Videoconference between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign ministers of the GCC member states and Jordan

Photo: MFA

Press release on videoconference between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign ministers of the GCC member states and Jordan:

On March 30, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a videoconference with the foreign ministers from the following Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Bahrain (Abdullatif Al Zayani), Kuwait (Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah ), Oman (Badr Al Busaidi), and Saudi Arabia (Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud). The participants also included Ministers of State of Qatar (Saad Al Muraikhi) and the United Arab Emirates (Lana Zaki Nusseibeh), as well as GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan Daifallah Al Fayez.

The participants used the collective format of the meeting to hold an in-depth exchange of views on the unprecedented escalation of the military and political situation in the Gulf region, which has been ongoing for more than a month now. Sergey Lavrov pointed out that a viable settlement of the conflict that stems from  the unprovoked and senseless aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran was possible exclusively through political and diplomatic means, with due regard for the legitimate interests of all states in the region. Russia calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities that are causing destruction and making civilians suffer.

In this context, Russia reiterated its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the friendly Arab monarchies, relations with which are of a strategic nature. The unacceptability of embroiling these countries into a war and attacking their civilian infrastructure, including energy and other vital facilities, was emphasised.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Russia’s firm commitment to maintaining close coordination with the Arab partners, including at the UN, with a view to facilitating an early ceasefire and preventing the widening of the conflict. He emphasised that clear-cut mechanisms must be put in place in order to maintain cooperation among all countries of the region and to ensure lasting stability in the Middle East.

In this regard, Sergey Lavrov drew his colleagues’ attention to Russia’s concept of collective security in the Gulf region, which it has been promoting for several years now and which is aimed at maintaining peaceful and neighbourly relations among all coastal states in this strategically important region.

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