Morocco's new ambassador to Russia hands credentials to Putin

Morocco's newly appointed ambassador to the Federation of Russia, Abdelmalek Jeddaoui, on Monday handed his credentials to President Vladimir Putin.

During the ceremony, President Putin was also handed the credentials of the new ambassadors of Mauritania, Syria, Finland, Portugal, Malta, Guinea, Nepal, south Africa, and Paraguay.

Addressing the new ambassadors, President Putin voiced Russia's determination to have "friendly relations with all the members of the international community." He said a partnership on equal footing, serving the stability of our planet is a top priority for Russia's external policy.

He stressed the need to adopt collective and concerted approaches to settle international problems and to consolidate the role of the UNO and other influential international forums to reach efficient solutions to the new challenges of modern times, namely mass destruction arms, space militarization, terrorism, international criminality and drug trafficking. "No country, whatever its political and economic priority, is shielded against such threats," he said, calling the international community to join efforts to build up a fair world order.