It is my pleasure to welcome the foreign minister. 13 years, more or like that. Since we are running out of time this morning, i will not give long introductions. If we have time, we will have a few questions at the end. [applause] thank you. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. President putin addressed the conference and many back at the content of the was we need to get to equally footed based on International Law and joint valuations. Equally footed cooperation based on International Law and joint evaluation of International Law and finding collective solutions. Nevertheless, the expressed forewarnings regarding all the added attempts to thwart attempts to reinstate these forewarnings became truth. Right now this historic stage which can be defined as post cold war has come to an end. The main outcome in our belief has become the failure to adapt new institutions to the post cold war per. Period. Lets look at the results of the middle east and northern africa. Nato has led to unprecedented over 30 years level of tensions and this year we mark 20 years of signing of nature 15 years since the adoption of the declaration about a new quality of nato russian relations. The basis for the documents was the obligation of russia and the west to jointly ensure security based on newt which you will respect of each others interest, strengthening confidence and preventing threat in the euro atlantic region, not to create demarcation lines. This did not happen mainly due to the fact that nato still remained a cold war institution. Many say that wars start in the heads of people, and according to this logic, they should stop there as well. Unfortunately, this did not happen with the cold war. We can judge about that in we can judge about that in regard to many appearances by politicians in europe and the u. S. , including the statements which were heard yesterday and today, at the beginning of our conference. Spreading of nato, i have mentioned that already, we vehemently disagree with those who blame russia and the new centers of world in their attempts to thwart the socalled new liberal order. The crisis was programmed, back the crisis was programmed, back then it was inherent because the process of economic and political globalization was thought out as a main kid in order to increase the domination of an elite club of states in the world. The standing of such system cannot be a long term one and right now responsible leaders should make a choice. I hope the choice will be done in favor of creating a democratic and just world order. If you want, you can call it post west world order when each country based on its sovereignty within the rules of International Law, will strive to find a balance between its own National Interests and the National Interests of partners with a respect for culture historical, identity of each country. Russia has never tried to hide its views and has been frank in promoting creating a common space of Good Neighbor relations, security, space, and development from vancouver. The tension of the best here is an russia its natural and counternatural. Russia is a youre race sean power uniting a plethora of cultures an nationalities, and well wishing towards all countries, first and foremost to our neighbors. They have always been a part of our politics. And with this position, we work within cis, euroasian economic union. Mutual benefit lie in the basis of europe. Were part of one continue innocent. Weve written history, reached successes when weve worked together for the benefit of our nations. Millions of soviet union people gave their lives for the freedom of europe and we want to see a free europe. Independent in international affairs. We hope that it will carefully treat our Common Future and remain open for the world. We cannot rejoice at the fact that the e. U. Still cant find strength in order to abandon the policy with regard to russia. This principle of least common denominator when common sense has been sacrificed to minorities speculated on the principle of solidarity, we expect reason defeats monsters. What kind of relations work with the u. S. . Mutual respect, understanding our special responsibility for global stability. Our two countries have never been in direct conflict. We have much more friendly history than standoffs. Russia has done quite a good deal to support the independence of the United States when they were becoming unified, a strong state. It is in our common interest to constructively base russiau. S. Relations, even more so now that the u. S. Is no more far away than europe. The bearing street is only four kilometers wide and thats what separates us. We have immense potential there but its still yet to be tapped into and were open for that in as much as the u. S. Open for that as well. Today there is an abundance of evaluation of Global Threats such as global drug traffic problems in afghanistan, in libya, with bleeding syria, yemen, and other countries. I hope the miniconference will give us a chance to discuss these issues including the remaining conflicts in europe. The main thing is that a settlement cannot be achieved through military methods. This regards the ukrainian conflict. There is no alternative to implementation of a package of measures through direct its the position of russia, and the u. N. Security council as well. The most important thing is that authorities start to implement their words. Right now, we need dialogue more than ever on all difficult issues. We need to find compromises. Continuing actions in confrontation and zero sum games are useless. Russia is not looking for conflicts with anyone but well all be able to protect its interests. We want to strive for dialogue, to find understanding based on mutual benefit. It will be natural to give here the words of alexander in july, 1861, he addressed the ambassador of the u. S. With these words. There are no such non interests which cannot be brought together by work in the spirit of just and moderation. If everyone can sign under these words then we can simply overcome the post truth period and abandon the hysteric information wars in the Global Community and continue work without lies. Let it be post fake era. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much. This was a brief statement and well have time to have questions. The first hand that went up was lucas right here in the second row. Can somebody give him a microphone. It coming. Thank you, mr. Minister. I wanted to ask you a very specific question about the military exercises. We personally see military exercises. The socalled snap exercises. And this year, well have west 17, the biggest military exercise over the past 20 years, and the neighbors, of course, are worried, they do not understand why such exercises are nontransparent. What can we do in order to rebuild confidence . You know that the relations between russia and nato and the natorussia Council Activities was frozen through nato initiative. Though after the caucasian crisis in august 2008, our american colleagues, condoleezza rice, in particular, said that the freezing was a mistake and it should be even more active during the exacerbation time. But we make the same mistakes and alliance made a decision to stop all practical activities. And, yes, it was reiterated yesterday. He said it in the context, between the ambassadors in the nato Russian Council and his contacts with me, they are prepared to continue that, but the practical work has been rolled back. At a certain stage, the president of finland, which is not a nato member, expressed concern that not only russian airplanes but also nato airplanes fly with turned off transponders over the baltic region in. His visit during russia he touched on this topic with president putin. After that, he test our military to prepare propositions in order to how to solve the issue of transponders and the overall airspace security in the nato region. Our military has brought in july of last year, some proposals, and there was a nato Russian Council meeting back then. We were positive that such specific proposals would be adopted right away, and the experts would sit down and look at how to make the security more efficient. This did not happen. Up to this point. Yesterday, i was told that there was hope that experts will finally gather in march. Well, its quite a long time, but city, our conscience is clear here. Yesterday, he talked about the topic which u. S. Made and he expressed satisfaction with the fact that Russian Military briefed about the late fall exercises, and we hope that the exercises planned for this year, they will be also a special briefing in regard to that, as for a snap exercises im not a military man but i know that military attache people including from nato are invited to such exercises. Those who work in moscow. But my main answer to your question, and told that to secretary general of nato, in order to alleviate all of these concerns, problems, we need to renew military cooperation. Yesterday, surrounded by his deputies, he cant say he did not say nato is prepared for that and thats regrettable because without practical cooperation any words by diplomats cannot bring no added value there. In regard to solving the security issues. Now, as for our overall relations with nato, we have proposed quite a long time ago, before we do the blame game, we need to talk the walk and walk the talk. As for increased nato potential on the borders of russia, before that was done, it was necessary to sit down and carefully talk about whats the situation is. We suggested to look at the maps, who has how many weapons, and personnel, and where its all situated. Nato and russia. When we have such overall general statistics, it will become clear what the general picture is. Whats the state of military security in the e. U. Continent . And with that starting point, we can further go on to agreements about settlements on weapons and how to provide extra security measures. I would like to repeat once again, we did not stop the practical work with nato. Thank you very much. I have two questions from over there. If its okay with you, well take both questions and then go back to you. The first one is, former Defense Ministry of germany and another is from paris. So, if you want to go first. Thank you very much. You heard this morning what the federal chancellor said. You heard what the federal chancellor said this morning . On the relationship to russia . When it comes to the european peace border . I think it would be necessary now that russia should also send out a positive signal so that we come to a better situation when it comes to our relations. So my specific question, we have agreed on russia itself at the u. N. Security council. Put into discussion and it was adopted. And its disagreement comprises ceasefire, return of heavy weapons and deployment of staff to all conflict areas. Why does it seem to be impossible for russia to implement these commitments as a confidence Building Measure to help us improve the overall situation . Minister, at the end of your declaration or your statement, you talked about a post fake new world. I would like to respond to that. During the u. S. Electoral travesty on the possible interference of russia in the u. S. Electoral campaign. We have an Electoral Campaign ongoing in france, and one of the candidates has been complaining about, again, russia interfering. So that the french president held an emergency meeting last week so my question, is it true or not . Does Russian Foreign policy consist of exerting influence on elections in democratic countries or is this just an illusion created in a post truth world . As for the first question, im glad that you have read the minsk agreements. Unfortunately, you probably did not read it to the very end. Indeed, the first item wunderlich draw of heavy weapons, but later it is said, on the 30th day, after the beginning of the withdrawal, in april 2014, so on the 30th day, after the beginning of withdrawal, the key authorities will prepare the proposal, draft law, about with elections and will start with consultations. There could be other questions about the schedule, about the timetable, about the minsk agreements. Not everywhere, there is a time stamp but here we have it. 30 days, their withdrawal began and the consultations were not stipulated as the end of the withdrawal of weapons. Since then, as you know, a lot has changed. The weapons have been withdrawn. Later, they went missing from the storage places, and special monetary mission is working under very difficult conditions. We highly evaluate their activities and we hope that you will be more representative. In terms of representation of the members, not only from the e. U. And nato, so this has noted multiple times violations coming from both sides, and as far as the ceasefire violations go, and the presence of heavy weapons in the security zone, nevertheless, the champion in missing heavy weapons in storage places i would like to repea violations happen on both sides. We were blamed multiple times in most recent interviews by certain ukrainians, first putin was blamed for the fact that hes creating live shields human shields from men and women, and secondly, that hes trying to impose on the ukrainians to the left of the contact line, the idea that there are people who hate them and they are being convinced that ukraine wants to destroy them. This is all so full of lies. This is an apparent lie. There were news that is being bombed by some Russian Troops in order to blame ukraine later. While i have said multiple times, what weve started with, how to make the ceasefire a sustainable one, we, in the Russian Federation, whatever you think about youre immediate daily lives, we show how our correspondents work on the line of contact. They report live, show the destruction of the civilian sector, of social infrastructure including schools, hospitals, orphanages and they show casualties among the city civilians. And i expressed interest, what is happening to the west of the line . I was watching cnn, and fox news, and other news channels and euro news as well and bbc, of course. I did not see the same work by the western media correspondents to the west of the line of contact. I did not see them giving the same picture as our media are doing, risking their lives, sometimes they die. Sometimes they are wounded, and i asked my western colleagues, is it not recommended, due to security reasons, for the western media to work to that part of the line of contact . I had no answer. So we asked for them to pay verbal attention to what kind of destruction in the civilian infrastructure we can see due to mutual bombings, shelling, from left and from the right of the line of contact. Right now, we had not had such exhaustive information and this bring to us a thought why western media who want to bring the truth to the whole of the world about the ukrainian situation, they did not show whats happening to the west of that line of contact. Where the Ukrainian Forces are active. They are not allowed there for security reasons, or this is censorship . I would like to find out, our statistics show that the destruction of infrastructure in the donbass controlled area, there is more destruction to the west. And mainly the shelling is done against the position taken by the Ukrainian Forces. Nevertheless, some media make it through the combat zone. Not so long ago i saw a report by the International Institute of Strategic Research in washington, and i saw a report in washington post, they went to the line of contact, that violence is provoked by voluntary battalions which are not they are not part of the ukrainian army. And they act haphazardly. That was written by washington post. There are thousands of ultranationalists, of ukrainian sector. Kiev is probably benefiting from the fact that angry radicals remain on the line of contact in donbass, and i would like to mention nazi foreigners, this is also disregarded. Were discussing that within the today, were going to have a meeting of Foreign Ministers of france, russia, ukraine, and germany but as for the lack of information about what is happening to the west of the line of contact still remains open and this is a key question in order to answer your question. Why is there not enough security, enough progress in security. But there is no progress in security. It should not be a purpose in itself. Our goal is full implementation of the minsk agreements, and they say yes, security on the line of contact is important. Its not happening due to some reasons. Then the constitutional reform, in order for the special status law to become part of the constitution, amnesty for all participants of military actions in donbass as well as all participants of were pardoned, and a state of full control of the Ukrainian Government over the border with the Russian Federation. So far, as i have said, we did not see that. As our European Partners are saying in regard to sanctions, i have already spoken on that matter. Since its quite illogical and artificial to talk about the formula that minsk agreements should be implemented by russia, the e. U. Will lift sanctions. We also want the agreements to be implemented and our sanctions against the e. U. Would not be lifted as well until the agreements are implemented. We have to understand that and the real picture of whats happening in the ukraine and the picture of those reasons, according to with the minsk are stalling, this is known very well in paris, berlin and i hope in washington including the headquarters of nato as well. This dissorted idea of solidarity, with those who decided to bring freedom to the ukraine and european values, this does not allow people to voice their ideas very loudly. But when our good friend says that sanctions are a tool, are a tool of implementation of minsk, i take that as the idea, in order to regulate the crisis in the ukraine with sanctions, so sanctions blame unambiguously russia so maybe its a freudian misspeak, but well wait for russia, to concede to get away and do something unilaterally in order to make the militias in donbass to make this unilateral decis