OREANDA-NEWS. February 19, 2009. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, visited the Arab Republic of Egypt on February 16-17. During his stay in Cairo he was received by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, to whom he conveyed a written message from President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and met with Head of the Egyptian Foreign Intelligence Service Omar Suleiman.

In the course of the meetings a keen exchange of views took place on a broad range of issues in bilateral relations. There was given a high appraisal of the state of strategic dialogue and partnership between the two countries, along with reaffirming the intention to further develop them ongoingly in the most different fields.

In discussing the regional and global agenda, primary attention was devoted to the task of unblocking the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process, with the paramount emphasis laid on overcoming the consequences of the conflict in Gaza, providing international aid to the Strip, securing a durable truce as well as achieving inter-Palestinian consensus. The common view was expressed in favor of safeguarding peace and security in the Persian Gulf, and securing a politico-diplomatic settlement around the Iranian nuclear program and the hotbeds of tension in Africa, in particular, in Sudan.

The sides agreed on the close coordination of their foreign policy approaches and practical steps, particularly as part of the preparation and holding of an international donor conference on Gaza in Egypt and of a Moscow meeting on the Middle East, in the interests of establishing a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the region.