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Middle East and North Africa

Russia hopes Egypt’s policy be based on national interests

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has discussed the situation in Egypt with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 11 (Itar-Tass) - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia hopes that national interests will determine the activity of the Egyptian authorities.

After the talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman on Thursday, Lavrov said, “As for cooperation projects [with Egypt], these projects are aimed at developing cooperation between the countries and peoples. Their implementation will benefit both the country and the people.”

“We want stability to be ensured in Egypt and in the entire region, which creates serious risks for international relations,” the Russian minister said.

Lavrov said the Malaysian colleague and he “discussed the need to prevent these risks to be materialized”. “Egypt is the region’s key country. The development of events in the region and in the Islamic world will depend on the situation in Egypt,” Lavrov explained.

“I hope that the national interests will determine the activity of the Egyptian authorities,” the Russian minister said.

Lavrov said, “We hope that all initiatives, which are designed to launch the national dialogue, to stabilize the situation and hold free elections, will be successful.”

“As for cooperation projects [with Egypt], these projects are aimed at developing cooperation between the countries and peoples. Their implementation will benefit both the country and the people,” he said.

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