📸 Heads of delegations take part in the #FamilyPhoto ceremony ahead of the "BRICS Plus" Ministerial Meeting

📍 Nizhny Novgorod, June 11

#BRICS2024

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at a meeting with Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting (Nizhny Novgorod, June 10, 2024)

💬 We are happy to welcome you to Nizhny Novgorod, the capital of the Volga Federal District and the Nizhny Novgorod Region, which actively cooperates with the People’s Republic of China, including through the implementation of the well-known and beneficial Volga-Yangtze project.

During our recent meeting in Astana, we exchanged thoughts on the traditional Russian-Chinese Summit, which took place in May of this year. Our Presidents outlined the main direction for advancing our strategic cooperation in the context of the comprehensive partnership between Russia and China.

We have a special responsibility for foreign policy coordination, primarily at the UN Security Council, #BRICS, #SCO, #G20, #APEC, and other multilateral formats. The Global Majority countries have an increasingly positive perception of our engagement with our Chinese friends. The number of our opinion allies and countries interested in cooperation with BRICS and the SCO is steadily expanding.

Today’s ministerial meeting, the first after BRICS’ enlargement, will be dedicated to discussing these trends and charting guidelines for further development and determination. We will submit these to our leaders at the summit in Kazan in October 2024.

#RussiaChina

🇷🇺🇧🇷 On June 10, Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with Foreign Minister of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The Ministers had a productive and engaging discussion on various issues concerning the bilateral strategic partnership. They focused on the key aspects of Moscow-Brasilia collaboration at international platforms, primarily #BRICS and the #G20, as both countries are holding the chairmanship of these associations throughout 2024.

Additionally, the Foreign Ministers aligned their positions on a number of international and regional matters, including the situation in Ukraine.

🤝 The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, which is a traditional feature of Russian-Brazilian interactions.

#RussiaBrazil

🇷🇺🇿🇦 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Naledi Pandor on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The meeting focused on topical issues of bilateral strategical partnership, with an emphasis on expanding trade and economic cooperation. Both Parties expressed an interest in deepening political dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to effective cooperation at the #UN, #BRICS, the #G20 and other international platforms.

The participants also discussed further opportunities for the contribution of South Africa and a number of other representatives of the Global South in finding solutions to the Ukraine crisis proceeding from the common understanding of the origins and causes of the crisis.

During the discussion on Middle East issues, concerns were raised about the ongoing escalation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation. Additionally, the Ministers considered some aspects of the current situation in Africa and Europe.

#RussiaSouthAfrica

🇷🇺🇮🇷 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

During the meeting, Minister Lavrov once again expressed his deepest condolences to his Iranian counterpart over the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He acknowledged their significant contribution to the development of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. In response, Mr Bagheri Kani expressed his gratitude for the sincere sympathy and empathy shown by the top political leadership of the Russian Federation and all Russians towards the people of Iran. He emphasised that this gesture will always be remembered in Iran.

The Ministers emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to establish a strategic partnership between Russia and Iran in accordance with the political guidelines set by the leaders of the two states. Both Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the unconditional implementation of all projects and areas of cooperation agreed upon under the Government of Ebrahim Raisi.

An in-depth discussion was held on the main international and regional issues of mutual interest, including cooperation within BRICS and the #SCO.

The Ministers gave special attention to the finalisation of a new comprehensive interstate agreement, the main parameters of which have been coordinated by both Parties.

#RussiaIran

🇷🇺🇱🇦 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Saleumxay Kommasith in the BRICS Plus/Outreach format on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the state of Russia-Laos strategic partnership, as well as the prospects for further advancement. They focused on the implementation of agreements reached following talks between the Leaders of the two countries in Moscow on May 9.

The discussion also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest, as well as the #RussiaASEAN Dialogue Partnership in the context of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s chairmanship of #ASEAN in 2024. Additionally, they exchanged views on interaction within the #SCO and other multilateral formats, including BRICS.

The conversation took place in a friendly and trust-based atmosphere, which is a traditional feature of Russia-Laos relations.

#RussiaLaos

🇷🇺🇪🇹 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Taye Atske Selassie on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The discussion focused on key areas for enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, trade, economy, science, technology and humanitarian ties.

Moscow and Addis Ababa reiterated their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and close coordination of approaches within the #UN and #BRICS, including in the context of the Russia’s BRICS presidency.

The two Ministers held a confidential discussion on engagement at the UN and other international organisations. Detailed discussions were held on conflicts in Africa, with a specific emphasis on the situation in the Horn of Africa.

#RussiaEthiopia

🇷🇺🇹🇭 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Maris Sangiampongsa on the sidelines of the meeting of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers in Nizhny Novgorod.

During the conversation, prospects for the development of Russian-Thai cooperation in priority areas were discussed, including promoting political dialogue, further building up trade and economic ties and cultural exchanges, as well as issues of combining efforts on international platforms.

Current issues on the regional agenda were discussed.

#RussiaThailand

🇷🇺🇪🇬 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

During their conversation, the Officials discussed various important aspects of the Middle East agenda, with a particular focus on the current escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They emphasised the urgent need to increase international efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and provide sustainable humanitarian access to the area, ensuring necessary assistance to the population of the Palestinian enclave.

The Ministers also explored ways to further strengthen the traditionally friendly Russian-Egyptian relations, including efforts to maintain political dialogue and advancing trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties.

#RussiaEgypt

🇷🇺🇸🇦 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The two countries’ Ministers focused on the prospects of further cooperation in various areas of bilateral relations.

They had an in-depth discussion on topical issues on the global and regional agendas and reaffirmed their shared position on the need to consolidate collective efforts to ensure political and diplomatic settlements of acute crises on the Middle East, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as quickly as possible.

#RussiaSaudiArabia

⚡️ Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on the outcomes of the election to the European Parliament

Elections to the European Parliament (EP) were held in 27 EU member states from June 6 to June 9, following which a new 720-seat EU representative body will be formed and remain operational during the next five years.

☝️ Notably, the European elections were held:
• amid stringent restrictions,
• lack of fair competition,
• the mopped-up information space that had no place for alternative sources of information,
• unbridled anti-Russian campaign.

The political forces opposing the mindless confrontation with Russia that is damaging to the EU itself were subjected to discrimination, and frequently to outright pressure and harassment.

This election campaign went beyond the pale in terms of absurdity and irresponsibility of the remarks made by EU politicians. Every time the EU bureaucrats spoke about the European elections, they mentioned the “Russian connection,” Russia’s “interference,” and the “hidden hand of the Kremlin,” as well as the importance of “Ukraine’s victory” in the “war against Russia.”

Moreover, under the banner of countering the alleged “Moscow’s interference” in the EU’s electoral processes, systematic efforts were undertaken to prevent the political parties that uphold the true interests of the EU member states and their people rather than those imposed by Washington from strengthening their positions in the EP. Any disagreement with the policy pursued by Brussels or its consequences for the socioeconomic situation in the EU was instantly equated with “working in the interests of the Kremlin.”

Observation of the EP elections, if any, was of a purely token nature. There were only 19 observers in the OSCE ODIHR special mission which recognised the European elections’ compliance with all standards.

❗️ However, even under these circumstances, many European voters clearly voted against the EU mainstream policy pursued over the past several years.

Voting in a significant number of the EU member states took on a distinctly protest nature which could be seen from the support for the opposition parties and a tellingly low turnout. A significant strengthening of the positions of the nationally-minded political forces that oppose the erosion of national sovereignty and identity and the replacement of traditional values with neoliberal approaches could be seen in the leading EU member states, including the ones that stood at the origin of European integration.

Disappointed with the EU policy, voters in the Baltic States have essentially disregarded the elections. In Latvia and Estonia, just over a third of registered voters showed up at the ballot boxes. In Lithuania, the turnout was under 30 percent. The situation was not much better in other countries with a particularly vocal anti-Russian stance, such as Poland, Finland, and the Czech Republic.

🔻 However, judging from the reaction of the EU mainstream forces which, by hook or by crook, managed to obtain a total majority of seats in the new EP, they are not going to draw the correct conclusions. As a matter of fact, no one was expecting it, because the EP has long ago turned into a body that serves the interests that have little to do with the aspirations of ordinary Europeans. They are more used to listening to the orders coming from overseas and the wishes of transnational companies, including the military-industrial complex.

Over the past several years, the EP’s confrontational stance towards our country has degenerated to an unprecedented level of hostility. This institution, which produces endless anti-Russian texts, has discredited itself and become an openly Russophobic entity that welcomes all sorts of sketchy characters on the fringes of society who refer to themselves as the “Russian opposition” and even extremists and terrorists.

The “ideological basis” for continued support of the EU’s self-destructive political course driven by Russophobia has been preserved following the elections to the European Parliament.

🇷🇺🇰🇿 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a brief meeting with Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The Foreign Ministers discussed the development of the strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as topical issues of regional and international security. They also compared the schedules for upcoming events at the high and highest levels.

The conversation was held in an amicable, friendly atmosphere, which is inherent to the Russian-Kazakhstani dialogue.

#RussiaKazakhstan

🇷🇺🇱🇰 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The discussion focused on topical issues related to the bilateral agenda. Both Parties expressed their interest in maintaining regular political dialogue and expanding cooperation in practical spheres.

They also discussed cooperation at various multilateral platforms including BRICS.

#RussiaSriLanka