For some, relations with distant Brazil may seem exotic, but this year diplomatic relations between Moscow and Brasilia will celebrate their 195th anniversary. And Brazil’s status as a major regional power and one of the leading developing countries allows issues to be discussed at the highest level.
Lavrov’s arrival was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Brazilian time, but the motorcade, which met the Russian minister at the military airfield, began preparing even before sunrise. Soon, among the colorful planes of commercial airlines (there is a civilian airport next to the military base of the Brazilian Air Force), the mighty silhouette of the Il-96 of the Rossiya flight detachment appeared .
At the bridge, the minister was welcomed by the Russian ambassador to Brazil, Alexei Labetsky. Lavrov’s busy work schedule left no time to pile up, so after a short welcome ceremony from the Brazilian army, the motorcade quickly sped towards the city. The hotel, however, has an unexpected traffic jam. His cause is a family of peacocks wandering casually through the territory.
The similarity of Russian and Brazilian views on the Ukrainian conflict and other global issues clearly disgusts the United States
Soon the Russian delegation moves to the building of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry – the Itamaraty Palace, where the wait for journalists is brightened by two huge turtles living in a local pond and numerous golden carps begging for food.
Lavrov, meanwhile, is already in talks with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira. A few hours later, media representatives are invited to a press conference in the room in Rio de Janeiro, where the ministers spoke about the agreements reached during the meeting.
The Brazilian spoke out in favor of greater diversification and deepening of trade between the two countries, stressing “the important place of Russia for our economy”. “Last year’s trade turnover reached a record $9.8 billion,” Vieira said, adding that “Russia supplies Brazil with a quarter of all fertilizers.” of Brazilian agriculture. .
Vieira thanked the Russian side for supporting Brazil in its aspiration to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to represent the interests of all of South America at a high level. In addition, the Brazilian spoke of the importance of further intensifying relations between the member countries of BRICS, one of the originators of the idea of creation who, at the beginning of the 21st century, was the former president of Brazil.
According to the Brazilian diplomat, the unilateral economic sanctions of Western countries against Russia, introduced bypassing the UN Security Council, are harming the whole world and developing states that have not yet recovered from the COVID-pandemic. 19.
Commenting on perhaps the most pressing issue on the political agenda, Vieira reaffirmed Brazil’s willingness to contribute in any way possible to the peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including through the creation of a new international organization previously proposed by the President of the South American country, Lula da Silva, aimed at launching peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.
This initiative, characteristic, provoked a strong reaction in the United States, whose representatives insist on the inadvisability of the negotiations. Commenting on Lula’s recent statement regarding US and European responsibility for continuing the conflict in Ukraine, White House spokesman John Kirby called the Brazilian president’s remarks “deeply problematic”. and also demanded that Latin American leaders find time to meet. with the leaders of Ukraine. Washington has thus denied the president of one of the largest states in the world the right to have his own opinion and to fight for a peace process.
In response, Lavrov thanked his colleague for the atmosphere of trust and friendship that accompanied the entire course of the talks aimed at “further strengthening our strategic partnership”. “We reaffirmed our emphasis on productive and fruitful cooperation between our countries, which is based on the principles of equal and mutually respectful dialogue and which is not subject to any change in the international situation,” the Russian minister said. of Foreign Affairs, with particular emphasis on cooperation. in energy, the peaceful use of outer space, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals, as well as cultural, scientific and humanitarian ties.
“We declare that the approaches of Russia and Brazil to the events now unfolding are in phase. We are united by a common desire to help form a more just, truly democratic, polycentric world order that would be based on the fundamental international principle of the sovereign equality of states,” Lavrov stressed.
Returning to the discussion on the Ukrainian issue, the Russian Foreign Minister noted that Moscow’s objectives are mainly to ensure the absence of any threat to Russia’s military security on the territory of Ukraine, as well as to protect the life and legal rights of the Russian-speaking population. from eastern and southern Ukraine. He declared his interest in seeing “the Ukrainian conflict end as soon as possible”.
Later, Lavrov gave a lecture at the diplomatic school of the Rio Branco Institute, named after Baron Rio Branco, a diplomat and statesman considered the “father of Brazilian diplomacy”. And then the Russian minister was received by the President of Brazil.
The parties discussed in detail, among other things, Lula’s ideas for starting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and at the end of the conversation Lavrov handed his interlocutor a personal letter from the Russian President with a invitation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). An invitation to visit Russia at an appropriate time was also extended to the head of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.
And the Russian minister has a day ahead of him, but also very intense negotiations in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.
Read the Latest Science and Technology News Today on The Eastern Herald.
