Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s talks with Foreign Minister of Sudan Ali Al-Sharif

On February 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Sudan Ali Youssef Ahmed Al-Sharif, who is in Russia on a working visit.

The discussion focused on the developments in Sudan with an emphasis on the prospects for resolving the ongoing military and political crisis in that country. Sergey Lavrov stressed the urgent need to end the armed confrontation between the regular army units and the Rapid Support Forces as soon as possible and to establish an inclusive national dialogue aimed at achieving lasting peace in Sudan. At the same time, he reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in support of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Sudan.

The parties considered ways to further strengthen Russian-Sudanese cooperation in various domains. In this context, Sergey Lavrov and Ali Al-Sharif noted the importance of maintaining a regular bilateral political dialogue, including coordination at the UN and other international bodies.

While exchanging views on Middle East issues, they underscored the need to fully implement the agreement reached on January 19 between Israel and Hamas on the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners. It was noted that a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict can only be achieved through exercising the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to create their independent state within the 1967 borders.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Sudan expressed support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, they emphasised that the Syrians themselves should determine the future of their country through an inclusive and transparent political process consisting of representatives of all the ethnic and religious groups of the Syrian population.