Morocco's Bourita talks Sahara with Russia's Lavrov
The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral cooperation and UN negotiations on the Moroccan Sahara.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita spoke by phone on Friday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about bilateral cooperation and coordination at the United Nations. The call, initiated by Morocco, also covered preparations for the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
The discussions occurred as UN Security Council members review a US-drafted resolution concerning the Moroccan Sahara. This resolution proposes changes to MINURSO's mandate and centers negotiations on Morocco's autonomy proposal. Russia, a permanent Security Council member, will vote on the resolution before MINURSO's mandate expires on October 31.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that foreign policy coordination, including at the UN, was a topic of discussion. The specific inclusion of the Sahara draft resolution in their conversation was not detailed in the Russian statement.
Why it mattersMoroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed UN negotiations over the Moroccan Sahara.