The Persian Gulf region is under the influence of dangerous trends towards destabilization, and the UN Security Council must constantly monitor the situation, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told on Tuesday, speaking at the UN Security Council high-level debate on the situation in the Persian Gulf region via videoconference.
"While organizing today's meeting, we proceeded from the fact that ensuring peace in the Persian Gulf region is an important and urgent task for the entire international community. The unhealthy situation in this area has a destabilizing effect on international relations. With this in mind, we believe that the issue should be the focus of constant attention of the Security Council [UN], responsible for maintaining international peace and security," the minister said.
The Russian side, at the initiative of which this meeting was convened, invited the participants to discuss together concrete measures to "take the situation away from the dangerous line and for the long-term stabilization of the region". According to Lavrov, although fears of a possible outbreak of large-scale war in the region were not confirmed early in the year, Moscow sees no reason to be complacent. "The situation is still precarious, and at any moment dangerous and unpredictable scenarios may develop," he said.
UN mediating role
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation also stated that the UN intermediary role can make a significant contribution to the stabilization of the situation in the Persian Gulf region.
"The UN's mediation potential, including within the framework of the Secretary-General's good offices mission, may be in demand," he said. - "Let me remind you that in 598 resolution the UN Security Council instructed the Secretary-General to work together with regional parties to strengthen security and stability in the [Persian Gulf] region."
A renunciation of mutual reproaches, policies of pressure and sanctions in the Persian Gulf region is achievable, Lavrov said.
"Attempts at unilateral actions - we continue to observe them - are growing, they are deadlocked. The practice of blackmail and diktat, demonization and accusation of only one side is wrong," he said. - "It is necessary to put aside mutual accusations and suspicions, refuse to use sanctions, pressure, ultimatums, provocative actions from any side. Even in conditions of persistent tension, this is quite achievable. We are convinced of it."
Security system
Establishing a sustainable security system in the Persian Gulf will take time and effort, the Russian Foreign Minister said.
"The path to this goal will not be quick, it will not be easy, but the countries of this region must pass it first of all, and it is the task of external players to help them create conditions to start moving towards each other, patiently and consistently removing historical layers of mutual resentment and contradictions. Everything requires interested discussions and, frankly speaking, delicate approaches," he said.
The minister pointed out that the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the meeting of heads of states of permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and Iran was aimed at "working out measures to stop the further escalation and to form a reliable system of collective security in the Persian Gulf". "We are grateful to those who expressed their support for this initiative," Lavrov noted.
He recalled that Russia formulated and presented the Concept of security in the Persian Gulf region, which provides for the creation of a collective mechanism to respond to the numerous challenges and threats with the participation of coastal countries of the Persian Gulf, both Iran and all Arab states. "We propose to involve the "five" permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other interested parties in practical steps to implement these ideas along with the coastal countries. For our part, we are ready to provide assistance in the framework of dialogue with all partners", the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
Iranian deal
Russia remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to address the situation around Iran's nuclear program, which is an important tool to contain escalation, Lavrov said.
"The JCPOA agreements have become a major political and diplomatic achievement, made it possible to avert the threat of armed conflict and strengthened the nuclear non-proliferation regime," he said. - "Russia, like all responsible parties to the agreement, remains fully committed to this agreement and is convinced of the need to preserve and actively protect this magnificent result of a difficult but useful collegial work".
The Foreign Minister stressed that the JCPOA adopted in 2015 remains "an important instrument to curb the escalation of tension".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS