'Containment' of Russia may lead to confrontation: Lavrov

NEW YORK: Russia has warned that a return to Cold War theories, such as its 'containment', will only lead to confrontation with the West and flayed those who are intent on starting a debate on the issue.

"The Cold War represented a step away from the Westphalian standard of state sovereignty, which placed values beyond the scope of inter-governmental relations.

A return to Cold War theories such as Russian and US aspirations, Lavrov criticised American diplomacy "which seeks to transform what Washington considers 'non-democratic' governments around the world, reordering entire regions in the process.

"Russia, withem; along with other partners, they share responsibility for the future of the world. It is not Russia that needs to be contained; it is those who would deprive the world of the benefits that will come from a strong US-Russian partnership."

In fact, Lavrov's remarks came in an article, titled 'Containing Russia: Back to the Future?', which he had given to US-based 'Foreign Affairs' magazine, but later withdrew it over insertion of some subtitles and the way the write-up was edited, an accusation the publication denied.

According to a press release by the Russian Mission to the United Nations, the editors had "edited, if not censored" the article and it was reduced by 40 per cent, losing in the process considerable part of its original meaning.

"Some editing even meant that Sergey Lavrov was to subscribe to certain foreign policy positions of present US government to which Russia objects on grounds of principle," it said.

"We were required to supplement the article's title with a subtitle which reads 'Averting a new Cold War' or 'A conflict between Russia and America'.

"Such a subtitle fundamentally runs counter to the key idea of the Russian Minister's article," it asserted, adding, "since in Moscow we assume that no new Cold War, the more so conflict between our two nations, is possible. There are no objective reasons for that".

The editors, however, have denied any bias in editing the article written by the Foreign Minister.

In his article, Lavrov also said that both sides (Russia and the US) should demonstrate a "broad-minded and unbiased vision" that represents Russia and the United States as two branches of European civilisation.

"Russia, the United States, and the European Unionshould work together to preserve the integrity of the Euro-Atlantic space in global politics."

Stressing that at the Kennebunkport meeting in July, President Vladimir Putin and President George W. Bush had demonstrated "what teamwork can achieve", the Foreign Minister said that they agreed to look for common approaches to missile defence and strategic arms reductions, and they launched new initiatives on nuclear energy and non-proliferation.