Sahara: Moscow backs lasting settlement based on UN Security Council Resolutions

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country supports a lasting solution to the Sahara regional conflict based on the UN Security Council resolutions.

Lavrov made the remarks at a joint press conference held Wednesday in Marrakesh following talks with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita at the end of the 6th Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum.

“We support a lasting solution based on UN Security Council resolutions and we are committed to this principle aimed at moving forward and reaching adequate decisions” on the Sahara conflict, said Mr. Lavrov

He reiterated his country’s supportive stand to the efforts engaged by UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura to advance the UN-led political process on the Sahara issue.

Talks between the two ministers also covered bilateral cooperation and latest developments on the regional and internal scene including the situation in Libya and the Sahel.

Sergei Lavrov said his talks with Bourita were “very interesting” as emphasis was laid on the implementation of the agreements concluded during the Summit between King Mohammed VI and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks were an opportunity to examine the modalities for the “implementation of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership of 2002, and the Declaration of Deep Strategic Partnership of 2016,” he said.

Lavrov also underlined that both parties discussed the means to implement their bilateral partnership in the areas of investment, trade, economy, energy, IT, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, fisheries, agriculture, culture, and education.

Lavrov and Bourita agreed on convening the upcoming meeting of the Moroccan-Russian joint committee in Moscow early next year. This inter-governmental committee on trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation is expected to sign agreements in energy, mining, agriculture, and fisheries.

Lavrov also said that the 6th Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum led to concrete results.