‘Third World War would be last for humanity’ – Duma speaker
When Russia’s enemies impose the Cold War logic on international diplomacy and threaten with the Third World War it is important to remember that such conflict would be the last in human history, State Duma Chairman Sergey Naryshkin says.
Russia builds its defenses to prevent wars
“World War III would be the last for the humanity. And strengthening of Russia’s defense potential, including the budgetary decisions passed by the State Duma is done only for one purpose, which is to prevent the war,” Naryshkin stated in a major interview with Izvestia daily, published on Thursday in connection with the anniversary of Russia’s joining WWI on Serbia’s side.
At the same time, the Duma chief promised that Russia would always defend the interests of its allies and “close people,” but not by military means. “We will do this through pressing for strict observation of the international law by others, not by violating it. We want peoples to decide their own destiny on their own land,” he said.
READ MORE: ‘Budget optimization will not affect Russian defense order’ - Putin
Exceptionalism as neo-colonial ideology
The top Russian MP also blasted the attempts to revive the neo-colonial policy in the modern world saying that it has appeared due to the weak reaction to crimes against peace and humanity and due to toleration of fascist and racist ideologies.
“Many military conflicts started with the silent connivance to the ideas of one people’s superiority over others. In this sense the modern ideologies of exceptionalism are extremely dangerous,” Naryshkin stated.
He explained that the modern limitations imposed on the sovereignty on NATO and EU countries could be perceived as colonial policy and the deal suggested by European Union to Ukraine – to bear obligations without having any rights – can only be described as a colonial status.
Naryshkin also told the newspaper that Russia has a lot of allies, even in countries where governments were populated by open Russophobes.
“We know that real public sentiments are different there, if all EU countries had the opportunity do make independent decisions on anti-Russian sanctions we would see a very different picture,” he said.
He added that the United States gained a lot of benefits from the current conflict in Europe not because of “mythical” isolation of Russia, but rather due to the fact that EU nations get weaker and lose their international reputation.
READ MORE: Europe should overcome US pressure, resume cooperation with Russia - Duma chief
No reversal on Crimea ascension
In the same interview the speaker completely ruled out the possibility of change in Russia’s position over Crimea.
“The self-determination of Crimea is the will of the people of Crimea and Sevastopol that has been supported by all the Russian people. How can we reverse this? Maybe our Western opponents compare Russia to themselves and for them there is little meaning in the will of the people, their opinions and historical memory.”
Earlier this year Naryshkin already expressed the opinion that European nations should stop following the plans imposed on the by the United States and start executing own plans for their own benefits. He also positively assessed the idea of a future merger between the Russian Federation and the European Union, proposed by Czech President Milos Zeman.
“Zeman didn’t exclude the possibility of EU nations joining the Russian Federation. Our country has repeatedly admitted the possibility of a merger between two regional unions – the Eurasian Economic Union and European Union,” Naryshkin stated. He added that in his view the plan wasn’t a fantasy because Russia “has always been and will always remain in the common family of European people.”
