Restored Russia-EU Ties Would Help Solve Global Issues – Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that full restoration of relations between Moscow and Brussels will help to cooperate on global issues, including the Middle East and North Africa, the situation in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen.

BRATISLAVA (Sputnik) — Restored relations will help Russia and the European Union cooperate as effectively on all major issues as they have been in the framework of the Iran nuclear talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday.

"Speaking about Russia's relationship with the European Union, we have noted how useful their cooperation was within the framework of the group of six mediators at Iran [nuclear talks]. We believe that full restoration of relations between Moscow and Brussels will help them cooperate with the same effectiveness on other global issues, including the Middle East and North Africa, the situation in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen…," Lavrov said.

The Russian top diplomat was speaking during a working visit to Slovakia's capital of Bratislava. His two-day visit is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava by the Soviet Red Army during World War II, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Years-long Iranian nuclear talks saw a glimmer of hope Thursday after the six international negotiators – including Russia and three EU member countries – managed to strike a historic deal with Iran after a marathon of intense negotiations.

This was the most recent breakthrough that Moscow and Brussels reached together, after their relations soured last year following the breakout of an armed conflict in Ukraine in April 2014 and the introduction of EU sanctions against Russia.