Sochi: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the Eighth Joint Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Russian Federation, held in Sochi, Russia.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting was co-chaired by Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and chairman of the GCC ministerial council, and Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, also took part in the discussions.
The joint meeting issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, emphasizing that it was a clear violation of international law and an attack on Qatar's sovereignty. The statement highlighted that the attack undermines diplomatic efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and bilateral relations between the GCC states and Russia across various domains, adhering to the strategic dialogue framework established in November 2011, which seeks mutual benefits for both parties.
Both sides reviewed the achievements of the 2023-2028 joint action plan, reiterating the importance of continued efforts in sectors such as politics, trade, investment, energy, environment, health, culture, sports, education, media, and agriculture.
The ministers also discussed significant regional and international developments, including the Palestinian issue, the Gaza war, the Ukraine conflict, and current regional situations, while emphasizing efforts to establish lasting peace in the region. They explored ways to confront the challenges facing the region and the international community.
The Bahraini delegation included Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Saati, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Russia, and Saeed Abdul Khaliq, Director of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.