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Russian diplomat discusses Syria, Ukraine at Arab League summit

The Russian side explained in detail Russia’s fundamental appraisals and considerations on the situation in Ukraine

Mikhail Bogdanov ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

Mikhail Bogdanov

© ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

MOSCOW, March 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed the Syrian crisis and the situation around Ukraine at an Arab League summit in Kuwait, Foreign Ministry sources reported on Wednesday.

“An address of Russian President Vladimir Putin was conveyed to the participants of the Arab League summit,” the ministry said.

Bogdanov met on the sidelines of the summit with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah al-Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah, Arab League’s Secretary General Nabil Elaraby, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Libyan Foreign Minister Muhammad Abdelaziz, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil, UN Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and opposition Syrian National Coalition chief Ahmed Jarba.

They discussed “issues on the agenda of the Arab League summit with an emphasis on a need for an early political settlement of the Syrian crisis and a just settlement of the Palestinian problem in line with principles of international law and the UN Charter, as well as certain issues concerning bilateral relations,” the ministry said.

“It was confirmed that expansion of comprehensive mutually advantageous cooperation and the deepening of a political dialogue remain among the priorities for Russia and Arab League’s member countries,” it added. “This meets the common interests of peace and security in the region, the interests of finding joint answers to pressing challenges and threats facing countries of the Middle East and North Africa at the stage of deep transformation processes they are going through,” the ministry said.

The Russian side “explained in detail Russia’s fundamental appraisals and considerations on the situation in Ukraine,” it added.

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