MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Moscow is prepared to retaliate against unfriendly moves over Russian-U.S. ties, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
The relations between the two big powers is a key factor for global stability, and Russia seeks to build relations with the United States on the basis of "equality, non-interference and mutual respect," Lavrov said during an annual press conference.
Russia welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks that "decades of wars and conflicts are coming to an end," and the country will be ready to coordinate with the U.S. side to solve controversies.
However, "irritating" issues such as the Magnitsky Act are hard to ignore, as Americans "have already decided everything for themselves," the diplomat said.
"The main irritant has been anti-missile defense. That one has lately been supplemented with the Magnitsky Act when a human tragedy was used to punish Russia," Lavrov said, warning that Russia would react if other countries interfered into Russia's internal judicial life.
He slammed the United States for shortcomings in children adoption practices and for the recent "unjust" ruling of a U.S. court over Russian state property.
Commenting on bilateral economic ties, Lavrov said Russia wishes to do business with U.S. partners without political obstacles. The Obama administration should overcome the politicized approach and make proper conclusions, he said.
The Untied States passed the so-called Magnitsky Act in December, blacklisting some Russian officials allegedly linked to the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky at a Russian prison in 2009.
In retaliation, the State Duma of Russia, the lower house of the Russian parliament, passed a law banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans and blacklisted U.S. citizens it deemed as human rights violators.
The law, also referred to as the anti-Magnitsky Act, became effective on Jan. 1.
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