"We respect human rights and want them to be respected by all," said the minister. He recalled that some countries from among the future members of the EU have joined international conventions on human rights and ethnic minorities.
"Besides, 'the Copenhagen principles' of the EU demand that the EU members fulfill the convention on elimination of racial discrimination, but there are facts that some Baltic countries do not fulfill this convention," Mr. Lavrov said.
Mr. Lavrov said Russia does not intend to ask the EU for unilateral concessions.
"We are conducting dialogue for Russia's concerns, which are quite legal, to be taken into account," the minister said.
"We know that our friends from the European Union understand the legality of our concerns and we hope they will be taken into account," Mr. Lavrov stressed.
