Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco Nasser Bourita, Marrakech, December 20, 2023
20 December 2023 19:36
2586-20-12-2023
We held useful bilateral talks. We discussed the implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level between King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President of Russia Vladimir Putin, as well as the implementation of the 2002 Declaration on strategic partnership and the 2016 Statement on in-depth strategic partnership. We reaffirmed that these two documents remain as relevant as ever.
We considered how we could refine our actions to implement them more effectively and fully with regard to strengthening trade, economic and investment ties in fuel and energy, digital technology, energy, the peaceful development of nuclear energy, and many other areas including agriculture and marine fisheries.
We talked about the significant opportunities we have for expanding our cultural, educational and humanitarian ties. In order to translate these opportunities into practical steps, we agreed to convene a regular meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation early next year.
As the commission's co-chair, Minister Bourita met with his counterpart, Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev, on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg in July.
In addition to the discussions that took place at the Sixth Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, we also covered most regional issues and international affairs at the bilateral meeting. Both sides are committed to the central role of the United Nations and the application of the principles stipulated in its Charter as an interrelated whole. We are adamant that everyone must fully respect the cultural and civilisational diversity in the modern world and every nation's right to determine their own future.
We discussed African affairs and developments in the Middle East and North Africa, the Mediterranean and the world in general. We touched upon the Western Sahara settlement process. Russia is interested in progress in this area. Our approaches remain unchanged, balanced and unbiased. We support making expeditious progress towards a sustainable and long-term settlement based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We intend to continue to pursue a policy aimed at working out a solution that would suit all parties. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the Friends of Western Sahara group, Russia tries to promote this in every possible way, including by supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. It is important to ensure the necessary conditions for the effective operation of the UN mission on Western Sahara, which plays an important stabilising role in the region.
We agreed to accelerate the creation of a working committee between our ministries at the level of deputy foreign ministers to coordinate our foreign policies even more effectively.
I think that our visit was very successful. Our colleagues wanted us to spend more time here, but we have a tight schedule. I am sure that we will leave with unforgettable memories, most importantly, from achieving good, useful, and pragmatic results. This applies both to our bilateral meeting and to the results of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum.
Once again, I would like to extend my gratitude to my colleague and friend Nasser Bourita.
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