Russia proposes intl meeting on Gulf area security - Lavrov
KUWAIT CITY. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Russia has proposed holding an international meeting with the member-states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC), Iran, the UN Security Council permanent members, and other parties concerned to address security in the Gulf area, taking into account the changes occurring in the Arab world, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We are ready to address modernization of the Russian concept of security in the Persian Gulf area together with our Arab partners. It was proposed quite a long time ago. Some changes have occurred in the Arab world since then, and we could revisit the issue," Lavrov said at the 3rd ministerial round of the Russia-GCC strategic dialogue in Kuwait on Wednesday.
"We were prepared to arrange an international meeting for this purpose, in which the GCC members, Iran, the five permanent UN Security Council members, and other parties concerned would take part," he said.
"As a practical step, it makes sense to think about a preparatory event before this conference and hold an expert conference of members of academic circles and diplomats," he said.
Lavrov also reaffirmed Russia's interest in holding a conference before the end of this year to address the establishment of an area free from nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and means of their delivery in the Middle East.
