West seeks regime change in Russia: Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Sat Nov 22, 2014 1:12PM GMT
Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of seeking a regime
change in Russia through its sanctions against Moscow over the crisis
in Ukraine.
...“Now public figures in Western countries are saying that it’s necessary to introduce sanctions that would destroy the economy and rouse public protests,” Lavrov added....
Lavrov made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a forum of political analysts in the Russian capital, Moscow....“Now public figures in Western countries are saying that it’s necessary to introduce sanctions that would destroy the economy and rouse public protests,” Lavrov added....
“The West is showing unambiguously that they do not want to force (Russia) to change policy, they want to achieve a change of regime,” said Lavrov.“Now public figures in Western countries are saying that it’s necessary to introduce sanctions that would destroy the economy and rouse public protests,” Lavrov added.
The top Russian diplomat also rejected comments made by US Vice President Joe Biden on Friday that Russia risks “greater isolation” if it fails in its commitments to resolving the crisis in Ukraine.
“The vast majority of countries... we are continuing dialogue with them... There is no isolation,” said Lavrov.
However, Lavrov pointed out that Russia’s relations with Europe will no longer be “business as usual.”
“But we don’t need the kind of business we had. The business was like ‘Russia must do this and must do that,’ and we want to cooperate as equals,” said the Russian foreign minister.
The United States and the European Union (EU) have imposed a series of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures in recent months as they accuse Russia of destabilizing Ukraine. Moscow, however, rejects the accusation.
CAH/HJL/HRB