8th Moscow Conference on International Security to Discuss Middle East Stability, Syria Reconstruction: Russian MoD
MOSCOW- Russian Defense Ministry has announced that the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS), to be held between April 23 and 25, will discuss regional and international stability as well as reconstruction in Syria.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said this year’s edition will be mainly devoted to improvement of arms control systems. The security situation in the Middle East, particularly the settlement of the crisis in Syria.
Moreover, the conference will focus on the expansion of security cooperation in Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to Sputnik.
A roundtable on military dangers and threats in modern world will be held.
MCIS will officially open on Wednesday, when the Russian leadership and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will deliver an opening statement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to address the conference.
Plenary sessions on the second day will cover topics such as Arctic security challenges, “hybrid” warfare and “color” revolutions, the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group in Syria and Iraq, among other issues.
A number of discussions would also be held on Wednesday, covering ballistic missile defense, the suspended Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between Russia and the United States, terrorism and illegal migration in Northern Africa as well as reconstruction and return of refugees in Syria and Iraq.
The following day, the Russian leadership will deliver opening remarks, while a plenary session on the UN peacekeeping system and legal framework for peacekeeping will be held afterwards.
The second plenary session on Thursday will be devoted to regional security aspects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin is set to make closing remarks.
Secretary General of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Thomas Greminger, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami and Indian Defense Secretary Sanjay Mitra are expected to attend the conference.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice-President Gilles Carbonnier will also take part in the event, among many others.
The MCIS is an annual event, which gathers together defense ministers, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, and military experts. Last year, the conference was attended by some 850 delegates from 95 countries, according to the organizers.
H.M