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The Polisario is seeking again the help of Russia weeks before the Security Council renews the MINURSO’s mandate. A delegation led by M’Hamed Khaddad, the Front’s coordinator with the MINURSO, flew to Moscow where he met Vladimir Putin’s special representative for the near east and Africa, the Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Bogdanov.
The latter is an Arabic-speaking diplomat known for mastering the ins and outs of the Western Sahara question. Indeed, Bogdanov was able to held talks with Algerian and Moroccan officials and even Polisario representatives over the years.
After his meeting with Khaddad, the Russian diplomat highlighted «the need to continue the efforts of the United Nations aimed at achieving an equitable solution that will end the conflict and contribute to improving the situation in the Maghreb region», wrote the Polisario’s news agency, quoting a statement.
Bogdanov also stressed that his country «supports» the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler. However, the diplomat did not refer to the «self-determination of the people of Western Sahara».
Convincing Russia
This is the second time in 2018 that the Polisario sends Khaddad on a mission to Russia as in April he visited Moscow. His visit came as Köhler arrived in the country to held talks with Russian senior officials.
At the time, the Front’s coordinator with the Minurso’s visit to Russia has been fruitful. Indeed, Russia has been a valuable supporter to the Polisario at the Security Council’s behind-the-scenes negotiations. Resolution 2414 was adopted in New York while Russia, Beijing and Addis Ababa abstained.
On the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, accompanied by the director of Morocco's external intelligence agency, the DGED, Yassine Mansouri, met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York.
