Maria Zaharovairina: Pushkov commented on the cancellation of the visit of Johnson to Moscow
The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said application for cancellation of visit to Moscow Minister for foreign Affairs of great Britain, Boris Johnson. The diplomat on Saturday, April 8, leads “Interfax”.
“This “cancellation of the visit” followed immediately after “the transfer”. The reasons the British side were called different. The impression that our Western colleagues are living in your own reality in which they are first trying single-handedly to plan collectively, then they also single-handedly to change, coming up with absurd reasons,” — said Zakharov.
She also added that Russia has always supported building a stable relationship, however, the “stability and consistency has long ceased to be the hallmark of Western foreign policy.”
Earlier on April 8 on the website of the foreign Ministry of the United Kingdom published a message, which says that Johnson will not go on 10 April in the Russian capital because of the “radically changed situation in Syria.” The Minister emphasized that his priority now is contacts with USA and other partners ahead of the meeting “Big seven”.
He also expressed regret that Moscow continues to support the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad “even after the use of chemical weapons against civilians” (in Damascus reject these accusations).
In early March, the foreign office announced the visit of Johnson to Moscow in the end of the month. Later, however, the British media announced about his transfer because of the desire of the foreign Minister to participate in the meeting of foreign Ministers of countries-members of NATO, which was postponed from April 5-6 March 31, due to employment of the head of the state Department Rex Tillerson.
27 March, commenting on this information, Zakharova said that the UK has demonstrated “know-how in diplomacy.” “What are they interesting: about the visit to Moscow has not been announced, and undo is not forgotten,” she said. Later that same day, the foreign Ministers of Russia and great Britain had a telephone conversation at the initiative of the British side. The details of the conversation were not disclosed.