Russia and the United States must do more to strengthen relations because the “reset” in ties cannot continue forever, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published Wednesday.
U.S. President Barack Obama called for the reset in ties in 2008, but relations have been strained by differences over issues such as missile defense, human rights and the conflict in Syria.
“If we talk about the reset, it is clear that, using computer terminology, it cannot last forever. Otherwise it would not be a reset but a program failure,” Lavrov told Kommersant.
“Instead of dwelling on the name of this or that stage, we should think about how to develop our relations. Or, again using computer specialists’ terminology, we should update the software.”
Lavrov said that deepening economic cooperation would help improve ties between the former Cold War enemies but that some moves would have to wait until after the U.S. presidential election next month.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney has accused Obama of being soft on Moscow during his four-year term, and he described Russia as the United States’ “No. 1 geopolitical foe.”
Lavrov reiterated that Russia would not back efforts to topple President Bashar Assad to end the conflict in Syria, saying that would be “incitement to fratricidal war.”
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
