On Monday the Russian Foreign Ministry held consultations with Winston Tubman, Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, who is in Moscow. He was received by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and had talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov.
During the meeting, the sides stressed that the swearing in of the Somalian transitional federal parliament members that took place in August 2004 in Kenya opened an important chapter of the process of the Somalian settlement. A hope was expressed that this event will give an impetus to multilateral efforts aimed at the soonest stabilization in Somalia.
In this context, the Russian side voiced support of the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the leaders of African states and the African Union to ensure favorable external conditions to settle the long-lasting conflict in Somalia, render assistance in the sphere of post-conflict restoration and development, and normalize the humanitarian situation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry concluded that Russia as a permanent UN Security Council and as a participant of the IGAD partners' forum will continue to contribute to the achievement of the overwhelming political settlement, restoration of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. Moscow is ready to render the necessary assistance to that country as the situation there is stabilizing.
