Very difficult. [38][39] He said that Russia's response was inevitable. . Speaking with reporters in Moscow on Monday, the Russian diplomat said that while his country would consider rebuilding ties with Western states, it is inclined to stick with more dependable partners going forward. The two nations engage in inter-parliamentary exchanges, Ministerial consultations, and visits by civilian and military dignitaries. "[35][33][36], In 2021, Lavrov was critical of a massive NATO-led military exercise called Defender-Europe 21,[37] one of the largest NATO-led military exercises in Europe in decades, which began in March 2021. 1 minute ago. [14], In 2012, in the early stages of the Syrian Civil War, a Russian delegation travelled to Syria to affirm Russia's backing of the Syrian government of the President Bashar al-Assad. Internet radio station. [23], While Lavrov acknowledged that Russia is in contact with the Ukrainian separatist rebels he denied US and EU allegations that Moscow sponsored the rebellion and accused the United States of aggravating the conflict. [82] According to his views, "the longer this process is delayed, the harder it will be to reach an agreement." }); Please contact the advertising office on 011 - 2479521 for the advertising rates. 2. I think you can take that as a sign of how seriously he takes this whole process. It was past 11.30 p.m. last Sunday when the announcement came from the District Secretariat in Kurunegala. According to him, Russia had to annex the Crimea in 2014 due to the unacceptable risk that NATO naval bases would replace the Russian military port there. Sergei Lavrov had been speaking on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi after his US counterpart; Antony Blinken said earlier Russia could not be allowed to wage war in Ukraine with impunity; [29], Businesses involved in Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany have been sanctioned by the United States with the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 on 20 December 2019. Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov (Russian: , pronounced [srej viktrvt lvrof]; born 21 March 1950) is a Russian diplomat and politician who has served as the Foreign Minister of Russia since 2004. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Sergei Lavrov, has . 6959 comment s 2 video s Updated: April 01, 2022 07:36 IST. US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Lavrov's comments about using nuclear weapons were "irresponsible" and "absolutely unacceptable". Washington has succeeded where Europe-conquering dictators of the past have failed, as evidenced by its ability to bend the policies of European governments to its will, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged on Thursday. Illangakoon. In that year, the powers of the Soviet Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic were distributed. This was also the subject of a question and answer at Fridays UN media briefing.Question: I wanted to know about this report on the UNs actions and inactions in 2009 in Sri Lanka. As the friends of the family tell, his wife in many respects was and remains the opposite of her husband. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that a war in Ukraine would be "disastrous". His father's surname was originally Kalantaryan. "[26], Lavrov likened the war of words between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to a kindergarten fight between two children, saying "Together with China we'll continue to strive for a reasonable approach and not an emotional one like when children in a kindergarten start fighting and no-one can stop them. Sergei a Russian diplomat, is known for being the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations. [85] He said that Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine would be under Russia's "full protection" if they are annexed by Russia. He is fluent Russian, English, French, Sinhala, and Dhivehi Not many details are known about Maria Lavrova. In what seemed his first speech after the election, Jayasekera urged his supporters not to light even a single cracker. Friday, May 27, 2022 ; Radio Mix. The deal was reached after three challenging rounds of talks in Geneva, Switzerland. [104] In April 2022, Canada imposed sanctions against Lavrov's wife and daughter, Maria Lavrova and Ekaterina Vinokurova. who is fluent in English, French, and Sinhala (Sri Lankan) as well as his native . Burleigh was another Sinhala-speaking foreign diplomat, who served in the Security Council . The two countries have made significant progress in the field of military and technical cooperation, and . Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted his Russian . 105K subscribers Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman of the Observer Research Foundation speaks to Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, about Russia's role in stabilising the Civil War in Libya,. Lavrov was speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, a geopolitics conference in India. [96][97] In 2016, her daughter Polina Kovaleva purchased an apartment in London's elite district of Kensington for 4.4 million in cash when she was 21 years old. As Russia's top diplomat since 2004, preceded by a decade as its UN envoy, he visited 136 countries as part of Russia and Turkey on Wednesday voiced support for the creation of a safe maritime corridor in the Black Sea so Ukraine can export grain to global markets amid an escalating world food crisis. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Sergei Lavrov, has . Washington has succeeded where Europe-conquering dictators of the past have failed, as evidenced by its ability to bend the policies of European governments to its will, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged on Thursday. The journalists discovered that several of Polyakova's friends got jobs in branches o She is not his daughter, despite sharing the same name, and is not connected to their family. Mrz 2022", "Russia-China relations at strongest level ever, says Lavrov", "Russia's Lavrov 'Appreciates' Neutral India Stand on Ukraine", "Russia praises India's neutral stance on Ukraine fighting", "Russia suspended from human rights council after UN general assembly vote", "Russia accuses Nato of 'proxy war' in Ukraine as US hosts crucial defence summit", "Ukraine: Boris Johnson rejects 'NATO proxy war' allegations, as Russia cuts gas supplies", "Israel demands apology after Russia says Hitler had Jewish roots", "Israel summons Russia envoy over minister's Hitler comments", "Sergey Lavrov claims Hitler had 'Jewish blood', "Israel lashes out at Russia over Lavrov's Nazism remarks", "Bennett Condemns Russian FM's Hitler 'Lies', "Putin Apologized for Russia Hitler Claims Israel PM's Office", "Lavrov: The West has declared a 'total hybrid war' against Russia", "Russia-Ukraine war: Lavrov 'forced to cancel Serbia visit', "Lavrov: Russia is not squeaky clean and not ashamed", "Lavrov walks out of G20 talks after denying Russia is causing food crisis", "Russia faces Ukraine heat as G20 foreign ministers meet", "West giving arms to Ukraine will expand Russian aims: Russia", "Russia seeks regime change in Ukraine, says Kremlin's top diplomat", "Russia's Lavrov courts Africa in quest for more non-Western friends", "Russia's reengagement with Africa pays off", "Russia FM Lavrov calls for efforts to protect international laws during Vietnam visit", "Russia's 'traditional friendship' with China remains strong, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says", "Pariah Solidarity: Myanmar-Russia Relations Blossom Amid Western Sanctions", "Russia will help Ukrainians 'get rid of regime', says Lavrov", "Russia's Lavrov: Either Ukraine fulfils Moscow's proposals or the issue will be decided by our army", "Russia 'alarmed' at no US visas to attend UN leaders meeting", "Russia backs India, Brazil for permanent membership in UN Security Council", "Lavrov says Russia open to talks with West, U.S. dismisses comments as 'posturing', " , ", "Draft Dodging And Cannon Fodder: How Mobilization Has Exposed Putin's Big Lie", "Defiant Russia shows up late to UN, leaves early", "Russia vows "full protection" to territories annexed from Ukraine", "Lavrov, at the UN, pledges 'full protection' for any territory annexed by Russia", "Russia's Lavrov denies report of heart condition hospitalisation", "Moscow To Achieve Ukraine Goals Thanks to 'Patience' - Lavrov", "Interview of S.V. Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a news conference Wednesday in Ankara following talks, Cavusoglu said the plan required negotiation between Moscow and Kyiv. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was in the news last week over the breakthrough agreement with the US on the destruction of Syrias chemical weapons, was a onetime junior diplomat in the Russian Embassy in Colombo in the early 1970s. [7], Lavrov graduated in 1972. Lavrov replied: "It's a great pity but international diplomats, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Secretary-General and other UN representatives, are being put under pressure by the West. "Not a single member of the 56-member Russian advance team and delegation" had received the visas. Sergei Lavrov, speaking on Russian state TV last night, said tensions between east and west are now worse than during the Cuban missile crisis at the height of the Cold War. Lavrov, Kadirgamar leave STORYLINE: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday met his Sri Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar. Sergey Lavrov is not only Putin's eyes and ear to the world but also works as his spokesperson, especially in the Western world. Please integrate the section's contents into the article as a whole, or rewrite the material. The supporters waved Russian flags in thanks to Russia's veto of a UN resolution calling for tough sanctions on the Syrian government. sergey lavrov speaking sinhala We found ourselves the only team attempting to record what went on. Trivia Lavrov is fluent in speaking different languages like French, English, Sinhala, Dhivehi, despite his native Russian language. Press review: Will Haftar agree to peace and can Lavrov's Sinhala [20] In an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel, Lavrov said that the zero-sum "either-or" bloc-politics of Ukraine were first suggested in 2004 by Karel De Gucht, then Foreign Minister of Belgium. sergey lavrov speaking sinhala - wolfematt.com As a member of the United Russia party, he was previously the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, serving in . Wikipedia Full interview with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Al Arabiya English 307K subscribers Subscribe 15K 1M views 9 months ago Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an. The Hindu Bureau. Russia-Ukraine war: Lavrov warns of risk of nuclear conflict Television presenter and the man linked to the controversial Channel 4 videos on the final stages of the separatist war in Sri Lanka seems to have forgotten some of the finest traditions which the British created.One in particular is how things are talked over during drinks or a cup of tea. Thanks. Most voters had cast their votes to the house, the symbol of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK). On 21 May 2012, Lavrov was reappointed foreign minister to the cabinet led by prime minister Dimitri Medvedev. The statement added: Ministers further noted that national and other international observers had concluded that the 7 September election was competently administered, and that the Maldivian people had been free to express their will through the ballot. The country has longstanding economic and military ties to Russia. Sergey Lavrov - Latest news, breaking stories and comment - Mail Online "[116], USSR Section for International Economic Relations and the UN, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN (19942004), Foreign minister of Russia (2004present). Amanpour and Company. Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia, at Raisina Dialogue 2020 In addition, he gained the diplomatic rank of an attach.[7]. President Rajapaksa will have the pleasant task of welcoming Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who started his diplomatic career in 1972 at the Soviet Embassy in Colombo and had even learnt Sinhala. It was a handful of Government members, including Prime Minister D.M. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. More than 100 diplomats walk out on Lavrov's UN speech Lavrov dismissed the US claim as "total disinformation. He would be relentlessly berating and browbeating and sarcastic and nasty." Speaking about the sanctions facing Russia, Lavrov said the country must urgently learn to be independent of the West. Russian politician and Foreign Minister. proposes a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens. Reply. "We have to rely . [7], The Soviet embassy in Sri Lanka also maintained relations with the Maldives. Maria Lavrova is the lovely and supportive political spouse of Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. Sergey Lavrov was born on March 21, 1950, the blood of an Armenian father and Georgian mother flows in his veins. Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. He also stated that peace talks with Ukraine would only resume if it recognized the annexation of the four regions only partially occupied: "They should become free from the threat of Nazification that they have faced for many years". NEW DELHI -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked briefly Thursday in the highest-level in-person talks between the two . Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would . In this context, CMAG Ministers expressed concern at developments since the declaration of results of the first round poll, with one unsuccessful party having filed a case with the Supreme Court to annul the first round of the election because of alleged electoral fraud, and the Supreme Court subsequently issuing an injunction to delay the second round of the election until a court ruling is delivered in that case, CMAG Ministers welcomed the continued presence of Commonwealth Observers in Maldives, led by Dr Lawrence Gonzi, and looked forward to the continued close engagement of the Commonwealth Secretary-Generals Special Envoy, Sir Donald McKinnon., SLFP has no sympathy or tea for its founder. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) If the Russians were to deepen their involvement in the Ukraine, they would not be doing anything the U.S. and NATO have not done themselves on more than one occasion. June 6, 2022. Evidently not. 1 day agoNUSA DUA Indonesia Nov 14 Reuters - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday dismissed an Associated Press report that he had been taken to hospital with a heart. [115], According to Western diplomats, Lavrov has no real influence on Russia's foreign policy and has become a mere propagandist and mouthpiece for Putin. Ukraine kills another Russian general; US moves to seize $350M plane from Russian oligarch: Live Ukraine updates Russia's ambassador in Rome was summoned to the Italian foreign ministry after Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov derided Italian counterpart .. 28 minutes ago Russia will let grain exports out if Ukraine de-mines the water around its Black Sea ports, says foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. In April 1991, he was named deputy foreign minister.[7]. April 01, 2022 07:35 IST. In the past fortnight, he has pushed Vladimir Putin's dystopian narrative to the brink: "We didn't even attack Ukraine," he said in Turkey; "the West is plotting a nuclear strike on Russia"; Ukraine is run by "neo-Nazis and drug addicts"; the Kremlin is engaged not in a . In 1981, he was sent as a senior adviser to the Soviet mission to the United Nations in New York City. He left when German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock began her formal address. I didn't know that Sergey Lavrov can speak Sinhala, I'm very impressed. Regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, foreign policy expert Angela Stent said: "As far as we know, Lavrov himself only knew [the invasion] was happening as it was taking place. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the conflict in Ukraine risked escalating into a third world war and that NATO was "in essence" engaged in a proxy war . [73][74] On 6 July 2022, he met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bi Thanh Sn in Hanoi and called Vietnam a "key partner" of Russia in ASEAN. In the context of tensions between Russia and the West over a build up of Russian troops near the RussiaUkraine border talks between the two foreign ministers were described as "difficult". Commonwealth takes tough stand on Maldives, The political crisis in the Maldives has taken a new turn with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group meeting this week in New York taking a tough stand against the moves to put off yesterdays run-off elections. [95], Lavrov has allegedly had a relationship with his mistress, Svetlana Polyakova, since the early 2000s. (NEW DELHI) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked briefly Thursday at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group . Following article based on the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the High-Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council's 49th session, via videoconference, March 1, 2022 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Meet Comrade Lavrov - Putin's liar-in-chief Evening Standard | March 15, 2022 Russia's foreign minister claims Ukraine is run by neo-Nazis, denies the invasion, and has a very colorful love life.. As Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov's job is to deliver his president's in the past fortnight, he has pushed Vladimir Putin's dystopian narrative to the brink: "We didn't even attack . Russia's legitimization discourse from Georgia war to the annexation of Crimea. Ikkje eit problem, seier rektor", "Styret tar fra Lavrov resdoktoratet ved UiT", Biographical information on Lavrov on the Department of Foreign Affairs site, Serge Lavrov interview (2008) | Piotr Fedorov of euronews, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (22 July 2017) | Keir Simmons of NBC News, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, on Skripals, Trump 'kompromat' claims and OPCW (29 June 2018) | Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sergey_Lavrov&oldid=1141412364, Order of Sergius of Radonezh 1st Class (Russia, 2015) For his political efforts that have benefited the Russian Orthodox Church, Honoured Worker of the Diplomatic Service of the Russian Federation (2004), Honorary medal "For participation in the programs of the United Nations" (UN Association of Russia, 2005), Order of Friendship of Peoples (Belarus, 2006), Honorary Doctorate in Diplomacy from University of Piraeus. Russia's Sinhala speaking Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov visited Colombo in 2009 and in 2020. A Turkish minister said the move should also be accompanied by the easing of Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. A war that ended, as Channel 4s Sri Lankas Killing Fields has described in eye witness detail, with 120,000 Tamils being herded into an ever shrinking no-fire zone, in which the UN itself believes at least 40,000 possibly more than double that were slaughtered in the final three weeks.. Lavrov walks out of U.N. Security Council meeting as the West confronts Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the startling suggestion that Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots prompting Israel's prime minister to issue a rebuke accusing the . Sergey Lavrov Speaking French Addressing the Raisina Dialogue, an event in New Delhi that debates the major challenges facing the world in politics and economics and one of few such events globally that still invites Russian politicians to attend, the 72-year-old staked the unlikely claim that Russia was trying to stop the war. In the past, Napoleon and Hitler had the goal to subjugate Europe. He also stated: "Our absolute priority is four new Russian regions". [15], In September 2013, then Secretary of State John Kerry and Lavrov reached a breakthrough agreement that would destroy almost all chemical weapons stored in Assad's Syria. PBS. "[50] Lavrov, who read from a prepared text,[49] repeated Putin's 23 February goal statement: "The goal of our actions is to save people by fulfilling our allied obligations, as well as to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine so that such things never happen again. "Analysis of Securitization of the Baltic States in the Rhetoric of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims US hypocrisy, says Lavrov was speaking amid the worst escalation of tensions between Russia and . The atmosphere was strangely awkward. BRUSSELS (AP) The United States and European allies said Friday they were stepping up sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine by adding measures directly targeting President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, putting diplomatic appeals to one side as Russia's forces closed on Ukraine's capital. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to visit Turkey June 8 as Ankara looks for a Russian or US nod to press ahead with a new military intervention against Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria. I didn't know that Sergey Lavrov can speak Sinhala, I'm very impressed. Ukraine sympathizers refused to join a group photo with Lavrov, who seemed perplexed at the criticism. His net worth is now believed to be between $10 and $15 million. sergey lavrov speaking sinhala. Mr. Burleigh was another Sinhala-speaking foreign diplomat, who served in the Security Council along with Lavrov in the 1980s. Liked. Retweet. "'Mimicking' the West? Mr Lavrov has been travelling across Asia, Africa and the Middle East over the last year to rally support for Russia. "I can't help but make these comparisons. Russia's ambassador in Rome was summoned to the Italian foreign ministry after Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov derided Italian counterpart . An aide subsequently released a video on Telegram showing Lavrov laughing at such reports from his hotel in Bali, claiming Western media was at fault for "some kind of game". What the experts thinkAlex Rossi: Inside the town of Vuhledar on Ukraine's frontline, "[You] believe that the United States has the right to declare a threat to its national interest, any place on earth, like they did in Yugoslavia, in Iraq, in Libya, in Syria and you don't ask them any questions?". Russia Ukraine update: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attracts laughed Little wonder he lost. Early life and education Lavrov was born on 21 March 1950 [2] in Moscow, to an Armenian father from Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, and a Russian mother from Noginsk, Russian SFSR. The visiting Sinhala speaking Ruski Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, was waxing eloquent - in English of course, at a seminar in Colombo on the subject of terrorism. in 45x36x20 cabin bag with wheelsGeneral sergey lavrov speaking sinhalatexas congressional district map 2022texas congressional district map 2022 At a news conference, Blinken said he told Lavrov that the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and would push for the war to end through diplomatic terms that Kyiv agrees to. The Russian foreign minister regretted that he was not able to attend the full presentation by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Russia's Sinhala speaking Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov visited Colombo in 2009 and in 2020. Reply. Lavrov was born on 21 March 1950[2] in Moscow, to an Armenian father from Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, and a Russian mother from Noginsk, Russian SFSR. Britains Development Secretary, Justine Greening, looked in. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China for talks on Afghanistan, his first visit to the world's second-biggest economy . He was also quoted "The West clearly has lost self-control in venting anger against Russia and has destroyed its own rules and institutions. "And the blunt way to describe what changed: we would not anymore rely on any partners in the West. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov bats for closer India-China He met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and praised the "traditional friendship" between Russia and China. [65], On 14 May 2022, Lavrov used the phrase "total hybrid war" in the course of describing the West's efforts to help Ukraine combat the 2022 Russian invasion. After his speech, it was question time, but true to form we Sri Lankans are so polite that we don't ask questions. In December 1991 the Foreign Ministry of Soviet Russia became the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation. He also denied that Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine, calling the visuals of the mass graves "staged" and . Secretary-General's remarks at press encounter with Russian Foreign Undo. Pronunciation of SERGEY LAVROV with 3 audio pronunciations. It included "nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas" in Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries. Wiki content for Sergei lavrov. Thanks. [100][101], Lavrov is under personal sanctions in the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia for his role in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sri Lankas Professor Peiris talked of Sri Lankas economy having turned a corner. Hence, those present were all UNPers Karu Jayasuriya, Tissa Attanayake, Mangala Samaraweera and Eran Wickremeratne. At a meeting in Moscow she told him: "The reality is we cannot ignore . [97][98][99] She has a masters degree from Imperial College London. According to a former UN Tass correspondent, who was also based in Colombo at that time, Mr. Lavrov was so fluent in Sinhala that one of his duties was to translate key political stories from Sinhala newspapers into Russian. Sergey Lavrov Speaking French - Patricia Perry Info You can login using your social profile 358K views 4 years ago ** This is the full and unedited interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaking exclusively to HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur in Moscow 16th April 2018. Like. Apart from Russian, Lavrov speaks five different languages including English, French, and Sinhala, a language primarily spoken in Sri Lanka and South India. [11], US politicians have been much more critical in their appraisal of Lavrov, seeing him as emblematic of President Putin's resurgent violent foreign policies. At the same time, Lavrov tries to portray the current Ukrainian government as "nationalistic" and "right wing" because it does not incorporate historical and linguistic ties to Russia into national policies, and only excels to separate itself from a shared history and culture. (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday the onus was on Ukraine to solve the problem of resuming grain shipments by de-mining its ports. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn . Speaking about the sanctions facing Russia, Lavrov said the country must urgently learn to be independent of the West. That was from Kurunegala to Hettipola, a journey of 58 kilometres., Northern verdict: Crucial factor for next presidential poll. [90], Lavrov is a keen sportsman. Secretary-General's remarks at press encounter with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey V. Lavrov Ladies and gentlemen of the press, As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I came to Moscow as.