KUWAIT, Feb 19 (KUNA) -- First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said views of the GCC and Russia "are different in terms of priorities" vis-a-vis the Syrian crisis, but the two sides agreed to continue consultations to reach common grounds.
Russia "is a co-sponsor with the US for Geneva II that discusses the developments in Syria, and is a big country with friends and interests in the region, and a permanent member in the Security Council," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled told a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at GCC Secretary General Abdul-Latif Al-Zayani.
Russia, added Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled following the GCC-Russia Strategic Dialogue session, shared responsibility for international peace and security, and has actively contributed to the first and second donors conferences for Syria, which were held in Kuwait, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.
Sheikh Sabah, who congratulated Russia for the organization of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, said he and Lavrov met with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah earlier today where the Russian top diplomat conveyed an invitation from President Vladimir Putin to His Highness the Amir to visit Moscow.
The meeting with His Highness the Amir dealt with ways of further boosting bilateral relations, he said.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation and relations with Russia "as one of the strategic partners" of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
He added that the GCC and Russia share the views about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and that comprehensive, just and lasting peace would not be achieved but after Israel's full withdrawal from Arab territories occupied in 1967, and establishing the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in line with relevant UN resolutions and Arab peace initiative.
Russia and the GCC, said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, called on the international community to continue its support to the Palestinian people's peaceful endeavors to regain their legitimate rights.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled welcomed the interim agreement signed by Iran and the P5+1 group, signed in Geneva last November 24. Thee agreement, he added, was a first step towards a comprehensive accordover Iran's nuclear program "in order to address the international and regional concerns over this program thus boost international security and peace."
Lavrov said the difference in views between Russia and the GCC "was slight and we focused on the common objectives that Syria returns to be a safe and prosperous country." He said he conveyed an invitation by Putin to His Highness the Amir to visit Russia. "We agreed on placing a framework regarding the implementation of high-level projects in different domains to boost partnership between the two countries," he added.
Lavrov said the strategic dialogue session underlined the importance of cooperation between Russia and the GCC. The two parties, he added, discussed the developments in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Syrian conflict.
He called for addressing the lack of confidence in the Gulf region, saying the two sides called for the full compliance with Iran's nuclear interim agreement.
Lavrov said he was looking forward for a sustainable dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the sake of regional security and stability. "If this dialogue requires external help we will be ready to help but will not impose ourselves on any country." Asked about Ukraine, Lavrov expressed concern over the hostilities between the government forces and opposition in Kiev. He said the opposition used weapons when the government troops attempted to stop them and threatened state institutions. "This is a coup attempt to reach power by weapons." Lavrov accused some Western countries of encouraging the opposition to act outside the framework of the local legislations as well as threatening to impose sanctions against Ukraine. "This is a contribution in the events in Ukraine today." On dialogue between the Syrian conflicting parties, the Russian foreign minister said the dialogue was progressing but very slowly. "There is no way out but through negotiations ... and the same thing applies on Israel and Palestine."
Lavrov condemned as unacceptable "the plot aiming to adopt the military option in Syria" and the attempts to portray the Geneva II talks as a complete failure.
He stressed the need to stop all forms of violence and advance the dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition.
There is need to reach a transitional stage and establish a new political system in Syria but this is viable only through consensus on a set of principles for a secular state that could ensure equal rights for all sects and factions, he explained.
After the parties to Geneva II agree on such principles, they can think about the setup of a transitional governing authority; this had been Russia's priority in the Geneva I Declaration, adopted on June 30, 2012, he said, affirming that Russia seeks full commitment to this communique.
Lavrov noted that his country contributed to some achievements in the Syrian issues, inter alia, the humanitarian aid to women and children, the evacuation of civilians from besieged areas, and the prisoner swaps.
He warned against repetition of the Libyan scenario in Syria, urging the concerned parties, particularly the Syrian government and opposition, to shoulder their respective responsibilities for resolving this crisis and curbing the proliferation of terrorism across Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
The Syrian government and opposition are responsible for the future of their country and have to work together for preventing Syria becoming a fertile soil for, and an exporter of, acts of terrorism, he stressed.
On his part, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdul-Latif Al-Zayani said the GCC countries always seek rapprochement and closer cooperation with all neighboring countries, notably Islamic Republic of Iran - "the big neighbor.
"We welcome the recent speech of Iranian President Hassan Rohani," he said in response to a question about the recent call of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for Kuwait and the GCC to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
"Yet, Iran has to show good will through ending its occupation of the three UAE islands, stopping interferences in the domestic affairs of the GCC countries and halting its military involvement in Syria. If such acts persist, they will be detrimental to the positive approaches of the GCC countries to relationship with Iran," he explained.
On the first meeting of chiefs of the anti-graft agencies in the GCC states, he said the meeting stemmed from the GCC Supreme Council meeting, held in Kuwait in last December.
The Supreme Council decided to form a regional committee for promotion of transparency and combating corruption in keeping with the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), he noted.
The first meeting of chiefs of the GCC anti-graft agencies led to a range of recommendations, including a draft GCC anti-corruption treaty, that will be tabled to the coming meeting of the Supreme Council for final endorsement, Al-Zayani added. (pickup previous) rkf.hrz.jn.gb KUNA 192334 Feb 14NNNN