Russia's Lavrov says U.S., EU sanctions may make Russia more independent

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Russian officials and companies would not achieve their goal and only make Russia more economically independent.       

"(Sanctions) simply cannot achieve (their aim) ... I assure you, we will overcome any difficulties that may arise in certain areas of the economy, and maybe we will become more independent and more confident in our own strength," he told a news conference.

In this regard, Lavrov noted that Moscow would not take tit-for-tat measures or act "hysterically" in response to sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union over the Ukraine crisis.      

"We're not preparing to act on the principle of 'an eye for an eye'," Lavrov told a news conference. "We want to tackle the situation with a sober head and the President has already said that of course we can't ignore it. But to fall into hysterics and respond to a blow with a blow is not worthy of a major country."
  

FM Lavrov also said Moscow was hopeful an investigation into a downed airliner over eastern Ukraine would be objective and respect a presumption of innocence.       

"Only the honest, open participation of all those who have access to information about the crash can be regarded as normal. Anything else we will consider deceitful attempts to influence the investigation, putting presumption of innocence in doubt," he told a news conference.         

Lavrov added that Moscow was hopeful that monitors from the European rights and security watchdog, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, could be deployed along Russia's border with Ukraine.

On another note, Russia's Lavrov said Moscow could launch an appeal if the Hague's arbitration court rules in favor of a group of shareholders in defunct oil giant Yukos against Russia.          

"I heard this morning reports that such a verdict is expected," he told a news conference, saying he would wait for the ruling to be made before commenting.         

He said legal formalities in the case had not been completed, including the right of appeal. "The Russian side, those agencies which represent Russia in this process, will no doubt use all available legal possibilities to defend its position."     

An arbitration court in the Netherlands on Monday ruled in favor of shareholders in defunct Russian oil giant Yukos, ordering Moscow to pay roughly $50 billion in damages.       

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued rulings in three separate cases which had sought a total of $100 billion from Russia for expropriating Yukos, formerly controlled by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man.