You're reading: Lavrov, Le Drian to discuss Syria, Ukraine, Libya, cooperation in UN SC on Tuesday

MOSCOW – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet on Tuesday to discuss Syria and Ukraine, as well as the Libyan crisis, the Middle East peace process and cooperation within the UN Security Council, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“Lavrov and Le Drian will consider in detail the current issues of the Russian-French relationship during the negotiations. They will discuss joint steps for improving interaction on the anti-terrorist track, exchange views on the settlement of the most pressing international problems, including the situation in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, in the Sahara-Sahel Region and in the Middle East,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Monday.

“The foreign ministers of the two countries will also coordinate their positions regarding the agenda of the UN Security Council in which France and Russia closely cooperate as permanent members,” the statement said.

Moscow and Paris “share a common understanding of the need to employ more fully the available development potential of the Russian-French cooperation across the broadest spectrum of areas,” it said.

“The involvement of Paris in restrictive anti-Russian measures initiated by the European Union doubtless had a negative effect on the dynamic of bilateral relations but has not changed their traditionally friendly nature,” the statement said. “Businessmen of the two countries are expressing interest in rectifying the existing negative trends relating to the EU sanctions pressure,” the ministry said.

The parties will also discuss cultural and humanitarian exchanges, in particular “the prospects of implementing new ‘cross-year’ initiatives, including the Year of the Russian and French Languages and Literature in the Russian and French Languages (2018-2019).”

It was reported that Le Drian will arrive on a working visit to Moscow on June 20.