The Russian side, as the epidemic situation improves, expects to soon resume contacts with the UAE at the highest level in a face-to-face format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
"Contacts at the highest level continue, our leaders are constantly in touch and communicate by phone. I am confident that as we overcome the pandemic, our contacts, including at the highest level, will return to the usual format," the Minister said.
The two leaders last met in October 2019 during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the UAE.
The focus on interaction and the implementation of mutually beneficial cooperation contribute to strengthening ties between Russia and the UAE even in the conditions of a coronavirus pandemic, Lavrov said, commenting on the growth of bilateral trade turnover amid the pandemic.
"The question I would say is even philosophical. My explanation is that when there is a focus on cooperation, on the implementation of practically mutually beneficial projects, no diseases can interfere with this. We have exactly such relations with the UAE," Lavrov said.
The Russian Foreign Minister noted that this was fully confirmed at reception by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayn. "Relations, as I have already stressed, are not just a strategic partnership, they are really becoming more and more dense every year and cover all areas of interaction between states and between peoples without exception, by the way," the Minister added.
According to him, contacts in the field of tourism significantly strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. "It will continue in the future. I am sure of it," Lavrov concluded.
Bilateral trade turnover between Russia and the UAE increased by 78 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 and reached a historic high of $3.27 billion.
Situation in the Persian Gulf
Moscow and Abu Dhabi reaffirmed their intention to promote stability and security in the Persian Gulf zone, Lavrov said.
"We also talked a lot about the situation in the [Persian] Gulf zone. We confirmed our intention to encourage the countries of the region, the Gulf coastal countries with participation in international organizations such as the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the EU, to start a process of confidence-building, transparency in military construction and in general the normalization of relations between Iran and the Arab countries of the region here. We have agreed to maintain a dialogue on all these issues," the Russian Minister noted.
He pointed out that during the talks, the sides discussed in detail regional issues, including the settlement of conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen. "In all these cases, Russia and the UAE promote a peaceful political settlement based on the principles of the UN Charter and relevant UN decisions. We stand for an inclusive dialogue so that all these crisis situations can be overcome," Lavrov said.
He said the meeting also touched on the Arab-Israeli settlement. "Russia reiterated its position, according to which we welcome the normalization of Israel's relations with a number of Arab states, including the UAE, with the understanding that, of course, the task of a fair resolution of the Palestinian problem should not be relegated to the background. The Russian Federation will be ready to continue to help establish a direct dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians," the Russian Foreign Minister said.
The Russian Foreign Minister is on a working visit to Abu Dhabi as part of his tour of the Middle East.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS