Karachi, At the plenary meeting of the 6th session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Marrakesh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the importance of a collective approach in addressing the current challenges in the Middle East and the overall global turbulence.
According to Embassy of The Russian Federation, Lavrov expressed gratitude to King of Morocco and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita for organizing the forum. He emphasized the forum’s role, established in 2009, as a crucial mechanism for coordinating Russia’s and the Arab world’s positions on various mutual interest issues.
Lavrov noted that despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and delays in coordination, the majority of the provisions of the action plan adopted in Moscow in 2019 were being implemented, enhancing multifaceted Russian-Arab cooperation. He acknowledged the complexity of issues on the forum’s agenda, particularly the crises and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, which hinder regional development.
A critical point of discussion was the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, which escalated the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Lavrov condemned the attack and the violence’s catastrophic scale, especially the impact on civilians in Gaza. He underscored Russia’s efforts, alongside partners, to secure a UN Security Council resolution for a sustained ceasefire, facing resistance from the United States.
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He aligned this position with the Arab countries’ stance from the November 11, 2023, Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit.
The forum also welcomed the growing role of Middle East countries in resolving regional problems, including the restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Syria’s return to the Arab League. Lavrov criticized outside forces, particularly the United States and its allies, for exploiting regional conflicts for their interests.
Discussing the crisis in Ukraine, Lavrov criticized the Western approach and its use of Ukraine as a containment tool against Russia. He emphasized the divide in handling the Ukrainian and Middle Eastern crises, framing it as a decision point for the world between a fair and democratic order or continued imposition of Western “rules.”
Lavrov concluded by affirming Russia’s commitment to an honest partnership based on equality, mutual respect, and balanced interests, highlighting the deepening of Russian-Arab cooperation in trade, economy, culture, education, and healthcare. The forum was set to approve a final declaration and an action plan for the next three years, further strengthening the partnership.