LOC19:08
16:08 GMT
MOSCOW, April 24 (KUNA) -- Developments in the Middle East and North Africa, and Ukraine featured high on the agenda of talks held in Moscow on Monday between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
Addressing a joint press conference, Lavrov voiced worry over the ongoing developments in Iraq, Yemen and Libya.
He said that the two sides still have conflicting views on Syria and Ukraine.
The Russian chief diplomat renewed a call for an international neutral investigation on the chemical attack that hit Khan Shaykhun in the Idlib Governorate, Syria earlier this month.
It has to be a field investigation and has to include the Shayrat airbase that was targeted by a US strike two days later, he said.
He also stressed the importance of restoring full relations between Russia and the EU.
"The relations between the Russian Federation and the West are living through an uneasy period. We are still aimed at restoring full-fledged cooperation with the EU, "our largest trade and economic partner," Lavrov said.
On her part, Mogherini told the press conference that the EU will not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, but in the meantime, she welcomed cooperation with Moscow to counter terrorism.
Asked about the West's sanctions on Russia, she said that they "are not a goal in themselves," adding that such "policy aim is to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine."
On Syria, she said that the EU wanted a settlement there in line with the UN Security Resolution 2245, through negotiations and national dialogue.
She echoed Lavrov's call for a transparent and a neutral investigation on the Khan Shaykhun attack. (end)
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