Russia intends to prioritize the development of cooperation with Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as support for Syria. This is stated in the new foreign policy concept of the Russian Federation, approved on Friday by decree of President Vladimir Putin.
"The Russian Federation intends to give priority attention to: the development of comprehensive and trust-based interaction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, comprehensive support for the Syrian Arab Republic, and the deepening of multifaceted mutually beneficial partnerships with the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt and other member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, taking into account the extent of their sovereignty and the constructiveness of their policies towards the Russian Federation," the document says.
It emphasizes that the states of friendly Islamic civilization, which in the multipolar world has great prospects for establishing itself as an independent center of world development, "are becoming more and more popular and reliable partners of Russia in ensuring security and stability, and in solving economic problems on a global and regional level." In this connection, the Russian Federation aims to strengthen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation with the states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, "respecting their socio-political ways of life and traditional spiritual and moral values."
Moscow will pay attention to the formation of "a sustainable comprehensive architecture of regional security and cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa based on combining the potential of all states and interstate associations of regions, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Russia intends to cooperate actively with all interested parties in order to implement Russian proposals to ensure collective security in the Persian Gulf. Moscow views the implementation of this initiative "as an important step towards a sustainable and comprehensive normalization of the situation in the Middle East region."
The text notes that Russia seeks to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, as well as contribute to the consolidation of efforts to protect traditional values and combat Islamophobia. Moscow will pay attention to smoothing the contradictions between the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and their neighbors, as well as facilitate the settlement of conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia. In addition, the Russian Federation sees the need to use the economic potential of countries in the region "to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership."
Support for integration processes
Russia intends to pay attention to support of integration processes within the framework of alliances in the Asian-Pacific Region, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
"In order to help the world order adapt to the realities of a multipolar world, the Russian Federation intends to give priority attention to supporting regional and sub-regional integration within the framework of friendly multilateral institutions, dialogue platforms and regional associations in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East," the document says.
The concept stresses that Russia will also pay special attention to improving the sustainability and progressive development of the international legal system.
Asia-Pacific region
Russia will counter attempts to undermine the system created around ASEAN in the sphere of security and development based on equality.
"In view of the dynamically growing multidimensional potential of the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Federation intends to give priority attention <...> to counter attempts to undermine the regional system of multilateral security and development associations based on the principles of consensus and equality of its participants, established around ASEAN," reads the text of the document.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: fabrikasimf/Freepik
Based on materials from TASS