Lavrov takes positives, hints 'tit-for-tat' expulsions could end

NEW YORK - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that he heard positive news in US President Donald Trump's United Nations address that "the United States would not impose its way of life on others".

"I think it's a very welcome statement, which we haven't heard from an American leader for a very long time," Lavrov said after meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Lavrov blamed former president Barack Obama's administration for the collapse in relations between Moscow and Washington.

The US enacted a series of steps against Russia and its diplomats in December, including new sanctions and expelling 35 personnel to punish Russia for alleged meddling in the US elections, a charge Russia has denied.

Moscow responded by limiting the size of the US diplomatic staff in Russia.

In his speech to the General Assembly, Trump said: "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch."

He added: "Strong, sovereign nations let diverse countries with different values, different cultures, not just coexist, but work side by side on the basis of mutual respect."

Lavrov pointed to those statements while acknowledging relations are at "a very difficult and a very low point, which is the legacy of the Obama administration".

But he added what Trump had said during the election campaign, and what he continues to say now, is that he wants to have good relations with Moscow.

Lavrov said it would be "quite useful" for Trump and Putin to meet again in November during an Asian-Pacific summit scheduled in Danang, Vietnam, to review the progress in their bilateral relations. Talks are going on now among lower-ranking officials, he said, including the two countries' militaries and their security agencies. "The dialogue has been going on, it's not easy," Lavrov said.

Lavrov seemed to hint that the "tit-for-tat" series of ousters of diplomats from the two countries' embassies was over for now.

"We waited very long with our move in response to Obama's move," Lavrov said. "Being serious people and responsible people, and I feel Rex Tillerson is one of them, I hope that we can draw conclusions from where we are now and understand where we want to be."

He said that both Russia and the US have to address the situation as it is, which he said was created by "the spiral of unfriendly steps started by the Obama administration", but still work like "responsible people" to address their bilateral ties as well as serious international issues.

Associated Press

(China Daily 09/21/2017 page11)