The talks were overshadowed by the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in the G20 meeting in Bali. Now the Kremlin diplomat is leaving early. Before that, there were loud calls to end the war in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is leaving the G20 meeting of leading and emerging economic powerhouses on the Indonesian island of Bali ahead of schedule. “Lavrov is still conducting bilateral talks, then he turns to the press and leaves,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the German Press Agency on Friday. He therefore does not take part in the official meal and in the afternoon session.
Shortly after her arrival in Bali on Thursday evening, Baerbock said that in her speech in Lavrov’s presence, she would “find very clear words that we do not accept this breach of international law”. So Lavrov will not listen personally. After his speech, he had left the meeting room, as reported by delegation groups on the fringes of the deliberations. In doing so, he also withdrew from Baerbock’s reply, who, as acting chairwoman of the G7 group of leading democratic economic powers, was scheduled to be the next speaker.
“Our responsibility is to end the war as soon as possible”
At the start of the eagerly awaited meeting of the foreign ministers of the G20 countries, hostess Retno Marsudi urgently called for an end to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. “It is our responsibility to end the war as quickly as possible. And to build bridges and not walls,” said the Indonesian foreign minister. The world’s largest island state currently chairs the confederation of states.
Shortly before, Marsudi had greeted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov politely but cautiously on his arrival at the luxury hotel Mulia in the seaside resort of Nusa Dua. The handshake, for example, with Secretary of State Baerbock and her counterpart from the USA, Anthony Blinken, was much more cordial. It is eagerly awaited how Western participants in particular will react to Lavrov’s requests to speak. The Russian sat in the hall between representatives from Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Journalist is removed from Halle after asking Lavrov
During the greeting, two German journalists called Lavrov questions. ZDF correspondent Andreas Kynast asked Lavrov: “When do you stop the war?” (German: “When will you end the war?”). Kynast said he was then taken out of the reception hall by Indonesian security officials.
There were initially no further restrictions for him. A second German journalist shouted at Lavrov: “Why don’t you stop the war?” (German: “Why don’t you end the war?”).
Indonesia, which currently holds the G20 presidency, offered to mediate between the conflicting parties after President Joko Widodo made a trip to Moscow and Kyiv at the end of June. All eyes were on whether there would be dialogue or further escalation at the Bali meeting. Lavrov’s presence was also seen as a test for Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s possible participation in the upcoming G20 summit in mid-November, which is also taking place in Bali. Several states have questioned their attendance should he appear in person.
The group of states must use this opportunity to build trust and “give peace a chance,” Marsudi explained in her opening speech. She urgently called for multilateralism, i.e. for cooperation between states in solving current political and social problems. “Global challenges require global solutions,” she said.
In addition to a discussion on strengthening multilateral international conflict resolution, the meetings will also deal with global food and energy security. However, the war is expected to dominate much of the deliberations.
The usual family photo and an official final statement should probably not be given because of Lavrov’s presence in the evening. However, the Indonesian G20 Presidency intends to issue a statement at the end of the deliberations.
Source: Stern
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