MOSCOW, Feb 5, 2021 BSS/TASS) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have discussed the normalization of
relations between Moscow and Washington during their phone call on Thursday,
along with issues of strategic stability, the fight against the COVID-19
pandemic, Syrian regulation and the Alexey Navalny case, the Russian Foreign
Ministry informed.
Lavrov congratulated Blinken on his appointment, expressing readiness for
constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues.
“As a follow-up to the phone call between Presidents [Vladimir] Putin and
[Joe] Biden, they have welcomed the prolongation of New START (Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty – TASS) until 2026, which will facilitate improvement of the
general situation in the sphere of international security and strategic
stability,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“They have touched upon the matter of ensuring predictability in the sphere
of arms control, considering the US pullout from the INF Treaty and in the
context of prospects of the Treaty on Open Skies.”
Besides, Lavrov reminded the US Secretary of State of Moscow’s earlier
proposals to approve joint Russian-US statements on the impermissibility of
nuclear war and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.
The ministry added that Blinken had touched upon the situation with
Navalny.
“In connection with the situation with Navalny, touched upon by Blinken,
the minister gave detailed explanations as to the need to respect legislation
and judicial system of the Russian Federation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry
reported.
“[Lavrov] pointed out to the Secretary of State the issues related to the
persecution of individuals who were protesting in the US due to presidential
election results, and called for ensuring transparency of the corresponding
judicial procedures,” the statement notes.
Balance of interests and mutual respect
Lavrov confirmed that Russia is open for joint work to normalize the entire
range of bilateral relations based on mutual trust and balance of interests.
They have reaffirmed readiness to mutually address the accumulated
difficulties in the functioning of Russian and US diplomatic missions on each
country’s territory,” the ministry said. “Antony Blinken has expressed
readiness to organize expert dialogue on these issues.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that the top diplomats “agreed to
maintain regular working contacts.”
The sides have also expressed their support for cooperation in the sphere
of COVID-19 vaccine development. Lavrov and Blinken “have spoken in favor of
establishing cooperation in the sphere of combating the coronavirus,
including cooperation on vaccine development and improvement,” the statement
reads.
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Lavrov and Blinken had discussed a
number of international issues, including aiding peaceful regulation in Syria
and Libya, as well as the situation in Ukraine.