Sergei Lavrov Quotes

Russia would not support anything which would be actually imposed on Syrians.

The decision on whether there is another referendum is down to the Scottish people.

The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.

The results of the two referenda demonstrate the majority view of the Taiwanese people.

You cannot force a country to do something that is against its own interests or against the democratic process.

Any people has a right to self-determination, and now in Europe the process of diluting national sovereignty in the framework of a united Europe is more accepted.

Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people with their own traditions of national self-government, and not the realisation of standards foisted on us from outside.

Democracy still has a real hope and chance in Iraq, and true freedom in this country would be the greatest testament to those who gave their lives for it.

Clearly, if it is sensible to hold a referendum on independence, it is crucial that we have one on marriage. It is the only way the country can move forward on this issue. Let all those who have a view on this subject place their trust in the Scottish people and let Scotland decide.

We need to give the Iraqis a chance to build their own future. It should be in their hands. It must be in their hands. That is what democracy is all about. We can teach it, we can explain it, but they must want it enough to make it work for them.

However, I must say that I am very happy to see that we have such a positive result for our first referendum in our history and that gives me more confidence in Taiwan's democracy.

The decisions and problems of Uruguay will be resolved by Uruguayans.

People of all countries have the right to choose their own social system and road to development in the light of their national conditions and characteristics.

It's for the Palestinians to decide who will lead them.

Where nationalism is the main issue, the demand for democracy always takes second place.

As the legislature of my state has thought proper to bring my name forward without consulting me, I mean to be silent, and let the people do as seemeth unto them.

The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights, and are the only instruments which can be used for their destruction.

Liberty is a blessing so inestimable, that, wherever there appears any probability of recovering it, a nation may willingly run many hazards, and ought not even to repine at the greatest effusion of blood or dissipation of treasure.

We can not want Democracy more than they [the Iraqis] do and expect to succeed.

We should not replicate the situation where one country is in a situation to hijack the rest of Europe because they organize a referendum.

To preserve our sovereign integrity, we must prove to them nobody need tell us how to hold a clean and democratic election.

The only people that have ever fought ISIS in Syria is not the regime; it is the Free Syrian Army.

If Hong Kong could exercise democratic self-governance under the sovereignty of China, it would not be necessary for us to take this step on the path toward independence.

Ukrainians are entitled to decide their own future.

One lesson of the vote for Brexit was that citizens were fed up being treated as bystanders. One of the gains of Leave was the flourishing of a sense of agency and self-determination that it afforded to many.