GCC and Russia join forces to fight terrorism
Date
5/28/2016 8:08:32 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (third right) with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (fourth left), other GCC foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General
Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (right) during a meeting in Moscow yesterday.
MOSCOW: The GCC states and Russia yesterday agreed to promote an active political dialogue on pressing regional and international issues and strengthen cooperation in economic and social sectors.
In a joint statement after the fourth round of the ministerial strategic dialogue, the GCC and Russian foreign ministers reaffirmed that they will remain united in combating terrorism and work together to prevent and suppress terrorist acts through increased international cooperation.
The ministers welcomed the establishment of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism and supported cooperation between Russia and the US-led International Coalition against Islamic State (IS) Group.
Both sides underlined the essential and independent role of International Atomic Energy Agency in verifying Iran’s compliance with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action through an effective mechanism for inspection and surveillance.
They reiterated the importance of establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and praised Russia’s proactive role in promoting the goal.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to maintain unity, stability, territorial integrity and political independence of Iraq, free of external interference.
They expressed solidarity with the Iraqi people in countering the IS group and called for intensifying efforts to restore stability to the areas liberated from the IS to allow the delivery of assistance to the refugees and internally displaced persons in
Iraq.
As for Libya, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country in accordance with the principles of non-interference in internal affairs.
They expressed deep concern over the increasing activities of terrorist groups in the country and voiced support for ongoing political process and efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Martin Kobler.
The ministers agreed that despite ongoing instability in the region, the task of settling the Arab-Israeli conflict should remain one of top priorities.
They noted that intensified efforts of Russia and other members of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, in cooperation with the stakeholders, are essential for the early achievement of these
objectives.
The ministers stressed the need for an immediate resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aimed at establishing an independent, viable and territorially continuous Palestinian state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
They urged all Palestinian parties to intensify efforts towards reconciliation and national unity on the basis of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) platform.
To maximise the existing economic potential, they agreed to help create a favourable climate for stepping up mutual trade and investment by promoting contacts between representatives of business circles and enhancing cooperation in the industry, transport, communications, agriculture, tourism, and healthcare sectors, among others.
They decided to hold the fifth ministerial meeting of strategic dialogue in 2017 in Bahrain.
The Peninsula