King Mohammed confirms visit to Russia before end of year
Morocco-Russia, Politics, 4/5/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI confirmed on Wednesday to Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, that he will be visiting Russia before end of this year.

The sovereign reviewed with the visiting Russian official bilateral relations, Moroccan Sahara issue and the tragic development in Palestine.

King Mohammed VI also renewed Morocco's rejection of any idea to partition its Sahara, as an approach that will jeopardize stability and security in the region and in the whole African continent. The sovereign also insisted that the UN secretary general and security council were informed of Morocco's immutable stance and its view that the solution lies in the implementation of the draft framework-agreement devised by the UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker.

The king further condemned the tragic developments in the situation in Palestine, Israel's occupation policy and the treatment of Palestinian people and president, Yasser Arafat and called for the immediate evacuation by Israel of all Arab territories and the urgent and unconditional lifting of the siege of the Palestinian authority chief.

The sovereign renewed backing to the Arab peace initiative, finalized at the Arab summit of Beirut (March 27-28) and called for resumption of negotiations after Israel withdraws from occupied territories.

On his part, Ivanov said his country backs a solution to the Sahara issue that preserves stability and security in the region, with the agreement of all parties.

Of the middle east crisis, Ivanov, who paid tribute to the role of the sovereign, expressed his country's worries.

Were present at the meeting, Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, Russia's ambassador in Morocco, Yuri Kotov Mikhailovitch, and head of the middle east and north Africa department at the Russian foreign ministry, Bogdanov Mikhail.

Previous Stories:
  Russia's fm starts visit to Morocco   (4/3/2002)
  Russian fm: Russia supports political settlement to Sahara issue   (4/2/2002)
  King Mohammed sends message to Russia's Vladimir Putin   (3/26/2002)

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