Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with the Qatari authorities the situation in Syria, Libya, Yemen and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
Earlier in Doha, Bogdanov held meetings with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Thani, and also spoke with Qatari Finance Minister Ali al-Imadi. On Wednesday, Bogdanov was received by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, State Minister for Defense Khaled al-Attiyah, and held consultations with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sultan al-Mureihi.
"During the meetings and conversations, topical issues of further development of multifaceted Russian-Qatari relations were discussed in detail. At the same time, Moscow and Doha confirmed their mutual intention to maintain a regular political dialogue, deepen business cooperation and cultural and humanitarian contacts, as well as intensify cooperation in the fight against the spread of a new coronavirus infection," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In addition, the parties discussed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa "with an emphasis on the tasks of achieving political solutions to the conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen, as well as overcoming the current impasse in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement on a generally recognized international legal basis."
"They touched on the prospects of stabilizing the situation in the Persian Gulf area through the promotion of this strategically important area of the world a constructive, unifying agenda, the formation with the participation of all interested states in collective mechanisms of response to existing challenges and threats," the statement reads.
Bogdanov met with the leaders of HAMAS
During a working trip to Doha, Mikhail Bogdanov met with Chairman of the Politburo of the HAMAS Palestinian Movement Ismail Haniyeh and former Hamas Politburo chairmen Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu-Marzouk.
During the conversation, there was a thorough exchange of views on the Palestinian issue in the light of Israel's announced plans to annex part of the territories in the West Bank. At the same time, they discussed possible efforts by the international community to prevent any unilateral steps that could lead to the breakdown of the generally recognized international legal framework for the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In this context, the need to restore Palestinian national unity as soon as possible on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization was emphasized.
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