“Regime change” the design behind sanctions: Russia
November 22, 2014, 12:48 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama held brief talks in Beijing on the sidelines of the APEC Summit 11 November 2014 [PPIO]

“We have a million confirmations that all over the world American ambassadors, envoys are insisting on top-level meeting to say – you should be punishing Russia jointly with us. This is done in all countries, no exceptions, including our closest allies,” Lavrov was quoted by Russian agency Itar Tass.

“But still, I should say many reasonable politicians realise the growing discrepancy between the U.S. administration’s global ambitions and the realistic opportunities, as the world continues changing. The big seven emerging economies have been demonstrating bigger GDP than the Western G7,” Lavrov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also said earlier this month that the GDP of the BRICS nations overshadows that of the G7.

“As far as I know, the GDP of BRICS is $37.4 trillion, while that of the G7 is $34.5 trillion,” said Putin ahead of the G20 Summit in Brisbane.

Meanwhile on Saturday in Moscow, Lavrov said western nations are “announcing openly” that the crippling economic sanctions “should be ruining the economy and raising people’s protests” in Russia to achieve Washington’s political objectives.

“The West is showing unambiguously that they do not want to force (Russia) to change policy, they want to achieve a change of regime,” Lavrov said.

The US, EU and its allies have hit Russia’s top bank and leading energy and technology companies with sanctions to punish Moscow for its alleged support to separatist rebels in Ukraine.

Lavrov, on Saturday, however dismissed that Russia is “isolated” as Moscow continues dialogue with “the vast majority of countries”.

He also asserted that Russia will not be the first to sever ties with EU.

“Nobody is going “to shoot in the foot” by refusing cooperation with Europe, but everyone realises “business as usual” is not possible any longer,” said the Russian Foreign Minister.

Russia’s BRICS partners have criticized the US and EU sanctions, with Beijing saying they are “erroneous”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in September that dialogue has to replace the current blame-game.

“There is a saying in India that the person who should throw a stone first is the person who has not committed any sins. In the world right now, a lot of people want to give advice. But look within them, and they too have sinned in some way. Ultimately, India’s view point is that efforts need to be made to sit together and talk, and to resolve problems in an ongoing process,” Modi said in an interview to US broadcaster CNN.

China, which has own restive regions such as Tibet, has taken a cautious response to the issue of Crimea while New Delhi has gone a step further to say Moscow has “legitimate” interests in Ukraine and they should be discussed to find a satisfactory solution to the issue.

“We are watching what is happening in Ukraine with concern… The broader issues of reconciling various interests involved and there are, after all, legitimate Russian and other interests involved and we hope those are discussed, negotiated and there is a satisfactory resolution to them,” former Indian National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said in March this year.

Russian President Putin will visit India in December and hold talks with the Indian Prime Minister ahead of a state visit by his US counterpart Barack Obama.

TBP