Transcript of Address by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov at 36th Session of OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers, Damascus, May 23, 2009

Esteemed Mister Chairman,

Esteemed Colleagues and Friends,

At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Walid Muallem, and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Mr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, for the invitation to take part in the work of the session as an observer.

Major, sometimes dramatic events have occurred in the world over the past year. They have generally confirmed that there is no alternative to collective action with reliance upon international law. The crisis in the Caucasus and the tragic events in the Gaza Strip have once again demonstrated the perils inherent in staking on brute force in dealing with any conflicts. The present situation surrounding the global financial and economic crisis also serves as a vivid example of the necessity for multilateral diplomacy and for agreeing on generally acceptable universal norms and the rules of their observance by all states.

Russia has invariably been pursuing a policy of promoting equal and mutually advantageous cooperation with the Islamic world. We are united by such fundamental principles as the need to create a just and democratic world order with reliance upon the central role of the United Nations and the recognition of the cultural and civilizational diversity of the contemporary world.

Our relations with Islamic countries retain high dynamics. The numerous contacts held, particularly at the highest level, attest to the consolidation of a mature, forward-looking partnership.

Russia and Islamic countries are allies in the struggle against terrorism and extremism. We also adhere to similar approaches to many other global and regional problems. An important field of our collaboration is joint efforts to reduce the conflict potential in different regions.

A special place among them is held by the Middle East, which is again going through a complicated and crucial stage. The dangerous protracted pause in the talks should be overcome. This is the focus of efforts by Russia within the Quartet of Middle East mediators, being carried out in close contact with the parties, the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

As part of these efforts, Russia organized on May 11 the ministerial-level meeting of the UN Security Council, at the close of which the Council members unanimously reaffirmed the international legal basis for settlement, including the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Roadmap as well as the need to create an independent and viable Palestinian state. The Security Council especially pointed out the significance of the Arab peace initiative, which is also supported by the OIC. The Security Council clearly spoke out for strict compliance by the parties with the security obligations assumed and for the renunciation of any unilateral actions prejudging a final status. This primarily is about ending settlement activities. Also, securing freedom of movement of Palestinians in the West Bank and the unblocking of the Gaza Strip are priority tasks.

The next step along the road towards restarting the political process in the region must be the Moscow Conference on the Middle East, in support of which there has formed an international consensus, fixed in UNSC decisions. Our principled approach consists in ensuring the comprehensive nature of a settlement on all tracks – Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese.

Russia stands for bolstering the sovereignty and security of Iraq, whose people must dispose of their destiny themselves. We support the steps of the Iraqi government being taken with this aim in mind to achieve national reconciliation based on a comprehensive dialogue involving representatives of major political forces and ethnoconfessional communities of the country.

We share the stance of the LAS and OIC in favor of a political settlement to the existing problems in Sudan with respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We presume that the conflict in Darfur can only be solved at the negotiating table with constructive cooperation by Khartoum with the UN, the African Union and other international mediators. In the context of relations between North and South Sudan we advocate further unobstructed implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Russia has been consistently working for resolution of the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program solely by politico-diplomatic methods with consideration for all aspects, including the lawful interests of Iran and all countries of the region in the security and economic development sphere. Our proposals on formation of a security system in the Persian Gulf zone are well known.

Afghanistan continues to be an object of serious concern of the international community. We welcome the recently apparent striving to employ more fully the regional factor in Afghan settlement. The participants of the Special Conference convened under the aegis of the SCO on March 27 in Moscow spoke for a more active role of Afghanistan's neighbors. The documents adopted at it contain specific arrangements for stronger counteraction against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. We invite concerned countries and international organizations to take part in the realization of the relevant projects.

Russia has been closely watching developments in Pakistan and supports the cooperation of Islamabad and Kabul in devising and implementing an effective strategy to eliminate the threats of terrorism. Measures for socioeconomic development of backward areas in the Pakistani-Afghan border region should be carried out in parallel.

Russia welcomes the strengthening of the constructive role of the OIC in world affairs, which manifested itself in many decisions of the Dakar OIC Summit on topical international problems. The maturity and cohesion of the OIC also showed itself in the approval of the OIC Charter. The credit for this undoubtedly goes to the Organization's current chairman, Senegal, and to Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. His meeting with President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev on March 27 in Moscow, and the opening of Russia's Permanent Mission to the Organization's headquarters in Jeddah reflect the growing significance of collaboration between Russia and the OIC.

In October 2008 the fourth meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group took place in Jeddah, where the topical task of building up efforts for achieving intercivilizational harmony was discussed. The Russian proposals to create a Consultative Council of Religions under the aegis of the UN and the initiative of King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz for reinvigorating the interreligious dialogue also proceed along these lines.

Moscow has played host to two international conferences, ‘Russia – the Islamic World,' and ‘Islam Will Defeat Terrorism.' An international investment conference was held in Kazan with Islamic Development Bank assistance. Our ties with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) have grown stronger; the visit to Russia of its Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri imparted a new impulse to them.

Russia firmly intends to continue its policy of expanding cooperation with the Islamic world in different fields, which has already become an important factor of shaping a polycentric international system based on the principles of justice, the equality of all states and solidarity in the face of common challenges.