Strengthening alliance with Muslim nations is a priority: Lavrov
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Lavrov said that Russia and the Muslim nations share their disapproval of "the ultra-liberal values that the collective West has been aggressively imposing.
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In this handout photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks to the media after the G20 foreign minister's meeting in New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 2, 2023
Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, stated on Monday that improving ties with Muslim countries was a top priority for Moscow in light of the shared perspectives on political and socioeconomic issues.
Lavrov had attended a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group with ambassadors from OIC member states earlier today.
"Russia … maintains good, honest, and mutually respectful relations with the countries of the Islamic world. Their further strengthening is among the constant priorities of Russian foreign policy. We are united by our commitment to the cultural and civilizational diversity of the peoples of the planet and their right to determine their own paths of political, social, and economic development," Lavrov said.
Russia and Muslim countries, according to Lavrov, support the creation of a multipolar world that is more just and democratic according to the tenets of the UN charter.
The parties also share their disapproval of "the ultra-liberal values that the collective West has aggressively imposed," the Russian minister added.
Also in his speech, Lavrov announced a scheduled conference of the "Russia - Islamic World: Kazanforum" in Late may, which would serve as an international forum for economic cooperation.
The minister hoped that OIC ambassadors would inform their leaders about the upcoming event to optimize the outcomes of the conference.
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