MOSCOW, June 30 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The updated security concept for the Persian Gulf, which Russia previously presented to countries in the region, will be discussed at a ministerial meeting this fall, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko told RIA Novosti.
In early June, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that, amid the crisis in the region caused by US-Israeli aggression against Iran, Russia's security concept for the Persian Gulf had been updated and supplemented with relevant elements and presented to countries in the region, including Iran. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the concept envisions non-aggression against each other and could also include measures for transparency and confidence-building in the military sphere.
The reaction is interesting. We've already received initial responses from many Gulf capitals, where they've expressed interest in studying our updated concept and are ready to consider how to implement these ideas, Borisenko said.
Some suggestions for adjustments were immediately voiced, but all of this was done in a friendly, constructive manner and with an interest in continuing the dialogue on this topic. Naturally, this is based on the actual development of the situation in the region, which remains unstable at the moment, the diplomat clarified.
He noted that the updated security concept could be discussed at the next ministerial meeting of the Russian-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) group.
Our Arab partners have already stated that this topic could be a key one at this meeting. We are ready and are already discussing this bilaterally with all our partners in the region, including Iran, and are open to any possible formats that would suit our Arab and Iranian friends, Borisenko explained.
He added that the next meeting was expected to take place this fall in a regional country, but the dates have not yet been determined. Bahrain currently chairs the GCC, and Saudi Arabia will assume the presidency this fall.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar
