FM participates in Arab Contact Group meeting on Ukraine

shahennews

 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi participated in the meeting held by the Arab Ministerial Contact Group, which was formed by the Arab League to contribute to efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

The Arab delegation includes Egypt as chaired and Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Sudan, and Iraq, in addition to the Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

The delegation, which will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in Poland tomorrow, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on developments of the crisis, outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian talks and the security, humanitarian, political and economic consequences of the crisis.

“The Arab delegation’s undertaking of this move stems from the Arab world’s pride in its ties with the Russia and Ukraine, its understanding of the seriousness of the current situation, and its concern about the effects of this serious crisis on peoples in and outside the conflict zone, and on international peace and security. The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the conflict zone has resulted in negative consequences that extend to various economic levels, including global energy and food security,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a statement he delivered on behalf of the Group during the joint press conference with Lavrov and Aboul Gheit, after the meeting.

He added that the meeting saw frank discussions on ways to deal with this delicate situation, during which the Arab delegation expressed concern about the extension of the current crisis, and called on all parties involved in the conflict to stop the escalation and resort to military action, and called for immediately resort to peaceful and diplomatic solutions based on dialogue.

He stated that the Arab delegation called for the continuation of the course of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, voicing readiness to carry out mediation efforts to support the path of direct negotiations between the two sides, with the aim of reaching an urgent halt to the ongoing military operations, and to start discussing a number of confidence-building measures, paving the way for launching a framework for a sustainable political solution to this crisis; within a framework of respect for the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the sovereignty of states, and in a manner that ensures the resolution of this conflict in a peaceful and acceptable manner by both parties, and in a manner that leads to dealing with the roots of the crisis.

Shoukry pointed out that the Arab delegation also stressed the importance of continuing coordination to maintain the security and safety of the Arab communities currently reside in the conflict zone, and to facilitate the crossing of those wishing to move to neighboring countries. The two sides also discussed ways to overcome economic consequences of this crisis, and to ensure that it does not affect peoples of the region and beyond.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov welcomed the Arab delegation, noting that they had also discussed a number of issues besides the developments of the crisis in Ukraine. Laverrov added that the Palestinian issue was also discussed, as he reaffirmed his country’s firm position that all final status issues can be resolved through direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Petra