MUSCAT, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- Oman declared on Wednesday it shares common perspective with Russia toward plenty of international and regional issues namely Syrian and Libyan crises.
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah said at a joint joint news conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that he agreed with his eminent guest on bolstering mutual cooperation and rapprochement between Muscat and Moscow. "There are joint opinions and understanding of difficulties in the Syrian, Libyan and Yemeni files," he said.
Calling for using up all possible means to resolve these crises, Abdullah said Muscat would act for creating proper circumstances for working out an accord among the Syrians and ending this crisis "when circumstances turn adequate and need for help arises." On plans to stem oil prices' fall, the Omani official said, "I do not believe that there are objections to slashing production from all producing states, members and non-members of OPEC, for sake of reaching solutions to the problem and map out a new strategy for all producers.
"Cutting the output five percent by all producers is among the proposed solutions, in addition to other ideas addressing the oil market mechanism." For his part, Lavrov indicated readiness to cooperate for slashing the output for shoring up the crude oil prices. In case the producers reached an agreement, a date would be set to discuss "the general situation of the oil prices," he added.
His remarks signaled desire to hold an extraordinary meeting for OPEC, provided the oil producing countries reached an understanding in this respect.
However, OPEC a few days ago announced that the next regular meeting for the organization would be held in June, fueling speculations that no urgent meeting was expected soon.
On Syria, Lavrov said Moscow would not stop its military intervention before deafeating "the terrorist organizations." He also rejected calls to cease air strikes on the militants' strongholds in Syria, as a gesture coinciding with the settlement talks in Geneva.
Syrian opposition groups have linked their participation in the conciliation talks in Geneva to cessation of the Russian air strikes.
Lavrov was in the UAE on Tuesday, discussing regional issues with the local leaders. During the visit to Abu Dhabi, he stressed necessity for a "consensus" between the Syrian regime and the opposition to press ahead with reconciliation. (end) ahr.rk