The statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell that the European Union should not allow Russia and China to take control of the situation in Afghanistan is unfortunate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"If the head of the European Union's foreign policy thinks in such categories, then I feel sorry for the member states that have to hear and, apparently, support such a philosophy. That's not what Mr. Borrell cares about, we should care about the Afghans pacifying their country as soon as possible. And this mentality, "You can't give Afghanistan to Russia and China," is from the same "either-or" line of reasoning: let the countries choose: either they are with the West, or with Russia and China. It's sad, if such people develop the foreign policy line of the European Union," he noted.
Borrell, speaking on Thursday at an unscheduled meeting of the European Parliament's foreign affairs and development committees, said the EU should not allow Russia and China to take control of the situation in Afghanistan and become the main sponsors of Kabul.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS