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Session of Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum to focus on fighting terrorism

The meeting will be held in Moscow and will feature top diplomats of Russia, Bahrein, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Sudan

© Yuri Smityuk/TASS

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. The ministerial meeting in the framework of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum will be held in Moscow on February 26. The meeting will focus on issues of fighting extremism and forming WMD-free zone in the Middle East. The foreign ministers of Russia, Bahrein, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Sudan will take part in the meeting.

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This format has already become an authoritative and high-demand platform for regular exchange of opinions and coordination of positions of Russia and Arab countries on pressing international challenges. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that "a comprehensive in-depth exchange of opinions is planned on the situation in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa with an emphasis on tasks of overcoming acute crisis situations and ways to react to challenges and threats that the countries in the region face."

Moscow noted that among important topics on the agenda is coordination of practical steps on expanding cooperation between Russia and Arab countries in all spheres, including economic, humanitarian and cultural. After the session, a joint statement will be adopted, along with the Plan of Action on implementing principles, goals and tasks of Russian-Arab cooperation for 2016-2018.

The session will also focus on Syrian settlement. Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Nabil Elaraby told TASS that there are serious disagreements between LAS and Russia on the Syrian issue. "I must tell you frankly that there are serious disagreements between the governments of Russia and most Arab countries on the Syrian issue, there is no doubt about that. It will not hurt anyone if we talk about this openly," Elaraby said.

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Foreign policy Fight against terrorism

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