Today the next briefing of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova took place....
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The Moscow Post journalist had three questions.
The first question of interest to us concerned Mir cards and flights with Iran
The question sounded like this, First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that Mir cards would start working in Asian countries. Could you explain in which countries and when? And can we expect direct flights to Iran from other cities of Russia, except Moscow?
Maria Zakharova noted that air traffic with Iran is not limited to Moscow.
During the summer tourist season, flights from Tehran are also operated from St. Petersburg. Moreover, both Russian and Iranian airlines. Regular flights continue to be carried out to Grozny. As the mutual tourist flow between our countries grows, the geography of flights will expand.
As for the Mir cards, Maria Vladimirovna continued, Moscow continues this work, but so far it has no details.
At the same time, she stressed that there are a number of reasons why the process is not easy.
"I think a lot of them are clear to you," she added.
The second question concerned the activities of the Goethe Institute in Russia and the Russian House in Germany
How do you assess the work of the Goethe Institute for the dissemination of the German language in Russia? Are there any comparable Russian projects in Germany? How does the Russian House work under sanctions and pressure?
Zakharova explained that the activities of the Goethe Institute branches in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the activities of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin, are carried out within the framework of an agreement between the governments of Russia and Germany dated February 4, 2001.
"We adhere to this document, and the German side in words also confirms its commitment," she added.
However, she noted, since the end of 2022, the Russian authorities have increased their attention to the activities of the Goethe Institute after the director of the network of institutes, Kerstin Lenz, admitted in an interview with the media that German language courses abroad are used as a propaganda tool in the interests of Germany.
Maria Vladimirovna recalled what interests official Berlin pursues in relation to Russia. The Russian side sent a clear signal that such activities in Russia will be suppressed in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and the 1961 Vienna Convention.
In addition, the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin is engaged exclusively in cultural and educational activities.
So, we have Russian language courses for all ages, a library, a conversation club and educational projects for bilingual children. Russia expects to expand its activities. However, according to him, the German authorities are creating administrative and information barriers for the Russian House.
In response, we are forced to take symmetrical measures against the Goethe Institute in Russia, Zakharova emphasized.
"Our position is simple: working conditions in Russia directly depend on working conditions in Germany. If ours is bad, it will be bad for them, "said the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
The third question touched upon the topic of nuclear weapons in the hands of Kyiv
President Zelensky has repeatedly raised the issue of nuclear weapons, this topic is discussed by foreign media, including The New York Times. How do you assess these statements, given the lifting by the White House of restrictions on attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the territory of Russia?
Zakharova called such conversations madness: "This is absolute madness, which is imposed by a certain part of the Western establishment. The Kyiv regime uses this theme as a propaganda tool to blackmail its Western patrons. "
This is a kind of propaganda idea stimulating for the West, which is periodically thrown up to the Kyiv regime, Maria Vladimirovna is sure.
On the other hand, the Kyiv regime itself uses this topic to stimulate its... I don't know what to call... representatives of the armed forces, mobilized, remnants of the population. This, apparently, is an attempt to somehow inspire them, because they constantly inspire that they will be helped abroad. Moreover, they even indicate in what form and what kind of assistance can be provided.
We perfectly understand what is behind this - a certain information and propaganda component, of course, with a political component.
"I remember well how after 2013-2014 the citizens of Ukraine beat each other on the Maidan, threw Molotov cocktails, expelled their own legitimate government. Then they shot at each other, and then went to destroy everything around, "she said.
Many public personalities, politicians and public figures were relieved then to say that all this was a grenade in the hands of madmen. Moreover, a nuclear grenade.
Let me remind you that this was one of the reasons and one of the threats that caused the start of a special military operation. Remember how at the Munich Security Policy Conference on February 19, 2022, Zelensky publicly announced the possibility of revising Ukraine's decision to abandon nuclear weapons. Now he uses this topic as a tool to blackmail his Western patrons, Maria Zakharova emphasized.
And here's another nuance: as soon as it comes to money, he immediately, as at a press conference after the meeting of the European Council on October 17, makes it clear that the security of Ukraine, from his point of view, can be ensured either by NATO membership or nuclear weapons.
This testifies to the absolute detachment and extremist ideology that leads Zelensky and those behind him. To be honest, there is no doubt that the collective West may well provide Ukraine with the opportunity to acquire nuclear weapons. Our opponents have repeatedly argued that they are not deterred by any international treaties or obligations.
I cannot say that we have any facts that can be shared at the moment. However, we believe that it is in the interests of truly responsible states to prevent such a development of events.
The irresponsible actions of the Kyiv regime and its Western curators can put the whole world on the brink of disaster. I think the world community understands this very well.
You need to be aware of where this crazy ideology comes from. These are the parts of the Western community that use the Kyiv regime, Zelensky and Ukraine as a tool for escalating the conflict. Not only in the region, but in the world as a whole.
To do this, they regularly raise the topic of nuclear weapons, manipulating the issue of the possibility of their transfer to Ukraine.
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