Сomment by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the results of negotiations with President Robert Mugabe of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Harare, 16 September 2014

We had a very good meeting with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and focused on the understandings that were reached yesterday at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Russia-Zimbabwe Commission on Economic, Trade, Research and Technology Cooperation, co-chaired by Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, as well as on the talks with the Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Simbarashe Simbanenduku Mumbengegwi, held earlier today.

Russia and Zimbabwe have maintained long-standing strong and friendly ties. We have supported Zimbabwe at all stages of its independent development and we continue to support each other in the present-day situation, where highly important and controversial events are happening internationally. Our friends in Zimbabwe as well as Russia's leaders are confident that it is necessary to look for any solution in today's world that is based on international law and respect for the UN Charter and the role of the UN Security Council, while using only peaceful means and avoiding unilateral, let alone strong-arm or coercive, actions. Where the prospects for our bilateral relations are concerned, understandings have been reached during these two days, which will make it possible to bring these to a qualitatively new level. We are signing the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe on Cooperation in Implementing the Darwendale Comprehensive Development Project. Darwendale is a platinum ore deposit that will be jointly used by businesses from both countries.

We held a meeting with Zimbabwe business leaders and mapped out concrete plans in the economic and military-technical spheres. We have also come to terms on continuing our cooperation in the humanitarian and cultural areas, including education. Hundreds of Zimbabwe students study at Russian universities today.

We will certainly continue to support each other in the international arena, including the coordination of our moves in the UN and other multilateral organisations. We would like to thank President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe for the hospitality accorded the Russian delegation and to wish the people and leadership of Zimbabwe new successes on the path to the socioeconomic development of their country.

16 September 2014