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Russian diplomat, Sudanese president discuss situation in Syria

The Foreign Ministry says Russia’s and Sudan’s approaches to the situation in the Middle East and North Africa are similar

MOSCOW, October 11. /TASS/. Russia’s and Sudan’s approaches to the situation in the Middle East and North Africa are similar or identical, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday after a visit to Khartoum by Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

He attended the closing ceremony of Sudan’s National Dialogue General Conference and was received by Sudanese President Umar Bashir and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour. Apart from that, he had a series of meetings with Sudan’s top ranking officials.

"Sudanese President Bashir and other top ranking officials shared their views on the socio-political and economic situation in Sudan, including in the context of the National Dialogue completion," the ministry said. "It was noted that the security situation in Darfur and the country’s southern states has considerably improved."

"The sides exchanged views on issues of development of the entire complex of the Russia-Sudanese relations that are based on traditions of friendship, principles of non-interference into domestic affairs and due respect to each other’s interests," the ministry said, adding that Moscow and Khartoum reiterated their commitment to closer political coordination in international affairs and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade-and-economic, humanitarian and other spheres.

Special focus was made on the current situation in South Sudan, around the Horn of Africa and the Sahara-Sahel region, including in the context of the activities of regional organizations, such as the Arab League, African Union and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and cooperation with peacekeeping missions.

"The sides agreed that Russia and Sudan have similar or identical approaches to the problems of the Middle East and North Africa, including efforts against international terrorism, settlement of conflicts in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen," the Russian foreign ministry noted. "it was stressed that the peoples of the region should play a decisive role in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region."

The sides stressed that Moscow and Khartoum share the position in favor of strengthening democratic principles in world politics on the basis of international law, with the United Nations playing a central role in collective search for answers to global challenges and threats, the ministry underscored.