UPDATE: Foreign min says Russia has basis to launch SWIFT analog

(adds details in last 2 paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Apr 28 (PRIME) -- Russia has a basis to establish its own payment system similar to SWIFT, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told PRIME in an interview published on Wednesday.

"The basis (of a SWIFT alternative) exists. And I am convinced that the government and the central bank should do all they can to make this basis secure and to guarantee full independence and protection from the damage that someone can try to inflict on us additionally," Lavrov said. 

According to the media statements, future Western sanctions could disconnect Russia from SWIFT.

Lavrov said that Russia is protected against disconnection. "The only thing Russia and China want is to keep the principles of the U.N. Charter making everyone equal and come to agreement. This is why we need to have an insurance network in the form of the financial systems and transmission of financial messages," he said.

"We have it and I hope that it will get stronger and guarantee that if someone discriminates us despite our desire to cooperate with everyone and abuses the current position of the West in the international economic and currency financial system, we have no right to depend on anyone in this situation."

End %%mk/jst%%