From April 21 to 26, 2025, Washignton, D.C., hosted the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
The Russian Federation’s delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Russia. The Syrian Arab Republic was represented by H.E. Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, Minister of Finance Minister and H.E. Abdulkader Husrieh, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria.
The Syrian delegation, accompanied by Alexey Morozov, Alternate Executive Director for the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and the Syrian Arab Republic, held bilateral meetings with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations; Akihiko Nishio, Vice President for Development Finance; and Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; as well as a number of other representatives of the WBG and the IMF. Discussions mainly focused on the prospects of the WBG’s re-engagement with SAR.
On April 22, the Syrian Arab Republic’s delegation participated in the G-24 Ministerial Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Later that day, H.E. Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and H.E. Abdulkader Husrieh took part in the Ministerial Roundtable on the socio-economic situation in Syria and pathways for international support, co-hosted by the IMF and WBG.
Additionally, the delegation also attended a reception hosted by Ousmane Dione, MENA Vice President, for participants of the Spring Meetings.
Mr Morozov also held a separate meeting with representatives of the Republic of Mali. Discussions focused on the World Bank’s activities in Mali, the importance of maintaining the political neutrality and non-political mandate of international financial institutions, and opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Russia and Mali.
On April 24, Mr Morozov represented the Russian Federation at the 111th Plenary Meeting of the Development Committee. The written statement by H.E. Alexey Overchuk, Governor for the Russian Federation, is available on the Committee’s official website.