Russia to restore ties with West when Western partners have similar idea - Lavrov

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Russia will be ready to restore channels of co-operation with the West when Western partners have a similar idea, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. “As for co-operation between the West and Russia, there are problems of international terrorism and the drug trade which should be combated, particularly because this claims the lives of thousands and thousands of people and at the same time helps fund the very terrorism we are fighting,” the minister said. “We face a problem related to the Ebola virus. In general, there is a problem of pandemic and other diseases from which whole countries and nations may suffer, a problem of energy security, food safety and the spread of mass-destruction weapons,” he added. “There is a feeling that someone in the West - this is a minority of Western countries, but it is the minority which dictates its will to all other Western states - is ready to sacrifice all these tasks which are common for the international community in order to underline their indignation with conduct of the Russian Federation in this case,” Lavrov said. “But indignation should not blind them so much that basic, deeply rooted interests of humanity will be sacrificed.” Lavrov said he hoped “common sense will prevail.” “We are patient people,” Lavrov said, adding that “We are convinced that our common interests are to restore channels of co-operation. "We will be ready to do so the moment Western partners have a similar intention.” Read more on itar-tass.com