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Russian FM in His Own Words: Sergei Lavrov's Top Ten Quotes

© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev / Go to the mediabankSergei Lavrov
Sergei Lavrov - Sputnik International
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Russia’s Foreign Minister is celebrating his 66th birthday on Monday: while wishing Sergei Lavrov many happy returns, Sputnik has compiled a list of his top ten quotes to illustrate why the country’s top diplomat is invariably at the top of the most popular politicians’ list since taking office in 2004.

"I am not paid to be optimistic"

Russia's top diplomat held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry last March in Switzerland's Lausanne, where several world leaders had been working hard to hammer out a final decision on Iran's nuclear program.

© AFP 2023 / ALBERTO PIZZOLI Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), a three-day conference on security in the Mediterranean region, on December 11, 2015 in Rome
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), a three-day conference on security in the Mediterranean region, on December 11, 2015 in Rome - Sputnik International
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), a three-day conference on security in the Mediterranean region, on December 11, 2015 in Rome

When asked by a reporter whether he was optimistic about the possibility of the deal, Sergei Lavrov said: "I'm not paid to be optimistic."

​Kerry carried on with the joke, saying "You are not paid enough to be optimistic."

"Russia has time and again saved Europe from Europe itself"

"We can’t lose Europe. Europe without Russia is not Europe. Russia has time and again saved Europe from Europe itself," said Sergei Lavrov in a live broadcast in "Voskresny Vecher" (Sunday Evening) TV show on Rossiya 1 news channel, while commenting on cooperation between Russia and Brussels, December 2014.

Переговоры С.Лаврова с главой внешнеполитического ведомства Финляндии 3 декабря в Белграде «на полях» Министерской сессии ОБСЕ состоялась беседа Министра иностранных дел Российской Федерации С.В.Лаврова с Министром иностранных дел Финляндии Т.Сойни. Главы внешнеполитических ведомств обсудили повестку дня СМИД ОБСЕ, обменялись мнениями по ситуации в Сирии и на Украине, перспективам объединения усилий мирового сообщества в противодействии террористической угрозе, а также по ряду актуальных вопросов российско-финляндских отношений, включая график предстоящих двусторонних контактов. Министры рассмотрели нынешнее состояние дел в отношениях России и Евросоюза. #лавров #мид #политика #россия #россия24 #россиясша #россиясила #россиясегодня #россиявперед #lavrov.mid #lavrov #russia #russianfederation #russiandiary #russians #russianarmy #russia_ru

Фото опубликовано Сергей Лавров (@lavrov.mid) Дек 3 2015 в 11:18 PST

"Who are you to f…ing lecture me?"

The alleged quote dates back to 2008 when Sergei Lavrov supposedly used the word, quoting one of his colleagues, in a conversation with then-Foreign Secretary David Miliband over the 2008 conflict with Georgia and Miliband's urge for setting a dialogue with Saakashvili.

​"It is politically incorrect for a lady to address a gentleman on her knees"

Back in 2015, Russian Foreign Minister dismissed a question from a female reporter at a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry by telling her not to address a man while "on her knees."

© AFP 2023 / FABRICE COFFRINI/POOLUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) smiles with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after she gave him a device with red knob during a meeting on March 6, 2009 in Geneva.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) smiles with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after she gave him a device with red knob during a meeting on March 6, 2009 in Geneva. - Sputnik International
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) smiles with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after she gave him a device with red knob during a meeting on March 6, 2009 in Geneva.

"It is politically incorrect for a lady to address a gentleman on her knees," he told the reporter, as he pointed to Kerry and laughed. Kerry clasped his hands together and stared into the distance.

If it [a country] looks like a terrorist, acts like a terrorist, walks like a terrorist, fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right?

The Russian Foreign Minister brushes aside American complaints that their air strikes are not actually targeting Islamic State militants.
Lavrov was addressing reporters at the UN in New York on October 1, 2015, on the second day of airstrikes by Russian warplanes in Syria.

​Asked to define "other terrorist groups," Lavrov said: "If it looks like a terrorist, acts like a terrorist, walks like a terrorist, fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right?"

"Russia doesn't want an arms race"

"Russia doesn't want an arms race. Russia would not engage in an arms race. We have enough technological means to provide a not very expensive answer to the efforts to build a missile defense," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Channel NewsAsia in Kuala Lumpur on August 5, 2015.

© Sputnik / Michael Klimentyev / Go to the mediabankMarch 16, 2016. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in the Kremlin
March 16, 2016. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in the Kremlin - Sputnik International
March 16, 2016. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in the Kremlin

"It is absolutely unacceptable to talk to Russia — or anyone for that matter — in the language of ultimatums and coercive measures"

When asked about talks of a new Cold War in relations between the west and Russia, Sergei Lavrov replied:

"It is absolutely unacceptable to talk to Russia – or anyone for that matter – in the language of ultimatums and coercive measures. Our response to unilateral steps by the United States, the EU and some other countries has been balanced and in line with the rights and obligations of Russia under international treaties, including the World Trade Organization."

The comments came in an interview with Russia Beyond the Headlines in September 2014.

© Sputnik / Dmitry Astakhov / Go to the mediabankSergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Sputnik International
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs

"I'm not surprised about Russophobia in US Congress"

When asked if he believed the US was trying to impose regime change in Moscow by undermining the Russian economy, Lavrov said he had "very serious reasons to believe this is the case."

The comments came in an interview with France24 in December 2014.

​"If you look at the US Congress, 80 percent of them have never left the USA, so I'm not surprised about Russophobia in Congress," said the Foreign Minister at the time.

"We have overestimated the independence of the European Union [from the US]"

In the same interview Sergei Lavrov commented on the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the EU:

​"Of course sanctions hurt, but I don’t believe the sanctions will help the European Union. The United States ordered the EU to impose sanctions and frankly we overestimated the independence of the European Union [from the US]."

"It’s childish – but what to do?" Sometimes the big boys play games."

This comment came with regards to relationship between Russia and NATO, which has cut practically all ties with Russia while moving "close to the Russian border" but still wanted Russian help to train Afghan pilots.

© AFP 2023 / TIMOTHY A. CLARY Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands
Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands - Sputnik International
Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands
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