Victory
18-05-06, 16:14
Strasbourg, May 18 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday criticized the European Union's "imperial way of thinking" and slammed EU parliamentarians for their persistent criticism of Russian policies.
The European parliament's stance on Russia is "often unfounded, partial and based on unchecked information," Lavrov told a closed-door session of the European parliament's foreign affairs committee, according to sources in the EU assembly.
"The mutually beneficial partnership with the European Union is evolving and progressing, but Russia should be seen as a partner, not as an object of EU foreign policy," he was quoted as saying.
Quizzed by Euro MPs on Russia's human rights record, Lavrov insisted that Russia had the right to set its own standards and could not be forced to accept requirements imposed by others.
Criticized for a clampdown on civil society organizations, Lavrov told deputies that Russia was trying to ensure that non-state agencies respected certain standards.
Russian legislation on Non-Governmental Organizations is not different from that in many EU countries, he added.
Euro MPs are traditionally much more outspoken in criticizing Russia's human rights record, especially in Chechnya, than many EU governments.
The Russian foreign minister also said the EU decision to freeze assistance to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas-led Palestinian authority was "hasty."
The European parliament's stance on Russia is "often unfounded, partial and based on unchecked information," Lavrov told a closed-door session of the European parliament's foreign affairs committee, according to sources in the EU assembly.
"The mutually beneficial partnership with the European Union is evolving and progressing, but Russia should be seen as a partner, not as an object of EU foreign policy," he was quoted as saying.
Quizzed by Euro MPs on Russia's human rights record, Lavrov insisted that Russia had the right to set its own standards and could not be forced to accept requirements imposed by others.
Criticized for a clampdown on civil society organizations, Lavrov told deputies that Russia was trying to ensure that non-state agencies respected certain standards.
Russian legislation on Non-Governmental Organizations is not different from that in many EU countries, he added.
Euro MPs are traditionally much more outspoken in criticizing Russia's human rights record, especially in Chechnya, than many EU governments.
The Russian foreign minister also said the EU decision to freeze assistance to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas-led Palestinian authority was "hasty."