Gulf countries and Russia have agreed to work together to prevent and avert terrorist acts through international cooperation, fully recognising the central role that the United Nations plays according to its charter and completely implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially resolutions 2170, 2178, 2199 and 2253. In addition to this, the countries concerned are striving to fight terrorism by implementing the UN strategy to fight terrorism, supporting the efforts of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee and adopting a comprehensive treaty regarding international terrorism as soon as possible.
This was expressed in a joint statement released yesterday after the end of the fourth joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue which was held in the Russian capital Moscow. It was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov on the Russian side and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir who is also the chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council on the Gulf side. The Secretary General of the Gulf cooperation Council Dr Abdul Latif Al-Zayani also participated in the meeting. The two sides agreed that the fifth joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue will be held in Bahrain in 2017.
In the statement, the ministers refused to link terrorism to any religion, culture or ethnic group. They also highlighted concerted regional and international efforts to combat terrorism, address the factors leading to its spread, eradicate its sources and any kind of support for terrorism and violent extremism, including financial funding. They also emphasised the fight against organized cross-border crime and condemned all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
The ministers also affirmed their determination to develop friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides and strengthen them in all areas. The two sides also agreed to continue cooperating on various regional and international issues of common interest and strengthen economic and social bilateral cooperation.
The ministers said that it was very important that relations between countries are based on the principles of good neighbourliness and full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. They also said that countries should deal with challenges and crises through peaceful means within the framework of a comprehensive national dialogue.
The statement also welcomed the establishment of the Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism and expressed support for the coordination between Russia and the international coalition to fight ISIS which is led by the United States.
The ministers also welcomed the initiative put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin to form a large scale front against terrorism that is based on international legal standards and the Charter of the United Nations, operates according to the agreement and coordinates closely with countries in the region.
They also commended the results of the consultations between the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that were took place in Jeddah in January 2016 and that dealt with combating terrorism, extremism and organised crime.