can’t highlight one and ignore the other. Indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in Gaza, cutting this territory from water and electricity, its blockade which brings to our minds in particular the memories of the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War are also unacceptable.

Israel’s actions of collective punishment of Gaza citizens as well as its demands to evacuate more than 1 mln civilians in 24 hours and concentrate them in a de-facto ghetto in the south of the sector are also unacceptable and can lead to irreversible catastrophic consequences, regionally and globally.

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We call for an immediate ceasefire and the prevention of further escalation of the conflict. We are convinced that the Security Council must act to put an end to the bloodshed and restart peace negotiations with a view to establishing a Palestinian State as it was supposed to do so long ago.

To this end, we are circulating a draft resolution of the UN Security Council which calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire and for an unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance, as well as condemns all violence and all acts of terrorism. This draft is open for cosponsorship of all UN Member-States.

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We stand ready for the mediation and we have capacities for it, provided both sides are interested in it.

15 ноября 2023 года в ГК «Президент-отель» (г. Москва, ул. Большая Якиманка д. 24) при поддержке ЕЭК состоится V юбилейный Евразийский Деловой Форум «Интеграция». В этом году основной идеей форума станет определение Стратегии опережающего развития ЕАЭС с акцентом на Большое Евразийское партнерство.

https://eacongress.com/otkryta-registracziya-na-v-evrazijskij-delovoj-forum-integracziya/

🎙 Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (Moscow, October 10, 2023)

🔹 FM Sergey Lavrov’s schedule
🔹 Palestinian-Israeli conflict
🔹 Ukrainian crisis
🔹 Investigation into the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines
🔹 Upcoming general local elections in Moldova
🔹 Nuremberg Trials
🔹 Illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington
🔹 Reform of the WTO

and much more...

📚 Read in full

#MiddleEast

💬 We are extremely concerned about the developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone.

The top priority now is a ceasefire and stopping the bloodshed. We support the efforts of all stakeholders to address this critical issue. This would make it possible to avoid new casualties, end the suffering of the civilian population, ensure their evacuation through humanitarian corridors and prevent the situation from sliding into a region-wide humanitarian disaster.

#Ukraine

💬 Against the backdrop of the Middle East events, US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested that some of the NATO-supplied weapons imported to Ukraine could have been used in the hostilities in Israel.

It is gratifying that the West, albeit fatally late, is beginning to see the light. Some are beginning to realise what is happening, even if only a few people. Russia has long warned the sponsors of the Kiev regime about the high risks of their weapons ending up on the black market and spreading around the world. And that's exactly what has happened.

#RussiaChina

💬 Russia and China speak out against illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington and its satellites. We consider them merely a manifestation of their impotent rage against the emerging new democratic multipolar international order.

Moscow and Beijing are interested in developing international trade and economic ties based on mutual benefits and honest competition. We condemn the attempts to achieve one’s own economic prosperity at the expense of others, because it is nothing but colonialism.

🎙 Concluding his working visit to the People's Republic of China, President Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian media (October 18, 2023)

#RussiaChina

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Regarding the influence of external factors and conflicts on the development of Russian-Chinese relations, all these external factors amount to common threats, and they strengthen Russian-Chinese interaction.

I am optimistic about specific prospects. In March, we reached certain agreements and set forth eight clauses. Right now, the prime ministers will have to clarify these clauses in Bishkek, and they will sign a plan for our interaction until 2030. This is a very good, specific and substantial plan.

China's Belt and Road initiative is a global initiative and concerns practically every region of the world. What is called the Eurasian Partnership is a local-scale project. Without any doubt, one complements the other.

#MiddleEast

Regarding the impressions I got during conversations with the five regional leaders: I have an impression that no one wants this conflict to continue or expand, or the situation to escalate.

we have always advocated the creation of a Palestinian state that would be independent, sovereign and with a capital in East Jerusalem. After all, as demonstrated by today’s crisis, there is no way you can use momentary economic handouts in the way attempted by the United States, in lieu of addressing fundamental political issues dealing with the future of the Palestinian nations. We need to address fundamental political issues.

#Ukraine

If the Ukrainian side really wants to negotiate, it should not make any theatrical gestures but instead start by cancelling the presidential executive order prohibiting talks [with Russia].

Practical steps must be taken if there is a real desire to hold negotiations.

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🎙 Excerpts from the interview of Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to Chinese Global Times Newspaper (October 19 , 2023):

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Developing relations of comprehensive interaction and strategic partnership with China is our absolute priority.

• Strong interstate ties between Russia and China have a long history and have successfully withstood the test of time, and today our ties are also overcoming the challenges related to the pandemic, the unstable international situation, and the systematic attempts by Westerners to organize large-scale sanctions pressure.

🤝 Our countries remain committed to the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and mutual support on issues affecting key national interests. The policies of Western countries to maintain their hegemony by destabilizing Russia and China are bound to fail.

🇺🇳 Russia and China closely coordinate their efforts on the world stage, based on the high consonance of their positions on major international issues. The sovereign foreign policy course we have taken, our willingness to protect the goals and principles of the UN Charter and uphold the supremacy of international law.

❗️ The relations between Russia and China are a paragon of interstate cooperation between major powers in the 21st century.

• Russia is cooperating with China on pairing the EAEU development and the Belt and Road Initiative. We view this important integration project as the backbone and key element in building a broad unifying framework for the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

☝️ Many of the current events clearly show that the unipolar world order is indeed being replaced by a multipolar one. This is evidenced by the success of the BRICS and G20 summits. New centres of economic growth and political influence are emerging in all regions of the world. Among them are China, India, Brazil, several Arab states, Türkiye, Indonesia and some other ASEAN countries.

#RussiaChina

⚡️ Address by the State Duma to the UN and the parliaments of foreign states over the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

💬 Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation appeal to the United Nations Organisation and the parliaments of foreign states to take every measure possible as a matter of urgency to stop the bloodshed and the escalation of violence against civilians in the course of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to prevent an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the Middle East.

We strongly condemn all and any violations of the international humanitarian law by the conflicting sides, such as the use of munitions that have been prohibited under international treaties, carpet bombing, strikes at civilian infrastructure, first of all, medical facilities, energy and water supply systems, and the coercive relocation of local residents.

Those guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity must be called to account and severely punished.

☝️ We regard the policy of the US-led collective West as immoral and irresponsible; their current actions are hindering the settlement of the Middle East conflict and are instead adding fuel to conflagration in that long-suffering region.

❗️Nothing can camouflage the failure of Washington’s Middle East policy.

State Duma deputies call on members of parliament in all countries to do everything in their power to put an end to hostilities in the conflict zone, organise humanitarian corridors and provide the necessary assistance to the injured and the victims’ families.

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⚔️ On October 22, 1944, the Red Army commenced the liberation of the Norway's northern regions (Eastern Finnmark) from the Nazi invaders.

While fleeing, the Germans burned and destroyed houses, bridges, and forcibly moved the civilian population to the west. Those who refused "evacuation" went into hiding. Not far from Kirkenes, Soviet soldiers saved 3,500 innocent civilians who had sought refuge in a mine, that the Nazis had planned to detonate upon discovery.

On the liberated territories, the Red Army provided assistance to the civilian population, which ended up in an incredibly difficult situation due to the devastation caused by the German invaders. Soviet soldiers did not occupy surviving buildings, instead offering them to Norwegians who lost their homes. They allocated provisions from the Red Army's warehouses, opened hospitals, and provided locals with medical care.

The military operation resulted in Germany losing a crucial source of strategic resources. The Kriegsmarine on northern communications were also severely limited.

☝️ The defeat of the Nazis in the Arctic region marked the beginning of the liberation of the rest of Norway from German invaders, encouraged the Norwegian resistance to fight the enemy, doing so with the support of the Soviet operational command.

The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany ended on May 8, 1945.

#Victory78

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to organisers and guests of an official United Nations Day reception (Moscow, October 24, 2023)

💬 Today, when the world is experiencing genuine tectonic shifts linked with the creation of a multipolar system, it is hard to overestimate the significance of the UN in promoting equitable interstate cooperation and searching for concerted answers to numerous challenges and threats.

Owing to its universal legitimacy, the UN boasts unique capabilities for facilitating multilateral interaction in multiple spheres, including efforts to maintain international peace and security, protecting human rights and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development.

Consequently, genuine multilateralism is inseparably linked with the UN and the principles of the UN Charter. No organisations established on a limited scale outside the UN framework can claim the right to express the opinion of the entire international community.

As a UN co-founding state and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia comprehends its special responsibility for the future destiny of this highly important international body. We will closely coordinate our actions with our supporters, and we will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the UN, including within the framework of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations.

🇷🇺🇺🇳 We are certainly ready to continue constructive dialogue with UN representatives in Russia.

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#UNCharterIsOurRules

Комментарий Посла России в Норвегии Т.О.Рамишвили для норвежских СМИ в связи с церемонией возложения венков к памятнику советским воинам в г.Киркенес

Почтить память бойцов Красной армии, которые отдали свою жизнь при освобождении северной Норвегии, это не только право, но и обязанность Генерального консула России в Киркенесе.

Хотел бы подчеркнуть, что в рядах Красной армии воевали не только русские, но и белорусы, казахи, украинцы, а также представители других многочисленных народов СССР. И никто не может отнять у официального представителя России, являющейся международно-признанным правопреемником СССР, право провести такого рода церемонию.

В свою очередь мы не только не возражаем, но и приветствуем участие представителей других народов СССР, в т.ч. Украины, в таких церемониях не только в Киркенесе, но и в других регионах Норвегии.

Помимо прочего, памятники советским воинам являются публичными пространствами и вопрос каких-либо юридических ограничений на мероприятия возле них находится в компетенции норвежских правоохранительных и судебных властей, а не русофобски настроенных политиков.

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Kommentar fra Russlands Ambassadør i Norge Teymuraz Ramishvili til norske medier i forbindelse med kranseleggingsseremoni ved minnesmerket over sovjetiske soldater i Kirkenes

Det å hedre minne over soldater av Den røde arme som har gitt deres liv under frigjøringen av Nord-Norge er ikke bare rett, men plikt av Russlands generalkonsul i Kirkenes.

Jeg ville understreke at det var ikke bare russere som kjempet i styrkene av Den røde arme, men også hviterussere, kasakher, ukrainere, samt mange andre folk i Sovjetunionen. Og det er ingen som kan frata den offisielle representanten fra Russland som er Sovjetunionens internasjonalt anerkjente arvtager, retten til å gjennomføre en slik seremoni.

Fra våre hold er vi på ingen måte imot, men ønsker velkommen deltakelsen av representanter for andre folk i Sovjetunionen, inkludert Ukraina, i slike seremonier, ikke bare i Krikenes, men også andre steder i Norge.

Dessuten gjelder minnesmerker over sovjetiske soldater som offentlige rom og det er norske rettshåndhevende myndigheter som er ansvarlige for spørsmål angående eventuelle juridiske begrensninger på arrangementer i nærheten, men ikke russerfiendtlig innstilte politikere.

🗓 27 октября в МИД России был вызван посол Королевства Норвегия в Российской Федерации Р.Квиле в связи с возмутительными действиями норвежских властей, попытавшихся сорвать 25 октября традиционные мероприятия в северонорвежском г. Киркенесе по чествованию памяти советских воинов, погибших при освобождении Северной Норвегии от немецко-фашистских захватчиков.

Послу жёстко указано на неприемлемость ограничения прав российских представителей на проведение памятных церемоний. Действия мэра коммуны Сёр-Варангер, лично участвовавшего в перемещении венков Генерального консульства, которые затем и вовсе были убраны, являются актом вандализма, примером русофобии, неуважения и попрания памяти воинов-освободителей.

❗️ Похоже, утрачена не только историческая память, но и совесть.

Акцентировано, что происходящее в Норвегии вокруг этой памятной даты, наряду со сделанными ранее заявлениями руководства губернии Финнмарк о намерении в будущем году пригласить на празднование 80-летия освобождения Северной Норвегии президента Украины и «выпячиванием» заслуг отдельных народов СССР в освобождении Северной Норвегии, расцениваем как сознательные усилия по фальсификации истории и нивелированию роли Советского Союза в победе над фашизмом.

Дипмиссии России в Норвегии (Посольство России в Норвегии, Генконсульство России в Киркенесе), российские соотечественники продолжат отдавать дань памяти воинам и норвежскому сопротивлению, победившим фашизм, спасшим жизнь многих мирных жителей Северной Норвегии. Нельзя делить, исходя из соображений сиюминутной политической конъюнктуры в неблаговидных целях, Победу на свою и чужую.

Norges Ambassadør tilkalt til Russlands Utenriksministerium

Melding til medier

27. oktober Kongeriket Norges Ambassadør i Den Russiske Føderasjon Robert Kvile ble tilkalt til Russlands Utenriksministerium i forbindelse med forkastelige handlinger av norske myndigheter som prøvde å forstyrre tradisjonelt arrangement i nord-norske Kirkenes 25. oktober da man hedret minne over sovjetiske soldater som omkom under frigjøringen av Nord-Norge fra tysk - fascistiske okkupanter.

Man påpekte strengt for Ambassadøren at det er uakseptabelt å begrense retten til å gjennomføre minneseremonier. Handlinger av ordføreren i Sør-Varanger kommune, som selv deltok i flyttingen av kransene fra Det russiske Generalkonsulatet i Kirkenes som ble fjernet fullstendig etterpå, er et hærverk. Det er en eksempel på rusofobi, mangel på respekt og nedsetting av minnet over frigjøringssoldater. Det ser ut at ikke bare hukommelse men også samvittighet er fortapt.

Det er understreket at det som skjer rundt denne minnedagen i Norge i rekke med tidligere uttalelser fra ledelsen i Finnmark om å invitere Ukrainas president neste år til 80-årsjubileum for frigjøring av Nord-Norge med å peke ut innsatsen av enkelte folk i Sovjetunionen vurderes av oss som tilsiktede anstrengelser å forfalske historien og nedsette Sovjetunionens rolle i seieren over fascisme.

Russlands utenriksstasjoner i Norge, russiske landsmenn vil fortsette å hedre minne over soldater og den norske motstandsbevegelsen som overmannet fascisme, reddet liv til mange sivile folk i Nord-Norge. Det er ikke lov til å dele seieren til sin egen og til noen andres ved å ut fra forståelsen som ledes av den kortsiktige politiske konjunkturen med nedrige formål.

🎙 Comment by the Foreign Ministry’s Official Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the Kiev regime’s terrorist attack on the Kursk NPP

💬 In the evening of October 26, the Ukrainian Armed Forces intentionally attacked the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant with three unmanned aerial vehicles.

One of the UAVs, loaded with explosives, crashed into a nuclear waste warehouse and damaged its walls. The other two fell on the plant’s administrative building complex.

❗️ According to preliminary data, the unmanned aerial vehicles used to attack the nuclear power plant had components supplied by Western countries.

⚠️ This incident clearly shows that the criminal Kiev regime will stop at nothing, including acts of nuclear terrorism. They could not but realise that the UAV attack could have resulted in a full-scale nuclear disaster that would have affected many countries. There could have been no other objectives set for attacking a nuclear power plant, a purely peaceful infrastructure facility.

By attacking the Kursk NPP, the Kiev regime put itself on a par with the most odious terrorist organisations. The fact that this crime could not have been committed without the permission and, possibly, a direct order of its Western curators is of particular concern.

☝️ We call on all governments to strongly condemn Kiev’s barbaric actions, which are extremely dangerous and can lead to irreparable consequences. Relevant international organisations, environmental NGOs and civil society must also give an appropriate assessment of this act of terrorism.