OREANDA-NEWS. November 14, 2008. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov received on November 13 the Sudanese Defense Minister, Abdel-Rahim Hussein, visiting Moscow in his capacity as special representative of the President of Sudan, who conveyed a written message from Sudan’s Head of State to Dmitry Medvedev.

During the conversation, the current state of, and prospects for the development of Russian-Sudanese cooperation were touched on. There was reaffirmed both sides’ striving to assist the ongoing development of political dialogue and partner relations in different fields of mutual interest.

In discussing the situation in Darfur, the emphasis was laid on the necessity of advancing the political settlement process, with Lavrov pointing out in this context that President of the Republic of Sudan Omar al-Bashir’s Darfur ceasefire announcement the day before after a national conference is a positive step creating favorable conditions for resumption of peace talks by the Sudanese government with the Darfur opposition. The importance was underscored that insurgent groups should treat this initiative of the Sudanese leadership with the utmost seriousness.

An exchange of views also took place on progress achieved in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and, in particular, the preparations for a 2009 general election in Sudan provided for in it. Hussein gave a high appraisal of the Russian line on supporting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan.