MOSCOW. March 27 (Interfax) - The Russian president's special representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday to discuss further active international efforts to settle the Syrian crisis.
The meeting took place at the Dead Sea coast (Jordan) on the eve of the 28th Arab League summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"When considering the unfolding situation in and around Syria, the parties emphasized there being no alternative to continuing active international efforts to settle the Syrian crisis on the basis of the provisions of the June 30, 2012 Geneva Communique and the UN Security Council Resolution N2254," the statement says.
"Furthermore, Russia and Egypt reiterated their invariable position in favor of a comprehensive, fair and lasting resolution of the Palestinian problem within the well-known international-legal platform," the ministry said.
The parties also exchanged their views on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa with an emphasis on the need to increase cooperation in the interest of overcoming the challenges and threats facing the region, according to the statement. "Moscow and Cairo reaffirmed their commitment to search for solutions to domestic problems in Arab countries by achieving public accord, with due respect for international law and the principles of non-intervention in domestic affairs and respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," the ministry said.
The parties discussed some of the pressing practical issues concerning further gradual development of the traditionally friendly Russian-Egyptian relations, including maintaining intensive political dialogue, the ministry said.