DOHA, October 18. /TASS/. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expects Russia to use its ties with Iran to encourage it to comply with the UN security council resolutions and to support the participation of Arab states in talks on the Iranian nuclear program, said Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
"We expect the Russian Federation to use its ties with Iran to encourage it to fully comply with [UN security council] resolution 2817 and to support the participation of the countries of the Cooperation Council in any negotiations or agreements related to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs," al·Zayani said at the 9th joint ministerial meeting within the framework of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue. According to him, the states of the region are most likely to suffer from Tehran’s programs, which is why their participation in the negotiations is necessary.
He also expressed gratitude to Moscow for its coordination within the UN Security Council. "We also appreciate its participation in aligning the chairman’s statement adopted by the security council on October 15, condemning the ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia," the minister said.
Al·Zayani hopes that Moscow would support a draft resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia to the UN security council. The document is aimed at protecting the civilian population, stopping the rebels’ attacks, and curbing the sources of their financing and armament, the minister noted.
In Manama, under the chairmanship of al-Zayani, the 168th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the GCC is being held at the level of heads of foreign policy departments. On October 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the kingdom on an official visit. The session is scheduled to include the ninth joint ministerial meeting within the framework of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue, during which the participants will discuss the development of multilateral partnership, coordination on regional security issues, and the international agenda.