Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterates concern over Korean crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Please also visit : INDONESIAKATAKAMI.WORDPRESS.COM


December 20, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that tensions between the two Koreas have reached their highest point and expressed regret that the UN Security Council failed to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

South Korean military conducted 90-minite live-firing exercises on Yeonpyeong Island near the disputed border with North Korea earlier on Monday. The drills went ahead despite threats of retaliation from Pyongyang, a month after the North Korean military shelled the island, killing four people.

"The situation [on the Korean Peninsula] is very tense...That is why we requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting...And although to our regret it has not led to a statement, the discussions sent a clear signal: It is necessary to avoid any provocative actions that could destabilize the situation," Lavrov said.

The key issue that prevented the UN from adopting a coordinated statement was the fact that the United States and China had different views on the issue. The United States refused to adopt any statement without a clear condemnation of the reclusive communist regime, whereas China was against blaming Pyongyang.

Contrary to its earlier warnings, Pyongyang said in a statement on Monday that it would not retaliate on the latest "reckless military provocation" from Seoul because South Korean shells landed this time farther south of the North's shores.

The North does not recognize the sea border between the two countries, known as the Northern Limit Line, and claims the waters around Yeonpyeong as its territory.


MOSCOW, December 20

Russian foreign minister to visit India next week

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Please also visit : INDONESIAKATAKAMI.WORDPRESS.COM

November 25, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to India on November 29 ahead of President Dmitry Medvedev's visit in December, a ministry spokesman said.

Lavrov will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna during his visit.

Russia-India relations have been blossoming in recent years, with India being one of the biggest importers of Russian military hardware.

Moscow not to recall ambassador to Tokyo over Kurils row, says Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

November 02, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Russia will not recall its ambassador to Japan following a diplomatic row over the disputed Kuril Islands, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

The dispute over four of the islands, which both countries have laid claim to since they were occupied by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, was sparked when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashir Island on Monday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Japan announced it was temporarily recalling its ambassador to Russia, Masaharu Kono.

Lavrov said Japan's move was its own domestic affair.

"On the whole, we are puzzled by the continuing escalation of emotions from the Japanese side," the minister said, adding that Medvedev was planning to visit another Kuril Islands.

Prior to Medvedev's visit, Japan said the arrival of the Russian leader could complicate bilateral relations, but Russia's Foreign Ministry rejected the comments saying Medvedev "defines the routes of trips across his country on his own."

The visit was the first trip by a head of state of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the South Kuril Islands.

Tokyo's continued claim over four South Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) to the northeast of Japan has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities.


OSLO, November 2 (RIA Novosti)

Photostream : Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (R) and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov talk prior to their meeting on October 28, 2010 in Warsaw, ahead of a planned December visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. (Photo : JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (R) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov prior to their meeting on October 28, 2010 in Warsaw, ahead of a planned December visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo : JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski speak at the balcony of the Palace on Water in Royal Lazienki Park during a smoke brake in Warsaw October 28, 2010. Lavrov is in Warsaw for talks with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, expected to include preparations for planned visit to Warsaw by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in December. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Kacper Pempel )

Indonesia, Russia agree to step up ties

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa arrive for talks in Moscow October 15, 2010. ( GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov )

October 16, 2010 (KATAKAMI / THE JAKARTA POST) — Indonesia and Russia have agreed to use the momentum of the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties to take their cooperation to a higher level, an Indonesian embassy official in Moscow said.

The Embassy’s Counselor for Social and Cultural Affairs M. Aji Surya, said in a press statement made available to Antara in London that the agreement to step up bilateral cooperation was reached in a meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov in Moscow on Friday.

Aji Surya said the two foreign ministers agreed to focus on more substantial matters in taking their bilateral relations to a higher level.

He said the two countries agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, natural disaster management and air transportation sector.

The meeting also specifically discussed the possibility of opening a direct Indonesia-Russia flight route to be served by Garuda Indonesia, he said.

“The agreement on the air transportation cooperation is expected to be signed during the 17th ASEAN summit in Hanoi next week,” Aji Surya said.

According to the Indonesian counselor, the foreign minister underscored the importance of implementing the relations in all segments, not only in the government-to-government segment but also in the business sector and in the relations of peoples of both nations.

In the meantime, according to Aji Surya, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V Lavrov expressed his commitment to facilitating the opening of an Indonesian consulate general in Russia in an effort to boost both countries’ economic and trade ties.

Photostream : Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague in first visit to Russia

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) shakes hands with Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague as they meet at the Gorki presidential residence outside Moscow, October 13, 2010. Britain and Russia said on Wednesday they hoped for a thaw in frosty relations after years of disputes over the murder of a Kremlin critic in London with a rare radioactive isotope. ( Getty Images/ REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev )

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) meets with Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague at the Gorki presidential residence outside Moscow October 13, 2010. Britain and Russia said on Wednesday they hoped for a thaw in frosty relations after years of disputes over the murder of a Kremlin critic in London with a rare radioactive isotope. ( REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev )

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrive for a meeting in Moscow on October 13, 2010. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosts British Foreign Secretary William Hague on a rare visit after saying it was up to Britain to take the initiative and help bring about a thaw in relations. (Getty Images/ AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) shows the way to Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague as they meet in Moscow October 13, 2010. ( REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin )

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right listens to Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague during a joint press conference after their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. Anglo-Russian relations have been tense amid controversy over issues including the fatal poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 and the enforced exile of executives in British oil company BP PLC's Russian joint venture. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)