Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Moscow, March 14, 2022

Mr Deputy Prime Minister,

Dear friend,  

Colleagues,

We are glad to see you in Moscow. We are grateful for your having accepted the invitation to visit Moscow.  This will be a timely contact, which will make it possible to look at the state of our bilateral relations and discuss international problems.

Today, Ukraine is on the top of international agenda. I will dwell on the efforts being taken by the Russian Federation to solve the problems that have emerged and accumulated during recent years in that country.

Our bilateral relations continue to develop dynamically based on the agreements reached by President Vladimir Putin and Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.  They maintain regular contacts and personal control over all matters related to the advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

Investment partnership is an important component of our ties. Our parliamentarians, cultural and sport figures are in close contact and humanitarian exchanges are in progress. I am confident that we will discuss their further development in a productive manner today.   

We have a constant interest in your assessments and observations with regard to the efforts that could be made to advance towards the settlement of numerous conflicts and crises in the Middle East and North Africa.   

We have a packed agenda ahead.

I am glad to see you. I am expecting substantive and constructive talks. I am certain that this will be the case.