OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2010. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on May 16 held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Mohammed Sabah Al-Sabah, currently in Russia on a working visit.

Discussions focused mainly on the question of strengthening political interaction and cooperation between Russia and Kuwait in various fields. The parties examined a wide range of global and regional problems from the perspective of the tasks of creating a multipolar world order, bolstering international security and stability, achieving a political settlement of conflicts, and increasing counteraction against extremism, transnational terrorism and other challenges.

In discussing the situation in the Middle East the parties welcomed the start of indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks and stressed the importance in this regard, of a responsible approach of the sides to their conduct that would ensure their effectiveness and development into a phase of direct communication. The Kuwaiti minister briefed on the course of the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions envisioning an intensified search for missing Kuwaitis and third country nationals, Kuwaiti property and national archives, as well as of the settlement of other existing problems with Iraq. The Russian side confirmed the need for a speedy resolution of all the issues between Kuwait and Iraq in the overall context of creating an atmosphere of good-neighborliness and cooperation in the region. It also noted the importance of a further normalization of the situation in Iraq in order to strengthen its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The parties spoke in favor of the consolidation of stability in the Persian Gulf zone. Lavrov pointed out in this connection the importance of making use of the positive potential inherent in the Russian concept of security in the subregion. Especially in this context the need was stressed to find a politico-diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program problem while observing the WMD non-proliferation regime. The parties welcomed the beginning of the stabilization in Yemen and emphasized the need for increased international assistance to the country.

They substantively discussed the state of and prospects for Russian-Kuwaiti cooperation in the economic, trade and investment areas, particularly with regard for the possible participation of Russian companies in a number of energy, transport and other mega-projects envisioned by the five-year development plan of Kuwait. The parties noted the importance of progress in high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries and more dynamic involvement of entrepreneurs of both countries in implementing innovative projects.

In view of the Kuwaiti Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the parties discussed the specific issues of establishing links between the Russian Federation and the organization, including in terms of the conduct of a Russia-GCC Ministerial Forum.