MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Prospects for the Western Sahara settlement process were the focus of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’ meeting with visiting UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura, the Russian foreign ministry said.

"On March 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Moscow with United Nations Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de MIstura," the ministry said. "Key attention was focused on the current state and prospects for the process of the Western Sahara settlement. The sides noted the stabilizing role of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The sides exchanged views on the prospects for resetting the political process with due account of Staffan de Mistura’s latest contacts with the players concerned."

According to the ministry, the Russian side stressed the importance of a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara problem on basis of relevant resolution of the United Nations Security Council.

Lavrov and de Mistura also touched upon a range of aspects of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

Later in the day, de Mistura held consultations with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.