On Tuesday 11 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov announced they had agreed to step up contact between the EU and Russia.
"We agreed to increase the level and the rhythm of exchanges at different levels on the main foreign policy issues", Mogherini told a tense press conference.
"I wholly share what has just been said about the need for regular contacts, especially now that our colleagues from the European Union have frozen – for obvious though absolutely short-sighted reasons in my view – the majority of dialogue mechanisms that existed between Moscow and Brussels", Lavrov stated, adding that "nonetheless, ties are being maintained". He also said that as neighbours, the EU and Russia should solve mutually all issues that arise. In his view, the situation will gradually come back to normal.
"It is clear we do not share the same positions on everything, but our dialogue is constant and it is important. It is essential from our perspective to engage, to cooperate wherever it is possible", Mogherini stated. She and Lavrov thus discussed many international relations issues, especially the situation in Libya, the tension in the Gulf and on the Korean peninsula, the Middle East peace process, the Western Balkans, and the conflicts in eastern Ukraine and Syria.
On the latter issue too, Lavrov attacked the EU. While referring to the EU's "generous contribution" for alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people, he said that the European and American sanctions had a negative effect on the population. "I think it is high time to consider the humanitarian effect of the sanctions imposed by the EU and the USA", he said. "I believe that this situation is extraordinary because these sanctions have an impact on vital items including pharmaceutical products", he added.
"None of our sanctions on Syria affect civilian population. They are all targeted to individuals who hold specific responsibilities in the war", Mogherini replied.
She also announced that she had spoken to Lavrov about the EU's concerns regarding certain Russian policies on civil society and human rights in Russia. "We agreed to increase the level of contacts between our people", she said, without giving any further details. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)