With the participation of Syria, Valdai International Dialogue Forum kicks off in Moscow
The activities of the 12th Middle Eastern Conference of the Valdai International Forum for Dialogue, organized by the Valdai Club with the contribution of the Institute of Orientalism of the Russian Academy of Sciences, kicked off in Moscow today, under the title: “The New Middle East and the Security Crisis in Europe”.
Syria as well as experts and personalities from a number of countries in the region, China, India, Europe and others take part in this event.
The main topic of the conference is the impact of the European and global crises on developments in the Middle East, in addition to Russia’s relations with the countries of the region.
The conference’s work is divided into several seminars that include topics on the Middle East, the global system, the regional security system, the Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions on the Near and Middle East, prospects for the transportation path on the north-south line, the basic trends in the field of energy, including OPEC Plus, the role of Russia, global market changes and basic priorities as well as the foreign policy of the countries of the region.
In a message addressed to the participants in the Middle East Conference, and was broadcast by Russia Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that strengthening dialogue and cooperation with each of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as groups active in the region, is an unconditional strategic priority for Russia’s foreign policy.
In his message, which was read out on his behalf by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Lavrov said: “We note with satisfaction that, despite the unprecedented pressure from the collective West led by the United States, Arab friends are taking a balanced position on the situation in Ukraine and its environs, guided primarily by their fundamental national interests.”
Lavrov indicated that Moscow will continue to work to make the Middle East a safe region, help in overcoming crises, and participate in post-conflict reconstruction in the affected countries.
The speakers at the conference also pointed out that the Middle East is still suffering from the repercussions of chronic issues, including the crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq, in addition to new problems such as the interdependence between instability in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, issues of ensuring food and energy security, and the echoes of combat operations in Ukraine, as well as the increasing role of China and India in the region’s economy and the decline in the role of the United States.
In a message addressed to the participants in the Middle East Conference, and was broadcast by Russia Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that strengthening dialogue and cooperation with each of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as groups active in the region, is an unconditional strategic priority for Russia’s foreign policy.
In his message, which was read out on his behalf by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Lavrov said: “We note with satisfaction that, despite the unprecedented pressure from the collective West led by the United States, Arab friends are taking a balanced position on the situation in Ukraine and its environs, guided primarily by their fundamental national interests.”
Lavrov indicated that Moscow will continue to work to make the Middle East a safe region, help in overcoming crises, and participate in post-conflict reconstruction in the affected countries.
The speakers at the conference also pointed out that the Middle East is still suffering from the repercussions of chronic issues, including the crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq, in addition to new problems such as the interdependence between instability in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, issues of ensuring food and energy security, and the echoes of combat operations in Ukraine, as well as the increasing role of China and India in the region’s economy and the decline in the role of the United States.
NR