Boris Johnson in Moscow: Brexit or Not, British Troops Will Stay at Russia’s Border
In such new conditions both in the West and around the World British Foreign Officer Boris Johnson came to Moscow.
In Britain, everyone warned him not to drink and eat what he's offered in Russia not to use his mobile phone because of a possible hacker attack, etc. In real life, his meeting with Russian counterpart S. Lavrov was what it was supposed to be: a civilized meeting at high level between diplomats of permanent members of the UN Security Council and countries responsible for the World's fate countries that cannot be isolated and that must cooperate together.
Some jokes, however, took place too.
Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia: As for trust, I trust Boris so much that I'm ready to call him Boris instead of Boris.
Boris Johnson, British Foreign Secretary: As soon as I got here I immediately handed my coat to Sergey Lavrov in the knowledge that he would look after it and it would come to no harm.
- I can say that there was nothing in Boris's coat pockets
- So you searched it already?
We also had a conversation with old Boris Johnson. Here are highlights of the interview.
- Mr. Johnson, welcome to Moscow.
-Thank you so much.
-Though, we're actually on British territory, in the embassy. I see you are still smiling by the end of the day. Are you happy?
- It was a very, very interesting and productive day. Of course, as I've already mentioned it at the press conference with Sergey Lavrov there are difficulties in our relations, real problems that we can't ignore. The list and the essence of these controversial points and claims in relations with Russia are known: situation in Ukraine, in the west of the Balkan Peninsula, in cyberspace and foreign electoral interventions.
-Well, that's according to the British media. Go on, please.
- I understand you and your reservation perfectly, but that's how we see it too. But what we can do — is to address the biggest problems together. Problems that two countries, two permanent members of the UN Security Council can solve together. That's why I'm here. And, in my opinion, there are several issues, where it is possible.
- Let's go issue by issue. There are often a couple of issues on the agenda, where London's position is surprisingly closer to Moscow than to Washington. For example, the Iranian nuclear deal. What could we do together?
- Well, let's look at that very interesting problem. Firstly, President Trump has not yet quit the Iranian nuclear deal.
- Yes, it still exists, and you can't erase Iran from the map.
- Yes, Sergey. You're right. The deal is still alive, but it requires support and work. It is quite obvious to me that such work is required to solve the situation in North Korea Very soon Pyongyang will possess an intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear charge which can strike Moscow or London.
- Yes, technically. But from a political point of view.
- Be careful, you never know for sure.
- At least, Russia and Britain have embassies in North Korea. The United States doesn't.
- An interesting remark, nevertheless, there are targets all over the World that in a year can get in range of the North Korean intercontinental missile. Do we want Iran to have the same opportunity? No, we do not. We want the people and policymakers of Iran to choose another future which implies the economic growth. That's what the UK and Russia could work together on so that the Iranian nuclear deal became meaningful. And also Syria. I think that it's time to be frank and realistic with each other. We did not meet and did not discuss this face to face. We did not agree.
- But you finally talked.
- Yes, we did not agree with each other about Bashar al-Assad. Russia has its own view of him. I don't think Russia is necessarily supporting him, but Russia has kept Assad in power. Fine, fair enough, let it be, it's your choice.
- You've said recently that he must resign.
- I think it would be better if he resigned.
- But he's still there.
- He's there. And the issue is: how can we improve the life of the Syrian people? Some people said to me: don't go to Russia, the relationship is too bad, there is no point. I think this is wrong. No matter how difficult things are. You have to conduct a dialogue and cooperate.
- Mr. Johnson, when agitated for Brexit, were you expecting to win?
- Yes. You know, when I left London, I was absolutely sure that everything would go our way. But sometimes, when I came back, the confidence was slightly reduced. And in fact, it happened this way. The results were amazing. If you were keeping track of the voting, you must remember.
- I did.
- What was interesting after the results were made public? The British people wanted us to stand our ground and they just did it. And I would like that everybody in Russia realized: we're not leaving Europe. Great Britain does not loose the moorings and sail to the center of the Atlantic. As you know, we've got troops in Poland, in Estonia. We find this important, because we care about the stability and security of our European friends.
- Ok. You've got troops in Poland and Estonia, but as I understand your visit to Russia is part of the work on restoring Britain's positions in the world after leaving the EU and becoming global Britain once again which is difficult to imagine without an appropriate relationship with Moscow?
- I will not deny that there are areas, where we would like to have better relations with Russia. These include international policy, and bilateral relations. But we can not work at ease without paying attention to the existing problems. But what we can do, Sergey, is to do much more together in areas that directly concern our nations. What do our people want? The Russians want to travel to Britain freely as tourists and the British want to have a great time at the World Cup in Russia next year. I'm sure. A pound to a penny, it will be successful. That's why our policemen cooperate to ensure their safety As I've already mentioned, Churchill and Stalin did not get along very well There was no love. Churchill wanted to cut off the Soviet Union in prime. And as you remember, at the end of the Second World War, he conceived some…
- It was called the operation Unthinkable.
- Yes, right. Unthinkable. But when in the middle of the war both countries faced a common disaster they found the opportunity to act together.
- Mr. Johnson, thank you very much. By the way, do you have a multiple entry visa to Russia?
- I do not know what type of visa I was issued. But I know for sure that I received many photos of Stalin and Churchill. I'm very grateful for it.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.