Following the talks in Paris, Russian and French diplomats pointed out the importance of Moscow’s initiative to hold a summit of heads of state of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as soon as possible. This is stated on April 27 in a message on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
It is noted that on Tuesday, the Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries, deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with the French presidential advisor for North Africa and the Middle East, Patrick Durel. In addition, Bogdanov and Director of the Department of Africa and the Indian Ocean of the French Foreign Ministry K. Bigot held the first meeting of the bilateral working group on Africa, where the parties discussed issues related to African problems.
It is noted that following the meetings and conversations, the parties stated the special role and responsibility of Moscow and Paris as permanent members of the UN Security Council in resolving regional crises. In addition, the importance of the Russian initiative for an early summit of the heads of state of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council was emphasized, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
“The high level of the Russian-French dialogue in the Middle East and African directions was noted and it was agreed to continue contacts and constructive interaction between Moscow and Paris on topical issues of the regional agenda,” the ministry said.
Smolenskaya Square also reported on April 26 Bogdanov’s meeting with Director General for Political and Security Affairs of the French Foreign Ministry Philippe Herrera and consultations with Director of the Department of North Africa and the Middle East of the French Foreign Ministry Christophe Farno. At them the parties exchanged views on the state of affairs and prospects for the development of the situation in the Middle East. It is noted that special attention was paid to the situation in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, as well as in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement.
The informal association of the “nuclear five” includes countries that have nuclear weapons: Russia, Great Britain, the United States, China and France. During the meetings of states, issues such as the policies of the parties, nuclear energy and disarmament are discussed.
On April 21, during the announcement of the annual message to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the idea of a summit of the “five” of the UN Security Council will be implemented when conditions permit. The Russian leader recalled that a corresponding initiative was put forward by Moscow in 2020.
