Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during his meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali Abdoulaye Diop on the sidelines of the 1st Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Sochi, November 9, 2024

Mr Minister,

Dear Abdoulaye,

Colleagues,

Friends,

It's good to see you again. We hold such meetings on a regular basis, which underscores the trusting and intensive nature of our political dialogue, including at the highest level.

We see Mali as a reliable partner and an important ally on the African continent. We value our cooperation at the UN, including the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations, especially given the increasing importance of this work in a situation where the West wants to selectively choose, as from a menu, the principles of the Charter that suit its interests at any given time while ignoring others.

Today, we have a good opportunity to discuss the processes developing in the world, taking into account the increasing role and self-awareness of African countries in their efforts to secure a just and equitable place in global developments and mechanisms of governance.

We will also talk about our bilateral issues and the expanding cooperation in the economic, investment, military-technical, defence, cultural and humanitarian areas.

We would be glad to hear your assessments on the situation with your neighbours and what additional methods of support are required from us to finally defeat terrorist groups.

This is a timely meeting. Thank you for joining us in Sochi at the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.