Moscow warns of possible countermeasures if U.S. doesn't restore landline phone services at Russian consulate in NYC
MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Moscow expects the United States to restore landline telephone services at the Russian consulate general in New York City in the near future so as not to force it to take symmetric countermeasures, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
"We once again urge Washington to undertake all necessary measures to restore normal communications for our diplomats in New York within the shortest possible time," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"We hope this story is not an invitation for reciprocity on America's part. I am sure we have more interesting fields for manifesting such," Zakharova said.
"The story is paradoxical, but, alas, it's reality," Zakharova said.
The absence of landline telephone services at the Russian consulate general "is having an extremely negative effect on the diplomatic mission's work," as it cannot properly provide consular services either to Russian citizens or to those from the U.S. and other countries, she said.
"In the current situation, the Department of State, which has been officially notified of the malfunction, has simply dodged the problem. This position by the American authorities has shown yet again that there are no reasons for allegations by the U.S. embassy in Moscow that the American diplomats in Russia, unlike the Russian ones in the U.S., have to perform their duties in extremely cramped conditions," she said.