By Adeeb Al-Sayyed (with photos)
MOSCOW, June 18 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has commended level of cooperation and relation between his country and Kuwait saying the two countries have been successful in addressing common challenges.
"These relations are based on a solid foundation of trust and mutual understanding," Lavrov said in an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday.
Lavrov, who noted that Russia and Kuwait celebrated 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations last March, voiced relief for the "dynamic political dialogue" between the two countries which has shown "identical or close" views over many pressing matters.
He said Russia and Kuwait have great potentials to push economic, trade and investment relations "which are below the required level." On Russia's relations with other Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) countries, Lavrov said these ties have been "progressing," citing the launch of the Russia-GCC strategic dialogue in November 2011. There are ministerial meetings held regularly as well, he added.
Forthcoming session of the strategic dialogue would be held in Moscow this year, he said, hoping "our partners including our Kuwaiti friends offer full support for us so the meetings have successful outcome." Lavrov, meanwhile, acknowledged differences of views vis-a-vis some developments in the Arab world but played them down, noting the variation of views was over the methods to addressing the conflicts.
"In essence, we have common views on causes of these events as well as their possible impacts on stability and security of countries of the region," added Lavrov in the interview with KUNA.
"It is important not to waste time because every day means new human fatalities," said Lavrov, alluding in particular to the bloody conflict in Syria, but added he was optimistic that "our partners in the Gulf countries understand this situation which creates a foundation to having a common ground.
" The Russian top diplomat underlined importance that settlement of conflicts in the region should not, by any means, affect relations between Moscow and the Arab Gulf countries.
Asked if the GCC countries can participate in the nuclear talks between the P5+1 group and Iran, Lavrov said "this framework of negotiations is enough," but the GCC countries could "seriously contribute" to the nuclear negotiations through bilateral and collective diplomatic channels.
He said there were encouraging signs after the P5+1 proposed reciprocal principles on easing sanctions on Iran in exchange for cooperation on the nuclear file. The Iranians have expressed readiness to stop uranium enrichment at 20-percent degree, a progress that can address worries over "possible production of armed uranium in Iran," he said. "Of course this position requires similar steps from the six countries," he added.
"The international community should reacted to Iran's constructive steps by similar measures including gradual halt of sanctions and scrapping them, including the curbs of unilateral basis or those approved by the Security Council," Lavrov went on. Lavrov, in the interview with the Kuwaiti news agency, called upon all parties concerned not to abort these efforts, adding that the sanctions should not be further tightened on Iran, but eased.
He urged Iran and the P5+1, five UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent members plus Germany, to show flexibility in order to move forward regardless of any elections and their results. Lavrov, calling for setting time and venue of next nuclear talks, asserted that Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes including enrichment of uranium under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
On Syria, Lavrov said Russia has realized the dangers of the conflict and "works very hard to prevent explosion of the situation as a whole in the Middle East." Success of efforts to hold an international conference on Syria depend on Syrian parties' abstention from demands regarding composition of delegates, he said, and called for complying with the Geneva I agreement that was concluded on June 30, which would mean the Syrian regime and opposition sitting on the same table to reach "special understandings that will pave way for the start of political process on the basis of dialogue between the Syrian themselves."
He added that Russia persuaded the Syrian government to participate in the Geneva II conference in a delegation to be chaired by Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Muallem. But, he continued to say, the Syrian opposition groups were divided, as the opposition inside Syria did not recognizing practices of the opposition alliance abroad. He added that the opposition inside Syria wanted to participate in Geneva II independently.
Lavrov said the opposition alliance outside Syria did not have a clear political program, offered pre-conditions contrary to objectives of negotiations, aimed at seeking consensus among the Syrians.
The Russian top official said participation in the Geneva II conference should be expanded to include regional countries that did not take part in the first meeting for sake of actively contributing to backing settlement of the Syrian crisis.
He proposed participation of the five UNSC permanent members, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, the EU, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Syria's envoy. Lavrov also said he believed Iran and Saudi Arabia should also participate in the conference. "We are continuing our contacts and consultations for that purpose," he said.
Russian, US and UN officials met in Geneva on June 5 and would meet next week to discuss the Geneva II.
Lavrov urged "foreign players" which he did not name to create the suitable atmosphere to prepare for the convention. He recalled that the Geneva I communique called for formation of an interim administration of the government and opposition as a major step towards peace.
"Announcing the arming of the opposition, calling for a no-fly zone and humanitarian corridors and blaming the Syrian authorities for all what is happening in Syria will not be helpful for the efforts to ensure success of preparations for the international conference," said Lavrov.
He further said "terrorist acts" of Al-Qaeda and extremist groups were designed to foil the Geneva II and the political settlement in Syria.
Bloodshed must end in Syria, he emphasized, and a chance be given for peace efforts.
"We neither interfere in the Syrian internal problems nor try to impose ready-made solutions, and we are not willing to settle geopolitical scores against anyone on the Syrian territories," he asserted.
Lavrov said UN principles should be implemented regarding Syria, especially respecting state sovereignty, non-interference in its internal affairs and solving conflicts via peaceful means. "We have to help the Syrians move from armed confrontation to dialogue." On the Middle East peace process, Lavrov said Russia was dealing in a positive manner regarding the revival of Israeli-Palestinian talks. Commending US Secretary of State John Kerry's bids to jump-start peace talks, he said Russia and many partners were encouraging Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin direct dialogue, coupled with the Arab peace initiative.
He termed as "useful" Kerry's initiative to develop the Palestinian territories economically and socially, but they would not replace a special political horizon for the Palestinians; the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders.
Lavrov noted that the Quartet was the internationally-backed mechanism to support settlement in the Middle East.
When asked about Afghanistan after the planned US withdrawal, the Russian top diplomat said Washington would not pull out all of its forces from Afghanistan by 2014, but the US and its allies would keep more than 10,000 troops beyond that date, adding that the US would establish nine big military bases in Afghanistan, and was negotiating with Kabul over that.
Next year, said Lavrov, would be decisive for Afghanistan due to scheduled presidential elections in April and full transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan government. Lavrov regretted the fact that Afghanistan was far from stability. "The Americans and their allies want to leave fast and hand over security responsibility for the Afghan forces without considering the situation in the areas of this process." Phasing out international forces in Afghanistan, he said, should be coupled with strengthening Afghan security forces to avoid security collapse. The Afghan forces, he continued to say, should be capable of cracking down on extremist groups and drug dealers.
He said Russia was helping Afghanistan upgrade capabilities of security forces, building a stable, peaceful and neutral state which would confront terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.
Lavrov, however, said security developments in Central Asia, including Afghanistan, were directly linked to the Russian national security. Therefore, he added, Moscow was assisting its partners in Central Asia to boost economies, development and defense capabilities.
"We are attaching importance to boosting capabilities of the UN and the Shanghai cooperation organization in a drive to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Central Asian countries in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and religious extremism," said Lavrov. (end) as.bs.rk KUNA 180925 Jun 13NNNN