Lavrov meets Saudi counterpart, discuss furthering OPEC+ cooperation
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds talks in Moscow with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, discussing multiple topics.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomes Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud before their talks in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 9, 2023 (AP).
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Moscow with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, according to TASS.
Al Saud, who met with Lavrov for the fifth time since becoming Foreign Minister, said, on Thursday, that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to seek dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
"We are always seeking to provide support in order to resolve this crisis [in Ukraine], and we are ready to work with all parties to find a peaceful solution, and we have already put forward certain initiatives in the past, including with regard to the exchange of prisoners ... we will continue to discuss further opportunities to facilitate dialogue between the parties," Al Saud noted.
In response, Lavrov said that Saudi Arabia deserved recognition for its part in the recent prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.
Grain Deal extension
During the joint press statement, Lavrov also noted that only one section of the grain deal export package had been implemented, highlighting that this is problematic for its extension,
"If we are talking about the deal, then it is a package deal, you can only renew what is already in progress. And if the package is half implemented, then the issue of extension becomes quite complicated," Lavrov said.
Lavrov also highlighted that the issue of demilitarizing the Zaporzhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) is not tied to the grain deal extension.
OPEC+
According to the Russian FM, Moscow, and Riyadh have agreed further coordinate efforts within OPEC+.
"We reaffirmed our mutual readiness to further coordinate actions within the framework of OPEC+. All countries participating in this format fulfill their obligations in order to ensure proper balance and stability in the global energy market," Lavrov said.
Zaporozhye NPP
The Russian FM also explained that Kiev had blocked an agreement that could have been established concerning a protective zone around the Zaporozhye NPP.
During his recent visit to Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres linked the grain deal extension issue to the "to demilitarize the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," without clarification.
"No one, except for Ukraine itself, has ever talked about any demilitarization ... The IAEA Director General [Rafael Grossi] has been promoting an agreement for several months to declare the ZNPP a nuclear safety zone ... We actively cooperated with the IAEA director general," said Lavrov.
The FM then added that "The agreement was almost reached, we were ready to support it, but it was blocked by Kiev, which is precisely putting forward preconditions for prisoners of war and the demilitarization of the ZNPP," and noted disappointment in Guiterres' failure in maintaining a neutral position.
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