MOSCOW - Russia refused to participate in the fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in Washington because of absence of equal right guarantee to its participants, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
"We have repeatedly explained both in written and in an oral form that we will be ready to participate only in events which would imply collective and equal work, including collective discussion and coordination of the final documents," Lavrov said.
"Secondly, (the United States made) an attempt to substitute the United Nations, Interpol and the International Atomic Energy Agency by itself," Lavrov told a joint press conference with his visiting Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic.
Moscow earlier stressed that such gatherings should be convened under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) framework.
Currently the United States was trying to deceive the world public saying Russia's refusal to participate in the summit took them by surprise, Lavrov said.
He added that Russia had explained its position to U.S. partners many times since the idea to organize this event emerged a year and a half ago.
Lavrov said he respected the decision of other countries to accept the invitation and participate in the forum.(Xinhua)