Advisor to HM King Mohammed VI, Taieb Fassi Fihri, handed, Thursday in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister, Serguei Lavrov, a message from HM the King to President Vladimir Poutine.
In a statement to the press following a meeting between the Russian minister and a high-level Moroccan delegation sent by the Sovereign, Fassi Fihri said the Royal message "is part of the coordination process between the heads of State of the two countries." The meeting, he noted, "reflects the will to promote bilateral relations and to strengthen partnership and consultations on the political level."
The meeting of the Moroccan delegation with the Russian minister discussed the latest developments of the Moroccan Sahara, he said, recalling that the Russian official "supports the negotiation process within the criteria set by the Security Council and the UN General Secretary."
The meeting also discussed several international issues, including "the situation in the Sahel and the Sahara and the threats to peace and security posed by extremist groups," he added, noting that Russia is closely following the developments taking place in Africa and the Arab region.
Fassi Fihri also highlighted the strong and deep bilateral relations, notably after the visit of HM the King to Moscow in 2002, which gave a strong impetus to bilateral relations within the framework of a strategic partnership, and that made by President Poutine to Morocco in 2006.
Foreign Minister, Saad Dine El Otmani, said for his part, he informed his Russian counterpart of "Morocco's position which totally rejects any extension of the mission of MINURSO to include human rights monitoring in the Moroccan Sahara," adding that the Moroccan position is irreversible in terms of national sovereignty.
Issues related to security in the Sahel and Sahara, the situation in Syria, and balance in international relations were also on the meeting agenda, he said.
Morocco is also the first partner of Russia in Africa and the Arab world, making the North African Kingdom a strategic partner of Russia in the region, the minister added.
The Moroccan delegation also included Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, Director General of Studies and Documentation. The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Morocco to Russia, Abdelkader Lachhab.
