Russian and Tunisian foreign ministers meet to discuss bilateral relations

© RIA Novosti. Vladimir Astapkovich

Tunisian Foreign Minister Monji Hamdi (left) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

The situation in Iraq, Syria and Libya, as well as bilateral relations will be discussed in Moscow on Tuesday by the Russian and Tunisian Foreign Ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Mongi Hamdi.

The talks will allow the sides "to compare notes" on important aspects of the developments in the regions of North Africa and the Middle East, in particular, in Syria, Iraq, around the Gaza Strip and the Middle East settlement state of affairs.

The ministers, said the Russian Foreign Ministry, will consider approaches to the settlement of acute regional problems, and discuss possible joint steps in this connection with the participation of the concerned members of the international community. Russia "is ready to support any constructive initiatives, aimed at stable normalization in the region's 'hot spots'

by peaceful methods based on respect for universally accepted international law norms

."

The bilateral relations' problems will be high on the agenda. The main emphasis will be placed on the implementation of the agreements, reached at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical co-operation that was held in the Tunisian capital in May 2014, as well as on the practical preparation of the next Commission meeting (planned in Moscow on 2015).

Hamdi, who is the Commission's co-chairman, will meet within the visit framework with Russia's chairman of the Commission - Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.

Tunisia is among Russia's important trade partners in Africa, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The bilateral trade volume in 2013 exceeded $360 million.

Moscow is satisfied with the good dynamics of relations with this country in the tourism sphere. Last year, about 300,000 Russians visited the country, which is by 20% more than in 2012. "We hope that the signed agreement on co-operation in the sphere of tourism for 2014-2016 will give an additional impetus to interaction in this important sphere," the ministry added.

Russia regards the visit of the Tunisian foreign minister as an important step for the further strengthening of the two countries' longstanding relations of friendship and mutually advantageous co-operation.