MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION INFORMATION AND PRESS DEPARTMENT _______________________________ 32/34 Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl., 119200, Moscow G-200; tel.: (499) 244 4119, fax: (499) 244 4112 e-mail: dip@mid.ru, web-address: www.mid.ru |
I would like to thank my colleague Shaikh Khalid and the Bahraini leadership for the invitation to make a visit here, which we regard as a continuation of the work that was begun during King Hamad’s visit to Moscow in December 2008. It is primarily about promoting engagement between our relevant companies in the oil and gas complex, energy, the banking sector and actively using the possibilities of the Russian-Bahraini Business Council for this purpose.
There are very good prospects in the humanitarian sphere, in education and in the promotion of a dialogue of civilizations and an interfaith dialogue. On these issues Russia and Bahrain’s views are identical. We also share a common position on regional problems. Together with our Bahraini partners we have today stressed the necessity of resolving the crisis around Gaza as soon as possible, establishing a durable truce, lifting the blockade of the Strip and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian goods, along with a normal economic and social life there. We are grateful to Bahrain for its firm support of us as regards convening a Moscow Conference for Middle East Settlement in the first half of the current year.
We will discuss practical aspects of this initiative as part of the planned further contacts between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. I look forward to continuing the dialogue on all these issues with my counterpart Shaikh Khalid and am inviting him to come to Moscow for a visit.
Question: What states will take part in the Moscow Conference?
Foreign Minister Lavrov: As we have repeatedly said, the Moscow Conference lineup will be based on those who participated in the Conference at Annapolis.
Question: Can you please comment on the statement of Iran’s representative concerning Bahrain?
Foreign Minister Lavrov: In the contemporary world it is necessary to be guided by international law. This presupposes in the first place the renunciation of attempts to question UN member states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Question: Will Russia support Bahrain’s idea of creating a regional organization to achieve peace in the Middle East?
Foreign Minister Lavrov: We support all proposals which are aimed at the unification of states and creation of conditions for their cooperation and peaceful coexistence. This is also the aim of our initiative, which is supported by Bahrain, to form a security system in the Gulf area.