MOSCOW, October 6 (Itar-Tass) — There is a threat of complete collapse of Somalia and Moscow backs the African Union’s efforts on the Somali settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
After the talks with Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Yusuf on Thursday, Lavrov said, “The position of the central government in Djibouti is very weak. The threat of complete collapse is becoming real and all efforts of the international community are aimed at preventing this.”
“That is why none needs ‘the domino effect’, which is inevitable. It is neither in the interests of Africans nor their friends,” he added.
The African Union is a key player in the Somali settlement, Lavrov stressed. “We intend to continue making contribution to training the AU peacekeeping contingents. The peacekeeping situation of the AU in Somalia under the auspice of the U.N. Security Council is a key instrument for settling the conflict,” he said.
At the same time, the Russian foreign minister believes that the situation in Libya and Somalia should not compare because “there are diverse things”.
In general, the Russian foreign minister said it is very important “for external players to respect the states, which are located in one or another area”. “In this aspect Africa’s position is decisive for us. This is its region and the countries of the region know better what means should be used in order not to harm and to try to achieve progress and save the maximum amount of people’s lives,” Lavrov said.