Lavrov at UN: Ukraine's non-aligned, neutral status should be respected and preserved http://t.co/LXRE2df8eR
— Sean Guillory (@seansrussiablog) September 27, 2014
Here's a wrap-up from our news desk of Lavrov's address to the UN:
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has launched a blistering attack on the United States and its Western allies, saying they are acting in defiance of the sovereign right of nations.
In his September 27 speech, Lavrov said the United States must abandon its claims to "eternal uniqueness," accusing it of resorting to military interference to defend its interests.
"Military interference has become the norm, despite the dismal outcome of all operations of force that the United States has carried out over recent years," he said.
The foreign minister cited the NATO air campaign in the former Yugoslavia, the Iraq War, the campaign in Libya, and the Afghanistan mission as examples of U.S.-led military actions that led to "chaos and instability."
In Syria, where the United States is leading an aerial campaign, Lavrov said the fight against the Islamic State extremist group should be coordinated with the Damascus regime, a Russian ally.
Lavrov also criticized NATO for its "hostile rhetoric" toward Russia, saying it shows the military alliance’s inability to change its Cold War "genetic code."
He charged that the "U.S.-led Western alliance" is portraying itself as a "champion of democracy" when in fact they were "trying to decide for everyone what is good or evil."
He accused the United States and European Union of seeking to “expand the geopolitical area that is under their control, without taking into account the balance of interests of all the people of Europe."
According to the Russian foreign minister, Ukraine has "fallen victim" to the West’s "arrogant policy," asserting that the United States and the European Union supported a "coup" that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in February.
Lavrov said Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March was the choice of the largely Russian-speaking population there.
He reiterated that Moscow is "sincerely interested" in the restoration of peace in Ukraine, where he said a way out of the crisis is "within reach" if support is denied to the "party of war" in Kyiv.
Lavrov also called for those guilty of the bloodshed in Ukraine to be identified and brought to justice, saying it will otherwise be "hard to count on national reconciliation."
He made no mention of Western allegations that Russia has sent troops and weapons into eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russian separatists.
But he said Russia has sent "large supplies of weapons and military equipment" to Iraq, Syria, and other Middle Eastern countries and will continue its military support.
Earlier on September 27, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier accused Russia of breaking international law by unilaterally changing the existing borders in Europe.
He told the UN General Assembly that the tensions between Russia and Ukraine are not just a regional conflict, but affect the whole international community.
"We must not allow the old division between East and West to re-emerge in the United Nations," Steinmeier said
(With AFP, AP, Interfax)
Here are some more tweets from RFE/RL's Robert Coalson on Lavrov's speech to the UN General Assembly:
Lavrov: Struggle against terrorists in Syria must be done in cooperation with Syrian government, which has said it is ready to do so.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: Struggle against terrorists in Syria must be done in cooperation with Syrian government, which has said it is ready to do so.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: "Russia is making a very real contribution to fight against ISIS" by sending weapons to Syria, Iraq, north Africa.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: (pauses to drink water)
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: Lack of settlement btw Palestinians and Israel is major cause of instability, terrorism in Middle East.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: praises fight against ebola
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov: World must "forget about national election cycles" when dealing with global threats.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Lavrov's speech is now finished.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014Sergei Lavrov is now addressing the UN General Assembly. Our correspondent is live-tweeting what he has to say:
Lavrov UNGA speech beginning now. Watch here: http://t.co/07fHf1JR0y or watch my tweets...
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Washington "openly declared" its right to unilateral use of force anywhere. Military interference has become the norm.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: goal of "colored revolutions and other projects" is to "create instability."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: "Western partners did not heed our numerous warnings" not to violate UN charter.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Russian proposals for new European security treaty were rejected. Security is only for NATO countries.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: NATO is "unable to change its genetic code that was created during the Cold War."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: People of Crimea exercised self-determination. West has ignored atrocities in Ukraine. MH17 investigation has been "drawn out."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: UKR should resume its status as a link in the middle of the European space and all should respect its neutrality.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Russia "is prepared to continue to promote the diplomatic process" for the good of the Ukrainian people.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Attempts to pressure Russia into abandoning its values will not work.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Unilateral sanctions are pointless and run counter to "process of creating multipolar and democratic world order."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Welcomes EU's willingness to negotiate trade agreement with Customs Union.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Calls for security arrangement between CSTO and NATO that would include the entire space, including UKR, Moldova, Georgia.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Says there's "huge deficit of democracy" in intnatl affairs. Urges "mutual respect" in collective work, cites Iran nuke process.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: "Urgent need to refrain from double standards."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Lavrov: Fight against terrorism must be based on "solid foundation in international law."
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014
Fascinating new Ukraine poll. Lots of work ahead to seize the future; parliamnt elex=opty to pick reps to push reform http://t.co/r6j7nCj3L4
— Daniel Baer (@danbbaer) September 27, 2014
Sec @PennyPritzker lays flowers to the cross on Instytutska commemorating Heaven's 100 w/ #Kyiv mayor Klitschko |EMPR pic.twitter.com/U8rcITwQpf
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) September 27, 2014
Thank you to #Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk for good discussion on plans to implement pro-business reforms http://t.co/28O8UaIanC
— Penny Pritzker (@PennyPritzker) September 27, 2014
"America is leading the effort to rally the world against Russian aggression in Ukraine." —President Obama: http://t.co/SrGRLwY9EF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 27, 2014
#Russia gas supply 2 #Slovakia down 10-20% this week. Reverse flow to #Ukraine continues in full capacity
— Milan Nic (@milann_sk) September 27, 2014
Some photos from pro-Putin rally in Moscow today: http://t.co/OuCqRRn7D5 pic.twitter.com/1Guadiodg8
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) September 27, 2014