Morocco – Western Sahara conflict requires a « consensual solution. » », says Lavrov

The Sahara conflict requires a consensual solution in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and with the involvement of all parties concerned, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Rabat.

Speaking at a joint press briefing on Friday with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita Lavrov stressed that this long-running conflict requires a rapid consensual solution based on Security Council resolutions exclusively and with the involvement of all parties concerned.

« We share the same vision of our Moroccan friends” in this regard, said Lavrov. The Russian Minister expressed his thanks and gratitude to King Mohammed VI for the audience he granted him, which testifies to the mutual trust between the two countries and reflects the shared will to deepen bilateral cooperation and implement the agreements concluded within the framework of the In-depth Strategic Partnership between Morocco and Russia, concluded during the visit of the Moroccan monarch to Russia in March 2016.

Lavrov noted the progress made in the areas of trade and investment, adding that his talks with Bourita provided an opportunity to evaluate the results of the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The Russian minister said that these talks also focused on the need to adopt peaceful solutions in conflict resolution, as well as to respect international law and state sovereignty.

At Rabat royal palace, the King granted an audience to Lavrov as part of strengthening relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian Federation, MAP news agency said.

This audience is part of the in-depth strategic partnership, concluded on the occasion of the historic visit by the King to Moscow in March 2016. This exceptional partnership has led to a deep and multidimensional development of relations between the two countries and has opened ambitious prospects for enhancing the political dialogue and strengthening the economic and sectoral cooperation, it added.

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