by Stephen Lendman

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is highly respected and then some. Representing Russia honorably. Forthrightly. Responsibly.

Saying what he means. Meaning what he says. Telling participants at the Moscow-based advisory Foreign and Defense Policy Council:

"As for the concept behind to the use of coercive measures, the West is making clear it does not want to force Russia to change policy but wants to secure regime change."

Western leaders publically "say there is a need to impose sanctions that will destroy the economy and cause public protests."

Tensions between Russia and Western countries were brewing long before Ukrainian crisis conditions, he explained.

EU countries succumbed to US pressure. Decided to go for broke. Play chicken with Russia.

Ukraine reflects a moment of truth. Moscow won't instigate breaking ties with Europe. At the same time, it won't tolerate post-Soviet 1990s business as usual.

"The EU is our largest partner. Nobody is going to shoot himself in the foot and reject cooperation with Europe, but everyone understands that it won't be business as usual anymore."

"(W)e don’t need the" way things were before. Saying 'Russia must do this and must do that…(W)e want to cooperate as equals.

US-led "aggressive minority" Western nations bear full responsibility for escalating tensions. Led by ideologically over-the-top officials.

Pursuing Eastern European power grabs. Instead of mutual cooperation. Joint mutual problem-solving efforts. Prioritizing peace. Rejecting war.

Lavrov blamed Washington for usurping global leadership. Bullying other nations to observe its rules.

When its resources and skills are declining. Waging war to achieve hegemonic goals. Letting politics trump reason.

"We cannot accept the position of those who tell us: 'Put up with it. Everyone has to suffer from America having elections every two years, and nothing should be done about it.' "

" 'Relax and take it as a given.' This won't do. We won't take it because the stakes are too high."

"It's not about anti-Americanism or forming some sort of anti-American coalition."

"It's about the natural desire of an increasing number of nations to ensure their vital interests and doing it in a way they see right, not the way they are being told by a foreign party."

If Washington assumes leadership for world peace and stability. Mutual cooperation. Respecting sovereign rights of all nations.

Observing international laws, norms and standards. Moscow will be first to express support. Bullying will produce polar opposite reactions.

Addressing Russia's Security Council on Thursday, Putin warned against US-led "modern world extremism…used as a geopolitical instrument to rearrange spheres of influence."

"We see the tragic consequences of the wave of so-called 'colour revolutions,' the turmoil in the countries that have undergone the irresponsible experiments of covert and sometimes blatant interference in their lives."

"We take this as a lesson and a warning, and we must do everything necessary to ensure this never happens in Russia."

"(W)e must consistently and persistently work to prevent extremism, to remove even its prerequisites and to reveal in a timely fashion the causes that can provoke ethnic, social or religious conflicts."

"(W)e need to take a complex approach to countering extremism. (T)his job requires thorough knowledge of the situation in each specific region and federal district."

"Countering extremism has nothing to do with intolerance towards dissenters."

"Russia is a free democratic country and its citizens have the right to their opinion, the right to voice it and to be in opposition to the authorities.

"All people have the right to propose their solutions to pressing issues, they have a right to form parties and public organisations, and take part in elections."

"It is important that they exercise their rights, express their political preferences, positions and views in a civilised and legal manner."

"As we assert our freedom of choice, the right to hold meetings, marches and rallies, we should not forget that we are responsible for our words and deeds."

"We must know and bear in mind that breeding conflict between people of different ethnicity and religion, propaganda of nationalist ideology, mass violations of public order on these grounds and particularly calls for a violent overthrow of the existing regime are direct manifestations of anti-national thinking and extremism."

"All of us must bear in mind the destructive consequences of such actions."

"Leaders of public movements should remember this. They should know that such actions are punishable by law."

Putin prioritized three ways to address extremism:

better focus on inter-ethnic relations;

awareness promotion work with youths; and

improved migration policies.

Russia must be mindful US-instigated post-9/11 color revolutions, said Putin. Taking measures to prevent them domestically.

Freedom can't be taken for granted. Nor sovereign rights. Keep them requires constant vigilance. Working daily for what's vital to preserve.

Mindful of ever present threats. Hegemons stop at nothing to achieve goals. Not at Russia's expense, Putin asserts.

He's more popular than ever. For resoluteness. Straight talk. Defending sovereign Russian rights. Going all-out for regional peace and stability.

Not yielding to US pressure. Opposing its imperial agenda. Mindful of Obama toppling Ukraine's democratically elected president.

Replacing him and parliamentary members with pro-Western stooge governance.

Determined to challenge US unipolarity. New World Order dominance. Demanding all nations bow to its will.

Russia under Putin/Medvedev/Lavrov and other resolute officials is back. Proud and reassertive. Not about to roll over for Washington. Or rogue EU partners. Or US-led NATO threats.

It's back to the future in Washington. Cold War 2.0. For greater stakes. Threats to world peace. Reinventing the Evil Empire.

The real one resides in Washington. Infested with neocons. Continuing destructive business as usual policies.

Essential to stop while there's time. All bets are off otherwise. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance.

A Final Comment

The General Assembly's Third Committee deals with a range of social, humanitarian and human rights issues. Ones affecting populations worldwide.

Others advancing women's rights. Protecting children. Indigenous issues. Treatment of refugees. Promoting fundamental freedoms.

Confronting racial discrimination. Addressing social development issues. Supporting self-determination rights.

During the General Assembly's 68th session (Sept. 17, 2013 - Sept. 15, 2014), Third Committee members considered over 70 draft resolutions. Over half related to human rights.

It's expected to consider a similar number in its current session. Including one passed Friday. Condemning attempts to glorify Nazism. Deny its war crimes.

The resolution passed overwhelmingly - 115 to three. With 55 nations abstaining. America, Canada and Ukraine alone voted nay.

Effectively endorsing Nazism. Denying it committed war crimes. The measure voiced concern over racist-driven crimes.

Extremist ideologies and agendas. Commonplace in America, Ukraine and elsewhere.

It called for universally adopting the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Washington signed it. Without enforcement measures. Effectively rejecting what it endorsed.

Russia submitted the draft resolution. Its Foreign Ministry saying:

"The fact that the US, Canada and Ukraine voted against, while delegations from EU member states abstained in the vote on this draft resolution, which was supported by an overwhelming majority of the UN member states, is extremely regrettable."

"Ukraine's position is particularly dispiriting and alarming. One can hardly understand how a country, the people of which suffered their full share of the horrors of Nazism and contributed significantly to our common victory against it, can vote against a resolution condemning its glorification."

In December, the General Assembly will formally adopt the resolution. No thanks to America, Canada and Ukraine. On the wrong side of one issue after another.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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