MOSCOW. May 26 (Interfax) - Moscow stands for the progressive lifting of international sanctions on Somalia and is ready to develop bilateral military-technical cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"By the way, we believe it's important to start lifting the sanctions imposed earlier, they have to be lifted, although in a progressive manner," Lavrov said at a press conference on Friday, following talks with Somali Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse.
The sanctions "are hindering the Somali government's stabilization efforts," he said.
Speaking of prospects of military-technical cooperation with Somalia, Lavrov said, "We have reaffirmed our readiness to meet the Somali national army's demand for respective hardware in order to finalize the efforts to combat terrorists and extremists, who retain their presence in the country's territory."
Russia is also ready to assist in training personnel for the Somali national police, Lavrov said.