Lavrov on international politics: There are no more rules

In his opinion, politicians began to cross the border of what is permitted.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Esquire magazine that modern politics has become much tougher than at the height of " cold war"At the same time, the minister admitted that he has always managed to establish good relations with American secretaries of state.

The Russian Foreign Minister told Esquire that the situation in international relations is now much more complicated than during the Cold War, when the Western and Soviet empires "fueled conflicts" with a rival in third countries.

According to Lavrov, even the public rhetoric during that period was softer. "At that time, both camps did not cross the border of what was permissible. Today, there are no more rules," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated (quoted by RIA Novosti).

At the same time, Lavrov said that he had "if not friendly, then good relations" with all American secretaries of state. The minister believes that it will be possible to establish contact with the current head of the State Department, Rex Tillerson. Lavrov admitted that diplomats can criticize each other quite harshly, defending the interests of their state, and then "sit and drink together."

At the same time, the Foreign Minister does not believe that he once liked the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as some media outlets present. "Did you like it? Lies! We just communicated very warmly and closely with Condoleezza," the diplomat noted.

Lavrov joked that during difficult negotiations he was calmed by thoughts of his beloved football team, Spartak. "I constantly think about Spartak," the minister told Esquire magazine.

The Foreign Minister also said that his favorite poet is Vladimir Vysotsky. "There is also Yesenin and Blok. But Vysotsky is our modernity," he said. As for the musical preferences of the Russian minister, he loves folk and jazz most of all. "Well, of course, I love the Beatles. And Sinatra," added Lavrov.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with Esquire magazine, gives his assessment of the modern international relations, against the background of which the era of the Cold War no longer looks so tense.

Lavrov recalls that at that time there were two empires, the Soviet and the Western, which were carried away by the escalation of conflicts among themselves on the territory of third countries, but never directly or at their own borders. Today's international agenda no longer has such a framework.

“Even the public rhetoric was softer. Then both camps did not go over the edge of what was permissible. Today, there are no more rules, "- the words of the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry are quoted.

However, one does not have to go far for examples, the US Navy warships cruising dangerously close to the Korean islands clearly demonstrate that the situation may not yet be at its peak, and not only Russia and the West may already be the sides of the confrontation.

This was also preceded by the US airstrike on the Syrian airbase, against the background of which the United Nations, with all the orders of international law established by it, looks senseless. It is not necessary to guess about which country is today capable of wiping its feet about any generally accepted norms.

Meanwhile, Lavrov said that he was developing good relations with his American counterpart, the head of the State Department, Rex Tillerson, but this should not be considered an exception, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry had "if not friendly, then good relations" with all US secretaries of state. The secret of such diplomacy is simple: Declaring the need to build relations on equal and mutually beneficial conditions, and not from a position of strength and its own superiority, Russia adheres to this course in dialogue with all countries.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believes that now the situation in relations between Russia and the United States is harsher than during the Cold War, because there are no more rules in international politics. In an interview with Esquire magazine, the minister described the current relationship between Moscow and Washington as "waiting."

“Certainly, it is tougher now ... Then there were two empires: Western and Soviet, each of which fueled conflicts with a rival on the territory of third countries. But never on their borders and never directly. Even the public rhetoric was softer. In those days, both camps did not go over the edge of what was permissible. Today there are no more rules, ”Lavrov said.

According to the Foreign Minister, today relations between Moscow and Washington are developing by inertia, since people from the team of the previous US President still remain in the field. Barack Obama... Have Donald Trump it will take about 8 months to form a team, Lavrov believes.

He also said that thinking about his favorite football team - Moscow "Spartak" helps him to maintain composure in difficult negotiations. “I constantly think about Spartak,” the minister said, answering a question about what helps him to calm down when his negotiating partners “do not hear” him.

Lavrov called his favorite poet Vladimir Vysotsky... “Also Yesenin and Blok. But Vysotsky is our modernity, ”he said.

Among the minister's musical preferences are jazz and folk. “I like the way Butman plays. Well, of course, I love the Beatles. And Sinatra, "Lavrov added.