Marrakesh: Europe and the Arabs - Agencies
Russia and the Arab countries announced their rejection of the military solution in Libya and expressed their support for the unity and sovereignty of Libya, calling for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in the country as soon as possible.
The joint statement issued by the sixth session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Wednesday, stated that Russia and the Arab countries affirmed their adherence to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya, and rejected external interference in the country’s affairs.
Russia and the Arab countries also rejected the military solution in Libya and expressed their support for comprehensive national reconciliation under the auspices of the Libyan Presidential Council.
Russia and the Arab countries called for holding parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya as soon as possible.
Forum participants also called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries from Libya.
They praised the efforts of the "5+5" committee to strengthen the ceasefire regime, and called for the unification of the security services and military institutions under one executive authority.
This came as Saudi Arabia stressed the depth of Arab-Russian relations and the importance of working to develop them in a way that achieves the common interests of all.
This came during a speech by the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, Engineer Walid bin Abdul Karim, on Wednesday, at the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in its sixth session, in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, according to what was reported by the Saudi News Agency (SPA).
Al-Khereiji touched on Arab issues and the importance of joint work to find appropriate solutions to them.
For his part, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita confirmed, following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday in Marrakesh, that Russia always helps Morocco in resolving regional issues.
Bourita said, on the sidelines of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum: “Morocco has always considered Russia an important partner, with whom we can cooperate in a constructive way to solve regional issues, and Russia has always supported Morocco in resolving regional issues,” and pointed out that Morocco seeks to play an active role in solving the continent’s problems. Africa, especially in the Libyan file.
Earlier today, Bourita stressed in his speech during the opening session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum that, “Given the position of the Russian Federation in the international community, and given its active regional role and its close relations with the Arab world and its in-depth knowledge of its reality, we see in Russia a partner capable of playing a role.” Constructive resolution of these issues, in accordance with the principles of effective solidarity and positive influence.”
He added that the Kingdom of Morocco considers the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum an extension of the existing historical relations between Morocco and Russia.
Bourita explained that if the Kingdom of Morocco occupies third place on the list of Russia’s five most important trading partners on the African continent, “this rank remains below our ambition and desire to advance this strategic partnership to higher levels and broader horizons.” This meeting was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and delegations. Ministerial Council of the participating Arab countries
During a press conference following the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, Lavrov said on the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: “We reaffirmed our common position in support of quickly reaching a permanent ceasefire and providing aid to the residents of Gaza, who are suffering from the catastrophic humanitarian consequences resulting from the siege and ongoing hostilities,” noting. All participants paid great attention to this issue.
He added, "Naturally, we hope that the United Nations Security Council will be able to raise its voice in the near future in favor of this long-awaited humanitarian step that has become more than necessary." The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that Moscow and its Arab partners support a long-term solution to the conflict represented by Establishing an independent Palestinian state that coexists with its neighbor Israel according to relations based on “good neighborliness and the achievement of security and peace.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously announced that settling the Middle East crisis could only be achieved on the basis of the “two-state solution” formula, which was approved by the UN Security Council and stipulates the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Lavrov had confirmed, during his meeting with members of the ministerial committee in charge of the Arab-Islamic Summit of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, last November 21, that Russia calls for the immediate start of the resumption of the negotiation process regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, and that it shares the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in its assessment of the necessity of Permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The government media office in the Gaza Strip announced on Wednesday that the death toll from the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip had risen to 20,000 dead since October 7, including 8,000 children, 6,200 women, 310 medical personnel, 35 civil defense crews, and 97 journalists.