Statements by Trump team members show they will respect Russian interests rather than moralize - Lavrov
MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hopes that the Administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will treat Russian and its own interests with equal understanding.
"There have been attempts to interpret and to analyze Senate [confirmation] hearings [for Trump team nominees]. I believe this is a fruitless task, because what actually matters is actions and viewpoints to be taken and expressed after these people take office in Washington," Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
He recalled that Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson had described Russia as a threat but said it was not unpredictable in the pursuit of its interests. "This means we are dealing with people who will not moralize. They will try to understand interests of their partners, just like they want to give a clear idea of their own interests," Lavrov said.
It is much more important to focus on the search for productive interests than to engage in missionary activity, he said.
