Sergey Lavrov’s working visit to Kuwait, UAE and Qatar

On August 27−30, Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will make a working visit to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

While in Kuwait, Sergey Lavrov will meet with Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and will hold talks with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.

In Abu Dhabi, Sergey Lavrov will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser Tahnoun Al Nahyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also co-chairs the Intergovernmental Russian-Emirates Commission for Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation.

In Doha, Sergey Lavrov will meet with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and will hold talks with Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah. 

The Russian delegation will use the upcoming meetings to discuss the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and these states and their further development. The parties will review in detail the implementation of the decisions that have been made by their leaders in this respect.

Our joint tasks include maintaining a regular political dialogue, expanding trade and investment partnership and preparing mutually beneficial projects in energy, metallurgy, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and other areas. In addition, the parties will discuss the possibility of promoting cultural ties, including cultural exchanges and cooperation in tourism.

A major issue at these talks will be the continued coordination of the parties’ positions on the key global and regional issues, including support for Russia’s position and initiatives at the UN and other international organisations.

The parties will hold in-depth discussions of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, primarily the need to settle regional conflicts by political and diplomatic methods, through dialogue based on mutual respect for the interests and concerns of all the sides involved.

Much attention in this respect will be given to the ongoing crisis in Qatar’s relations with the United Arab Emirates and several other Arab countries. Russia has firmly urged the countries involved to abandon confrontational rhetoric and instead settle the dispute through negotiations and compromise solutions. Russia supports Kuwait’s mediation towards this end.

Syria is another current issue on the agenda of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s tour of the regional countries. The Russian delegation will update its Arabian colleagues on Russia’s efforts to settle the Syrian crisis, including within the framework of the Astana process, and on the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria. The parties will also exchange opinions on the possibility of progress at the intra-Syrian talks held in Geneva in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

We view Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s upcoming visits as an integral part of our consistent efforts to promote multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation with all our partners in the strategically important region of the Middle East and North Africa. We have always believed that this fruitful cooperation meets the long-term interests of Russia and regional countries and serves the cause of peace and stability.