Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa

We, ministers of foreign affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan, express concern with the persistence of a number of seats of instability in the Middle East and North Africa, where the situation is characterised by the lack of proper regulation of armed conflicts and consolidation of negative trends in the economy, including due to the approval of unilateral restrictions with regard to food and fertiliser supplies, which undermine these countries’ food security.  All of this provokes the growth of social tensions and radical moods, exacerbation of religious and ethnic differences, and leads to a humanitarian crisis.

We are in favour of dealing with all the existing internal and interstate conflicts and differences in the Middle East and North Africa by diplomatic methods via a political dialogue and with support from the United Nations and the key regional organisations and in full conformity with the basic norms of international law.

We are expressing profound concern with the current escalation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has led to numerous civilian casualties and to growing tensions throughout the Middle East. We condemn the killing of dozens of thousand civilians, and call for an immediate end to combat operations, for an uninterrupted functioning of the humanitarian corridors to render assistance to Gaza residents, and for reserve, given the threatened expansion of the armed confrontation zone. 

We reaffirm the conviction that it is possible to stabilise the situation solely by finding a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian problem on the well-known international legal basis that includes the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as the Arab Peace Initiative, and implies the creation of a Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders with the capital in East Jerusalem. We stress the need for consolidating the international efforts to precipitate the launch of a negotiating process between the parties, aimed at reaching the above solution to this issue. We emphasise that it is necessary to renounce unilateral steps complicating the progress towards implementing the two-state principle of settlement.

We reaffirm our steadfast and invariable commitment to sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and condemn any actions posing a threat thereto. We underscore the need for the cessation of any foreign military presence in that country, which violates international law.

We condemn destructive actions by external forces with regard to the Syrian Arab Republic, which represent a grave threat to regional security.

We note the importance of stepping up international efforts to ensure stability in Syria, and mitigate the socioeconomic crisis and humanitarian tragedy there, as well as the need to cancel the unilateral restrictions, which would become an important step towards reaching a comprehensive political solution. We express support for efforts being undertaken within the Astana format, as well as for a resumption of the Constitutional Committee’s activities within the parameters defined by the Syrians themselves.  

We welcome steps to normalise inter-Arab relations, including the restoration of Syria’s Arab League membership with full rights, and express hope that they will be conducive to an improvement in the general situation in the region.

We stress the need for a complete destruction of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and all other groups, enterprises, organisations and persons involved with Al-Qaeda, ISIS, or other terrorist organisations defined as such by the UN Security Council.

We note the importance of putting an immediate end to the armed confrontation in the Sudan. We express conviction that any differences should be settled at the negotiating table. We note the importance of imparting an inclusive nature to the process of inter-Sudanese reconciliation. We are opposed to interference in the internal affairs of that country.

We express concern with instability that has persisted for more than ten years in Libya. We stress our commitment to Libya’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We express support for a political process conducted and implemented by the Libyans themselves with support from the United Nations. We call on all sides to continue consultations in order to create conditions needed for holding free and honest elections in the country.

We welcome the decision to normalise interstate relations, taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran. We express certainty that these constructive steps will be amenable to a general improvement in the situation and the creation of an atmosphere of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation in the Persian Gulf area.

We emphasise the importance of partner relations being promoted in the Persian Gulf region, based on the principles of neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolution of all disputes by peaceful means based on the UN Charter and international law, and renunciation of the threat or use of force.