Russia is concerned about the situation in Mali and Moscow is calling for the release of the transitional Malian leadership and for settling the situation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday.
"Moscow is concerned about developments in Mali. We call for the release of the transitional Malian leadership and a peaceful settlement of the situation. We believe it is important to ensure a progressive momentum in returning the situation in this country to constitutional norms on the basis of a nationwide inclusive dialogue," she said.
Zakharova also stressed the importance of continuing systematic preparations for the constitutional referendum and general democratic elections as scheduled, with the assistance of ECOWAS and the African Union. "We proceed from the need to continue consistent implementation by this state of the Algiers Peace Agreement, which remains the non-alternative basis for achieving a lasting peace in this state," she added.
"Russia will continue, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to participate constructively in international steps to normalize the situation in Mali, as well as to support Bamako on a bilateral basis," the diplomat stressed.
On May 24, the Malian news portal Studio Tamani reported that interim President of Mali Bah Ndaw and the head of the transitional government of the country Moctar Ouane were taken by a group of soldiers to the Kati army base near the capital, Bamako. Mali Vice President Assimi Goita announced Tuesday that he had suspended the president and prime minister because they had violated last August's transitional charter, which temporarily replaced the constitution. Goita said that in appointing ministers to the new government, the president and prime minister had violated a crucial provision of the transitional charter by failing to agree on the composition of the power bloc with the vice president.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS