Quotes from Sergei Lavrov

For years, we have been asking the E.U. to create something similar to the Russia-NATO council. Not in order to simply exchange opinions and work out recommendations, but to make decisions.

We still believe that if the Russian Federation and the United States bring their minds together, we can develop a common system which would be efficient in protecting the Euro-Atlantic region from threats coming outside this region.

Germany has traditionally played a very constructive role regarding E.U. ties with Russia and the West as a whole with Russia.

The E.U.'s Eastern Partnership programme is designed to bind the so-called focus states tightly to itself, shutting down the possibility of co-operation with Russia.

Historical experience shows that a crisis causes either a recovery or catastrophic consequences.

Russia and the U.S. bear a special responsibility in world affairs. We have much to offer the rest of the world. Our common history testifies to this, and modern challenges demand that we work together.

Conversations with my counterparts in Europe have made clear that many of them recognize NATO's limitations and understand the need for reform.

What we did say is that it is up to the Syrians themselves to decide how to run the country, how to introduce the reforms, what kind reforms, without any outside interference.

With regards to the expansion of NATO, I see it as a mistake, even a provocation in a way.

I don't believe in ideology in international relations.

I can only say that I have good personal relations with all secretaries of state with whom I have a chance to work.

We can say that Japan is the only country that calls into question the outcome of the Second World War; no one else does.

Do not form your judgment about our military doctrine from the assessments given by NATO representatives.

A second opinion never hurts, not only in medicine, but also in politics.

Saddam Hussein was the one person after whom the United States went, and they ruined the country.

Russia would not support anything which would be actually imposed on Syrians.

I don't want to say that sanctions are ridiculous and that we couldn't care less; these are not pleasant things... We find little joy in that, but there are no painful sensations. We have lived through tougher times.

We have no desire to continue a sanctions war, trading blows.

We keep our reserves both in dollars and in Euros mostly.

Sanctions are a sign of irritation; they are not the instrument of serious policies.

You know that we are not in the regime-change game. We are against interference in domestic conflicts.

If our interests - our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians - have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia, for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law.

Every country has its political face and political traditions.

Iran will be the most checked and inspected country if the principles agreed in Lausanne are transferred into the language of practical agreements.