Russia expects GoSL to continue with neutral foreign policy

Ambassador comments on 2024 prez poll

Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan said that regardless of the outcome of the presidential election later this year in Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation expected the new government to continue with what he called independent neutral foreign policy and preserve the continuity in friendly relations with Russia.

Declaring that Russia had never meddled in domestic affairs here, Ambassador Dzhagaryan said that they hoped the elections would be conducted in a peaceful manner and result in further enhancement of stability and growth.

The Ambassador said so at the Russia Day celebrations at Galle Face Hotel on Tuesday (11). The Russia Day falls on June 12.

Among the distinguished gathering were former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa,

Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne and diplomatic representatives.

Ambassador Dzhagaryan said: “June 12 symbolizes a future-oriented Russia, successful development of its economy, improvement of social security, consolidation of the friendship between the peoples of the Russian Federation, strengthening of its position on the international arena as well as reminds of great victories and accomplishments of many generations of our predecessors.”

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Ambassador said: “The start of the Special military operation in Ukraine was a response to the blatant ignorance by the West of security concerns of Russia, and the abandonment by the West of its commitments. It is also a response to the genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime against civilians in Donbass, including citizens of the Russian Federation. The operation is not aimed against civilians in Ukraine. The goal is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes. Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have been turned into an instrument of Western policy to destabilize Russia. This operation will last till all its aims, pointed by our President Vladimir Putin, are reached. Our cause is just, and we will win. No doubt.

The Russian-Sri Lankan relations provide a good example of sincere friendship and mutual understanding that can exist between two countries. Our states have similar approaches to important foreign policy issues. Sri Lanka supports Russia’s initiatives at the UN General Assembly, including resolutions on countering the glorification of Nazism, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, backs up our efforts to promote international information security, arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation. Russia, in its turn, has always supported Sri Lanka in all international fora, particularly in the United Nations Human Rights Council. And, of course, we deeply appreciate its balanced position on the Ukrainian issue despite all the pressure and efforts to incline Sri Lanka to Western side of the conflict.”