Russia's Permanent
Representative at the EU Vladimir Chizhov said that sanctions against Moscow
"make interests of European business also suffer a lot".
ATHENS, March 1.
/TASS/. Attempts to influence Russia's policy through sanctions are
ineffective, Russian Permanent Representative at the EU Vladimir Chizhov said
on Friday at the 4th Delphi Economic Forum.
"Speaking about
economy I need to emphasize that attempts to influence Russia's policy via
sanctions are ridiculous," Chizhov said. "Events of recent years
demonstrated that such efforts are vain and, by the way, make interests of
European business also suffer a lot, as well as our relations in general,
including with our largest trade and economic partner - the European
Union," he added.
"Against this
backdrop the easiest thing for Russia would be to follow a trend that is in
fashion today and to 'pivot to Asia', especially since it is there that the
bigger part of my country's territory lies. Actually we are increasingly active
in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the PRC, ASEAN countries and
other Asian partners, but we are not doing it to undermine or punish Europe. We
do not make friends 'against Europe' or the West as a whole," he
continued.
"Russia, as a
country located on two continents and thereby uniting Eurasia by virtue of its
geography, history and cultural tradition, is genuinely interested in
maintaining equally friendly relations on the West and on the East,"
Chizhov said.
"Currently
leaders of major EU countries are more and more often thinking of a new
configuration of cooperation in Europe and more outspoken about the need to
take their fate in their hands. I believe it is important that EU member states
remember that they will not be able to uphold their positions against rising
economic giants - in Asia today, in Latin America tomorrow, in Africa the day
after tomorrow - unless they listen closely to Russia's words about
establishing a common economic and humanitarian space in Eurasia. Defedning
what we call 'European civilization' is only possible if one of its supporting
pillars, Russia, is fully engaged," he explained.
According to the
diplomat, modern international law system was formed in the framework of the
institutions established after World War II, namely the United Nations, the
European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and NATO.
"However, today
this term of international law has been subjected to revision and
erosion," Chizhov noted. "Instead of this well-known and clear term
for several years our European and US partners have been including in their
speeches and official documents a phase 'internationally recognized rules and
norms'. Moreover, they gradually try to accustom to it their interlocutors
around the world," he said.
As a responsible
international player, a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security
Council, Russia is concerned with this situation, the diplomat said. Over the
past decades, Russia has put forward many far-reaching initiatives aimed at
enhancing world order based on international law and creating such a security
system, most notably in Europe, which would ensure equal guarantees for all.
"But Russia has never tried to monopolize this work and was always open
for cooperation with everyone who was ready to take part in it," Chizhov
said.
Source: ITAR-TASS
03-03-2019
