Russian FM Determined to Strive With or Without G8

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed that Russia is not clinging to the G8 format, as all major world problems can be discussed at other international venues such as G20 in The Hague on Tuesday.
Suspended from the Group of Eight nations over its annexation of Crimea, Lavrov stated Russia's determination to not cling to the G8 if the West does not want it.
"The G8 is an informal club, no one gives out membership cards and no one can expel members," Lavrov told a media conference at the Hague. "If our Western partners believe that this format has exhausted itself, let it be. We are not clinging to it."
The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, had raised the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be barred from the summit. Australia has also joined other Western nations in placing economic sanctions on dozens of Russian leaders.

Lavrov further commented on earlier reports regarding Australia considering not to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 meeting in November.
"The G20 was not established by Australia, which voiced the proposal not to invite Russia to the meeting. We created the format all together," Lavrov said.
He went on to say that many believe that the G8 has already fulfilled its mission as many issues are now discussed at the G20 forum.

"Generally speaking, there are also other formats for considering many questions, including the UN Security Council, the Middle East Quartet and the P5+1 on the Iranian nuclear problem," Lavrov told journalists.

In contrast, the BRICS nations have expressed strong support of Russia and its president, the Times of India reported.
Ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have issued a joint statement, in which they expressed concerns of Australia's foreign minister, the host nation of a G-20 summit, to not have the right to deny or suspend access to other members.

 
On the sidelines of the gathering, Lavrov met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and yet again discussed the Ukraine question, which has caused quite a chill in relations between the two powers.

Both Moscow and Washington understand that Ukraine needs constitutional reform, Lavrov said.

"We discussed the necessity to call on the authorities in Kiev to pay serious attention to the constitutional reform, which would take into consideration the interests of all Ukrainian regions," he said.
Meanwhile, G7 leaders - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US - are also holding a gathering at The Hague. According to the media, the Ukraine issue is high on the agenda.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team