Lavrov: Russia supports the emergence of a more just arrangement of international relations on a multipolar basis

"It has become a good tradition to meet in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which is known for its hospitality. We value the excellent organization of this forum and the creation of optimal conditions for useful discussions. And such honest, open discussions are important today as never before, especially given that the world majority has objectively developed a demand for a new model of world order," said Sergei Lavrov, speaking before the guests and participants of the conference.

Under this model, according to him, real equality of sovereign states must be ensured as a fundamental condition for the safe and progressive development of all peoples.

"Russia supports the emergence of a more just arrangement of international relations on a multipolar basis. It must reflect the cultural and civilizational diversity of the modern world and peoples, while recognizing the right of every people to determine its own destiny," emphasized the head of the Russian foreign policy department. "With this goal as a guideline, we are consistently working to promote the initiative put forward by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at the First Russia–ASEAN Summit — the initiative of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership by establishing ties between integration associations on the Eurasian continent," said Sergei Lavrov.

At the same time, the minister emphasized that such a process is already underway with the participation of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Memorandums on interaction have been concluded between these structures, work is underway to align programs, eliminate duplication in projects that are planned in practice by these structures, and ensure what we call a 'rational division of labor.' This great Eurasian task of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership, in addition to more rational action in using the wealth of our common continent, we also consider as the material basis, the material foundation of the very architecture of Eurasian security that we discuss at the Minsk conferences," noted Sergei Lavrov.

Among the main points, he also highlighted the practical implementation of the principle of equality and indivisibility of security, dedicated to the important problem of ensuring reliable, sustainable Eurasian security.