🇷🇺🇪🇬📞 During the telephone conversation, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as President of the Russian Federation, noting his great personal contribution to strengthening friendly relations between Russia and Egypt.

In turn, President Putin extended greetings to Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the entire Egyptian nation for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

🤝 It was noted with satisfaction that the multifaceted cooperation between the countries is successfully developing as a strategic partnership, with major mutually beneficial projects underway in various spheres.

Current issues on the international agenda were considered, including the situation around Ukraine and in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. President Putin praised Cairo's efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The expectation is that Egypt, as a full member of #BRICS, will actively participate in events held as part of the Russian chairmanship.

It was agreed that contacts will continue at various levels.

#RussiaEgypt

⚡️ Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

The Office of the UN Secretary-General said it “is saddened” by the reports of the shooting.

SADDENNED? SHOOTING? Did it break out at a shooting range or something?

❗️ People are using their last ounce of strength to share live images of the monstrous terrorist attack that doesn’t just “sadden” but evokes horror, shock, unequivocal condemnation, righteous anger and compassion for the victims.

The Secretary-General condemned in the strongest possible terms today’s terrorist attack at a concert hall outside Moscow, in which at least 40 people were reportedly killed and over 100 others injured.

The Secretary-General conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Russian Federation. He wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: We thank the Secretary-General for the timely correction and articulation of a clear position!

По инициативе России СБ ООН 22 марта принял следующее заявление в связи с терактом в подмосковном развлекательном центре Крокус Сити Холл: (ниже - неофициальный перевод с английского, который может незначительно отличаться от итогового русского текста)

«Заявление Совета Безопасности для прессы о террористическом акте в Московской области, Российская Федерация

Следующее пресс-заявление Совета Безопасности было выпущено сегодня Председателем Совета Ямадзаки Казуюки (Япония):

Члены Совета Безопасности решительно осудили гнусный и трусливый террористический акт в концертном зале в Красногорске, Московская область, Российская Федерация, 22 марта 2024 года. Этот преступный акт терроризма привел к трагическим потерям десятков человеческих жизней и ранению более 100 человек, некоторые из которых находятся в критическом состоянии.

Члены Совета Безопасности выразили глубокие соболезнования семьям жертв и российскому народу, и пожелали скорейшего и полного выздоровления пострадавшим.

Члены Совета Безопасности подтвердили, что терроризм во всех его формах и проявлениях является одной из самых серьезных угроз международному миру и безопасности.

Члены Совета Безопасности подчеркнули необходимость привлечения к ответственности исполнителей, организаторов, финансистов и спонсоров этих преступных актов терроризма и их передачи правосудию. Они призвали все государства, в соответствии с их обязательствами по международному праву и соответствующим резолюциям Совета Безопасности, активно сотрудничать с Правительством Российской Федерации, а также всеми другими компетентными органами в этом отношении.

Члены Совета Безопасности подтвердили, что любые акты терроризма являются преступными и неоправданными, независимо от их мотивации, где бы и кем бы они ни были совершены. Они подтвердили необходимость для всех государств бороться всеми возможными средствами, в соответствии с Уставом Организации Объединенных Наций и другими обязательствами по международному праву, с угрозами международному миру и безопасности, вызванными террористическими актами.»

Посольство продолжает получать соболезнования от глав дипмиссий дружественных стран в Сингапуре и простых сингапурцев, выражающих слова поддержки семьям погибших и пострадавших в ужасной трагедии, произошедшей 22 марта 2024 г. в «Крокус Сити Холле».
 
The Embassy is receiving condolences from the heads of diplomatic missions of friendly countries in Singapore and Singaporeans, expressing words of support to the families of those killed and injured in the terrible tragedy that happened on March 22, 2024 in Crocus City Hall.

Власти Сингапура решительно осудили теракт в «Крокус Сити Холле» 22 марта 2024 г. в Московской области, выразили соболезнования семьям погибших и пожелали скорейшего выздоровления раненым.

The Singapore authorities strongly condemned the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024 in the Moscow Region, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured the swift recovery.

https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Trannoscripts-and-Photos/2024/03/Attacks-in-Moscow-22-March-2024

22 марта 2024 г. в «Крокус Сити Холл» в Московской области произошел чудовищный теракт. В память о погибших 24 марта 2024 г. объявлено днем общенационального траура в Российской Федерации.

С 24 по 29 марта 2024 г. Посольство открывает электронную книгу соболезнований по адресу: russia-sg@yandex.ru.

On March 22, 2024, a despicable terrorist attack took place in Crocus City Hall in Moscow Region. To honour those perished, March 24, 2024, has been declared the Day of National Mourning in the Russian Federation.

The virtual Book of Condolences will be opened by the Embassy from March 24 until March 29, 2024, at the following email address: russia-sg@yandex.ru.

Сегодня, 24 марта 2024 г., день общенационального траура в Российской Федерации. Мы скорбим о погибших в чудовищном теракте в "Крокус Сити Холле"🕯️

Today, March 24, 2024, is the Day of National Mourning in the Russian Federation. We mourn those perished in the despicable terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall🕯️

🎙 Обращение Президента России В.В.Путина в связи с терактом в «Крокус Сити Холле»

💬 Обращаюсь к вам в связи с кровавым, варварским террористическим актом, жертвами которого стали десятки мирных, ни в чём не повинных людей – наши соотечественники, в том числе дети, подростки, женщины.

<...>

Выражаю глубокие, искренние соболезнования всем, кто потерял своих родных и близких. Вместе с вами скорбит вся страна, весь наш народ.

🕯 24 марта объявляю днём общенационального траура.

<...>

Что касается расследования этого преступления и результатов оперативно-разыскных действий, то в настоящее время можно сказать следующее. Все четверо непосредственных исполнителей теракта найдены и задержаны.

❗️ Они пытались скрыться и двигались в сторону Украины, где, по предварительным данным, для них с украинской стороны было подготовлено окно для перехода государственной границы.

Всего задержано 11 человек. Федеральная служба безопасности России, другие правоохранительные органы работают над выявлением, вскрытием всей пособнической базы террористов: тех, кто обеспечивал их транспортом, намечал пути отхода от места преступления, готовил схроны, тайники с оружием и боеприпасами.

<...>

Все исполнители, организаторы и заказчики этого преступления понесут справедливое и неизбежное наказание. Кем бы они ни были, кто бы их ни направлял. Повторю: мы установим и покараем каждого, кто стоит за спиной террористов, кто готовил это злодеяние, этот удар по России, по нашему народу.

Мы знаем, что такое угроза терроризма. Рассчитываем здесь на взаимодействие со всеми государствами, которые искренне разделяют нашу боль и готовы на деле реально объединять усилия в борьбе с общим врагом, международным терроризмом, со всеми его проявлениями.

Террористов, убийц, нелюдей, у которых нет и не может быть национальности, ждёт одна незавидная участь – возмездие и забвение.

<...>

☝️ Россия не раз проходила через тяжелейшие, порой невыносимые испытания, но становилась ещё сильнее. Так будет и сейчас.

Читать полностью

🎙 President Vladimir Putin's address following the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall (March 23, 2024)

💬 I am addressing you today in connection with a horrific and savage act of terrorism, which claimed the lives of dozens of peaceful, innocent people – including children, teenagers, and women.

<...>

I express my deepest and most sincere condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire country, all our people are grieving together with you.

🕯 I declare March 24 a day of national mourning.

<...>

Regarding the investigation of this crime and the results of the operational search action, we can currently say the following. All four perpetrators, who were directly involved in the terrorist attack, all those who shot and killed people, have been found and apprehended.

❗️ They attempted to escape and were heading towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary information, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border.

A total of 11 people have been detained. The Federal Security Service and other law enforcement agencies are working diligently to identify and expose the accomplice base behind these terrorists: those who provided them with transport, planned escape routes from the crime scene, and prepared caches with weapons and ammunition.

<...>

All perpetrators, organisers and masterminds of this crime will face fair and inevitable punishment.

<...>

We understand what the terrorist threat means. In this regard, we rely on cooperation with all states that sincerely share our pain and are ready to really join forces in the fight against a common enemy, international terrorism and all its manifestations.

Terrorists, murderers, those inhumane individuals who have no nationality and cannot have one, face one and the same gloomy prospect – retribution and oblivion.

<...>

☝️ Russia has weathered the most arduous, sometimes unbearable trials more than once, yet it has emerged even stronger. And so it shall be now, as well.

Read in full

Ambassador's Comment

I have read another publication by Mr. Jonathan Eyal, Global Affairs correspondent at the Straits Times, ennoscriptd “Moscow concert venue attack exposes chinks in Putin’s armour”.

The feeling is nothing but bewilderment and indignation.

How is it possible, at such a tragic moment, when Russia is mourning the victims of the monstrous terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22, 2024, and when the leaders of most countries in the world present their condolences, how can one, at such a moment, go into unscrupulous discussions about the weakness of the Russian government, having the most vague ideas about what has happened and is happening in the Russian Federation.

For the information of Mr. Eyal. In Russia, presidential elections were held on March 17, which brought an unconditional victory to the current President V.V.Putin (87.28%). His authority in society is higher than ever, and his programs for the political and economic development of the country are well founded and very ambitious.

In accordance with its design, the special military operation in Ukraine is progressing; its goals and objectives for the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine and its exclusion from the aggressive plans of the West will be achieved.

What happened in Moscow is a tragedy. But rather than the weakness of the Russian government, it revealed the gaps in international cooperation in the fight against terrorism that arose as a result of the unconstructive position of the West and the hybrid war it unleashed against us. It turns out that terrorism is one of the instruments of this war.

If we talk about weakness, then we must talk about the weakness of our Western opponents, who are unable to offer Europe and the world as a whole a constructive alternative to confrontation, who were unable to consider our latest proposals on European security. In December 2021, when we handed over to Washington and Brussels draft agreements on security guarantees to Russia. Their key elements were the refusal to expand NATO, to deploy strike weapons systems near Russian borders, as well as to return the bloc’s military capabilities and infrastructure in Europe to the positions of 1997. They were also rejected by NATO.

In April 2024, NATO will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its sad history - a history of endless conflicts and internal strife that have brought the continent and humanity to a dead end. This is where one needs to look for the sources of instability, “frustration and the lack of potential responses,” and not shift his infirmity onto others.

Ambassador’s Comment

On April 4, 2024, NATO turns 75. The organization will widely celebrate its anniversary. The culmination of the celebration will be the alliance summit in Washington on July 9-10, which will be attended not only by member countries of the bloc, but also its partners. A NATO “advertising” campaign has been launched under the slogan “All for one, one for all.”

After the end of the Cold War, NATO was looking for new tasks for a long time. Gradually, including under pressure from the Eastern European countries that joined the military alliance, the alliance began to return to the key task of the Cold War times - containing an enemy of comparable strength, whose role was again assigned to Russia.

NATO's Strategic Concept, adopted at the 2022 Madrid summit, calls Russia "the most significant and direct threat to Allied security, peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region." NATO's opposition to Russia extends across all geographic areas and operational environments. New regional defense plans have been developed. Due to the efforts of NATO members, the waters of the Baltic and Black Seas have been turned into zones of geopolitical rivalry with Russia. Tensions are growing in the Arctic region.

Ukraine, which has become the main arena of confrontation with us, is receiving weapons on a scale that almost exceeds the capabilities of NATO countries. Because of their use, civilians are killed and civilian infrastructure is destroyed.

The alliance's aggressive behavior is not limited to actions against Russia. NATO has finally taken over the European Union. With a claim to the role of a global guarantor of international security, NATO seeks to extend its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic space. In order to form coalitions of “small geometry”, having not only an anti-Russian, but also an anti-Chinese orientation, it is attracting like-minded countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and trying to drag India to its side. NATO is in search of new partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It seeks to break traditional ties in the post-Soviet space, to drive a wedge between Russia and its partners. Such activities do not contribute to the maintenance of peace and security. On the contrary, this undermines international stability.

At the same time, the process of expanding the alliance itself has not been completed. Finland joined the bloc in 2023, and Sweden in March 2024. Euro-Atlantic integration is being forcefully imposed on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO membership has been promised to Ukraine and Georgia. This could lead to a manifold increase in the risk of unintentional military incidents, in all areas.

The scale and frequency of the bloc's military exercises near Russian borders are increasing. Units of not only member countries, but also the bloc’s partners are involved in NATO training activities.

In the spring of 2024, the alliance is conducting the largest maneuvers since the Cold War from the Barents to the Black Sea - Steadfast Defender. They involve about 90 thousand people, 50 ships, including aircraft carriers, and a significant amount of military equipment.

The fact that NATO is preparing for a conflict with Russia is constantly stated by both the leaders of Western countries and representatives of the alliance itself. All this comes against the backdrop of calls for Russia to “de-escalate the situation.” Russia has not threatened and does not threaten any NATO country.

For many years, Russia has been trying to build equal cooperation and partnership with the North Atlantic bloc. In 2002, the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) was established, which was supposed to become an “all-weather” platform for discussing any disagreements. We had mutually beneficial projects of practical cooperation, such as training of Afghan security forces, the Airspace Cooperation Initiative, retraining of retired military personnel, joint peacekeeping, and others.

The decision of the NATO Council in April 2014 to terminate practical cooperation and political dialogue completely crossed out the entire positive agenda in relations between Russia and the alliance.

The United States and its allies did not support any of Russia’s initiatives aimed at creating a single and indivisible security space in Europe. Our last attempt was made in December 2021, when we handed over to Washington and Brussels draft agreements on security guarantees to Russia. Their key elements were the refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike weapons systems near Russian borders, as well as to return the bloc’s military capabilities and infrastructure in Europe to the positions of 1997. They were also rejected by NATO.

In general, the improvement of relations with the alliance in the medium and possibly long term is unlikely. We did not destroy them. It is not for us to suggest ways to restore them. Nevertheless, we will be ready for constructive dialogue and interaction with the sensible leadership of Western countries in order to build a sustainable system of European and global security. It is obvious that without Russia this process is doomed. At the same time, we emphasize that such work should be based on the principles of equal and indivisible security, equality and mutual consideration of interests.

⚡️ Russia's Foreign Ministry Statement in connection with the 25th anniversary of NATO aggression against Yugoslavia

READ IN FULL

History knows many events which, by virtue of their profound impact on the international order, marked a change of eras.

The NATO attack on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999 is certainly one such event. It went beyond being a tragic milestone in the life of the Serbian people with thousands of ruined lives and desecrated national dignity, and included a devastating blow to international law and European security foundations that had been laid after World War II.

The United States and the EU got finally convinced in their own impunity and moral superiority which was bad news for those who prefer to choose their own path rather than become someone’s tool in their efforts to realise their own interests. The strategic balance of power collapsed, and a drawn-out crisis of international relations ensued which continues to worsen.

The US and its allies who assaulted a peaceful European country trampled on the UN Charter and the CSCE/OSCE principles, and desecrated the very notion of sovereignty. <...> The widespread use of depleted uranium munitions by NATO has led to a multifold increase in cancer cases in that region, contaminated the environment where millions of people had lived for many years, and went down in history as a separate dark chapter on the list of NATO crimes.

During the 78 days of military aggression 14,000 bombs were dropped on Yugoslavia and over 2,000 missiles were fired, including cluster and demolition shells. Under the mocking front of a “humanitarian intervention,” mostly civilian targets were hit, including residential districts, hospitals, schools, bridges, mass transit vehicles, and refugee convoys. Thousands of civilians were killed, including 89 children, whom the Western coalition cynically referred to as “collateral damage.” No one has ever been held accountable for these atrocities, and international justice turned a deaf ear to the suffering of the Serbs and let NATO atrocities go unnoticed.

<...>

❓ This inevitably begs the question: was the “Kosovo project” worth the sacrifice and destruction that the alliance brought upon Yugoslavia? Has the self-proclaimed “republic” added stability or prosperity to the Balkan region?

There is no doubt that the United States’ concern for the rights of Kosovo Albanians is a fake claim from the get-go. It is nothing but a false pretext for the crackdown on Serbs.

<...>

This is what the Western “peacemaking” is all about. Its disastrous ramifications can now be seen in Ukraine, where a neo-Nazi regime has been nurtured on the basis of Washington and its supporters’ rejection of the principles of equality and mutual respect in international affairs, a regime that committed genocide against the Russian population.

We can hear the US and the EU increasingly call on Serbs to “turn the page” and forgive NATO for the invasion that took place 25 years ago. On top of that, they lay the bulk of the blame on the Serbs for the dramatic events during the breakup of Yugoslavia, including the 1999 bombing attacks. I’d be hard pressed to find proper words to describe the extent of Western shamelessness and lack of self-criticism.

The Alliance will never be able to wash off the shame of war crimes. No one believes its demagoguery about defending freedom and democracy anymore. The United States and the rest of NATO have no right whatsoever to talk about implementing an obscure new “rules-based order.” Their every effort to put together some kind of “global security architecture” is by definition malevolent and toxic, and aimed solely at perpetrating the neocolonial hegemony of the West.

❗️ Russia and its partners in Belgrade will continue to oppose the attempts to distort the history of the Yugoslav crisis and to shift the emphasis to demonising Serbs and justifying the 1999 aggression. The attempts to insult the memory of the innocent victims of NATO hangmen are unacceptable.

#NoStatuteOfLimitations

🗓 25 years ago, to the day, on March 24, 1999, NATO launched a full-scale aggression and started mercilessly bombing Yugoslavia in gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter.

The US and NATO’s military operation against Belgrade was undertaken without the approval of the UNSC

The US & its cronies bombed the cities, including Belgrade, villages & civilian infrastructure for 78 days, blowing up bridges, passenger trains and buses and killing women, children & elderly people. By doing that, the West destroyed the post-WWII foundations of European security and started replacing the legitimate mechanisms that regulated international relations with a “rules-based order”.

▪️ 3,000 cruise missiles were fired at a sovereign European republic, & 80,000 tonnes of aerial bombs were dropped on the heads of people.

The use of depleted uranium ammunition contaminated vast areas & caused an unprecedented rise in cancer-related diseases, which affects people up to this day. 200,000+ non-Albanian residents of Kosovo, who had to flee from their homes, have still not yet returned there.

Using the aggression as a pretext, members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army committed heinous crimes, including the kidnapping and murder of Serbs for body parts. Many of these criminals are still at large.

❗️ No NATO representative has been called to account. The victims of the aggression were written off as “collateral damage,” which means that they were the civilian casualties of the operations conducted by the United States, Britain and their satellites to attain their geopolitical ambitions.

The question of the NATO allies’ responsibility for the damage they have done to international relations and Yugoslavia remains open.

🕯 The military operation NATO waged against sovereign Yugoslavia more than 20 years ago is a tragedy inflicted upon the people of Yugoslavia by NATO warmongers with lasting and multifaceted consequences.

#WeRemember #Yugoslavia1999

#See4Yourself & #Think4Yourself

🎬 WHY?: Revisiting NATO atrocities in Yugoslavia after 15 yrs - an RT Doc Film.

Synopsis: On the evening of March 24, 1999, several of Yugoslavia's largest cities were subjected to NATO airstrikes. The bombing, which lasted for three months, left hundreds dead and wounded and thousands of damaged lives. Many are still haunted by that nightmare.

RT correspondents - a Serb and an American - travel across the former Yugoslavia to explore the human cost of NATO's 1999 military campaign against Belgrade and the media onslaught against the Milosevic regime. Anissa Naouai and Jelena Milincic discover the very different ways the war was portrayed in the US and Serbia; and meet the people still traumatized by the 3-month bombing.

👉 Watch the full film by RT Documentary

📽WHY? Revisiting NATO atrocities in Yugoslavia

💥25 years ago, on the evening of 24 March 1999, several of Yugoslavia's largest cities were subjected to NATO airstrikes. The bombing, which lasted for three months, left hundreds dead and wounded and thousands of damaged lives. Many are still haunted by that nightmare.

RT correspondents - a Serb and an American - travel across the former Yugoslavia to explore the human cost of NATO's 1999 military campaign against Belgrade and the media onslaught against the Milosevic regime. Anissa Naouai and Jelena Milincic discover the very different ways the war was portrayed in the US and Serbia; and meet the people still traumatized by the 3-month bombing.

👉 Watch the full film by RT Documentary: https://rtd.rt.com/films/why/

#See4Yourself & #Think4Yourself