Foreign minister attends Arab-Russian forum

Abu Dhabi, Feb. 1(BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, participated in the 4th session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum at the level of foreign ministers, held today in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. The ministers reviewed the results of the third session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, held on February 26, 2016, in Moscow, and the Action Plan which aims to implement the principles of the forum and its objectives. They stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the two sides, and discussed the latest developments in the region and a number of international issues of common interest. They also reviewed bilateral and multilateral political, economic and cultural relations between the member states of the Arab League and the Russian Federation to strengthen ties and build a real partnership between the two sides. The final communiqué commended the outcome of the "Russian Federation Days" held in Bahrain on November 24-28, 2016, which included an economic forum, business and trade meetings, and political seminars and cultural and art activities that reflect the deep-rooted Russian culture and civilization. It hailed the increase in economic cooperation between the Arab League and the Russian Federation, encouraging benefiting from the Russian experience and expertise in the areas of industry, agriculture, food security, water resources, banking and finance, oil and gas and energy, and stressing the importance of the development of Arab-Russian cooperation in the areas of education, housing, construction and development of tourism between the two sides. Regarding the relations with Iran, it emphasized the importance of establishing relations between the Arab states and Iran on the principles of good neighborliness, refraining from the use of force, not interfering in internal affairs, respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolving disputes through peaceful means according to the United Nations Charter and international law, as well as recognizing that de-escalating tensions and rebuilding confidence would promote security and stability in the region. The communiqué stressed the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative conveyed in the message of the Emir of Kuwait to the Iranian President, calling for a positive engagement with this initiative to enhance peace and security in the region. It expressed concern over the lack of progress between the United Arab Emirates and the Iran over the three islands (Greater and the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa) and emphasized the support to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including direct negotiations between the two parties. Regarding the issue of terrorism, the meeting stressed the condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of whom it is committed by, the destination or the purposes. It emphasized that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, and the need to work to combat and diminish its bases, and dry its financial and intellectual sources. It stressed the need to fight against terrorism in a decisive, unified, coordinated, comprehensive and transparent manner, away from double standards and in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and to emphasize the UN’s leadership position within these efforts. The communiqué called on states to refrain from providing any form of active or collaboration to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, as well as all means of financing terrorism. Regarding the Palestinian issue, it stressed the commitment to a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the vision of two-state solution and in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative of 2002, supporting all efforts to end the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and Arab territories and international initiatives occupied since 1967, according to international adopted references. Regarding the Syrian issue, the communiqué stressed the need to preserve the unity of Syria and its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, emphasizing that the only possible solution to the Syrian crisis is the existing political solution on the participation of all Syrian parties in an inclusive political process under the leadership of Syria which meets the aspirations of the Syrian people according to UN Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), and the final statement of the Conference of Geneva (1) dated 30/06/2012. It praised the Security Council resolution 2336 of 2016 and the meeting between the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the representatives of the Syrian armed opposition in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017, which aims to consolidate the cease-fire as part of the political process. Regarding the situation in the Republic of Yemen, the communiqué issued by the meeting emphasized the commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, as well as the support of the aspirations of the Yemeni people for freedom, democracy, social justice and development, and to support the legitimate government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while insisting on the urgent need to restore the legitimate authority of the state through the peaceful settlement of the conflict according to the initiative of the Gulf and the mechanism of its implementation, and results of the national dialogue conference, the Security Council and the relevant UN resolutions, in particular resolution 2216, commending the efforts of the Secretary General's Special United Nations Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The ministers also expressed their condemnation of all unilateral measures outside the framework of legitimacy, which violate international resolutions and endanger efforts towards peace. During the meeting it was agreed to hold the fifth session of the Forum in 2018 in Moscow, Russia Federation.