DM Monitoring
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke against protectionism and unilateralism when addressing the G20 summit via video link. “We have to tackle the urgent problems that have accumulated in international trade. In particular, it is necessary to strive to curb protectionism, abandon the practice of unilateral sanctions, and resume supply chains,” Putin said.
He believes that there is no alternative to the World Trade Organization today, and a stable and effective multilateral trading system based on universal norms and principles is needed. Putin said that countries need to beef up effective mechanisms of multilateral cooperation and strengthen key international institutions, while relying on the UN Charter and generally accepting norms and principles of international law.
The two-day summit is hosted by Saudi Arabia, the current president of the bloc.
Meanwhile, The Russian peacekeeping mission is maintaining effective control over the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
“Our military is maintaining effective control over the ceasefire, which is being observed by both sides,” Putin said at a meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a Kremlin statement. “Prompt demining has made it possible to establish reliable communications in the region, and deploying our peacekeeping forces made it possible to stop the bloodshed and avoid more casualties,” he said.
“Overall, the situation has stabilized,” he added. The Russian service personnel is escorting refugees and bringing residential buildings, roads, and social facilities up to code, the president said, adding that “they are ensuring security for convoys with humanitarian supplies as well.”
Putin said he remains in close contact with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and plans are in place to send Russian interdepartmental delegations, tasked with ensuring ceasefire implementation and tackling humanitarian issues, to both countries.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. The latest round of armed conflict broke out in the region in September, causing heavy casualties and property losses.
