Sergei Lavrov and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
Photo: REUTERS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Indonesia. For the next three days, his work schedule includes nearly two dozen meetings. Apparently, at least the same number will take place “on the legs” in the intervals between the three main events of our delegation’s visit to the Indonesian capital Jakarta.
The registrars barely had time to change flags
From the airport, Lavrov immediately went to the local Foreign Ministry, where negotiations took place in the RIK-2 (Russia-Indonesia-China) format. So he began a real diplomatic “marathon”, to which the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry is no stranger. The interlocutors changed one after another. The registrars only had time to change the flags, and the next round of negotiations began.
– We always support ASEAN, we support Indonesia as president in promoting the basic principles of ASEAN in the context of Asia-Pacific development. First of all, in the context of the regional architecture, which, we all agree on this, should be ASEAN-centric,” Lavrov noted, welcoming Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
What tasks has Russia set itself in Southeast Asia?
Sergei Lavrov before the start of negotiations in Jakarta.
Photo: REUTERS
On Thursday, Lavrov will take part in a meeting of foreign ministers in the Russia-ASEAN format, and on Friday, with the participation of the Russian Foreign Minister through ASEAN, two more key events are planned in the formats of the East Asia Summit ( EAS ) and the ASEAN Regional Security Forum (ARF).
– Our task is to prevent the transformation of ASEAN-centric sites into a scenario of geopolitical confrontation. Russia advocates strengthening them as effective mechanisms for inclusive, equitable and constructive dialogue, and promotes a non-politicized applied agenda for them, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
Lavrov’s gift grows every year
At one of today’s meetings in Jakarta, a non-standard nesting doll suddenly appeared in Lavrov’s hands. He introduced it to ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Horn, who immediately smiled upon seeing that he himself was represented here.
– All previous secretaries general received such a matryoshka. These are symbols of our cooperation. But with each secretary general they get bigger and bigger,” Lavrov noted. Thus, he congratulated the ASEAN Secretary General on his inauguration.
