RIC wants Iran issue settled through talks
India, China and Russia on Wednesday discussed the Iran nuclear stand off while stressing on the need for multilateral diplomacy and solving `burning’ issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: India, China and Russia on Wednesday discussed the Iran nuclear stand off while stressing on the need for multilateral diplomacy and solving `burning’ issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
The foreign ministers of the three countries met for a trilateral meeting that covered largely international and economic issues where the stress was on building a `multi-polar world order.’ On the economic front, the three foreign ministers, noting their growing economic clout, decided to set up a trilateral business forum which will take place in India this year.
The entrepreneurs’ meeting would be part of the overall aim to widen energy, transport, economic and trade ties between the three countries. But it was international issues including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan that dominated the discussions that went on for three hours between external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chinese foreign minister Li and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
At the end of the meeting Mr Lavrov, who confirmed that all these `burning issues’ were discussed, said, "the negotiations reaffirmed a common approach to international issues."
The three countries also agreed on the approach that should be adopted to resolve the Iran stand off through dialogue under the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Iran nuclear stand off has sparked fears of an open confrontation, what with the US sending two aircraft carriers to the Gulf and also accusing Iran of supplying arms to Iraqi militants.
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This concern was reflected in the trilateral meeting where all three countries stressed on the need for a multilateral approach to the issue and strengthening the UN so that it can play a more active role. Mr Mukherjee in his remarks said, "We agreed that cooperation rather than confrontation should govern approaches to regional and global affairs. We also agreed on the importance of the UN and that there was a need to make it more effective so that it reflects contemporary global realities." This was a viewpoint reiterated by the other two foreign ministers. "We agreed to work for democratistion of the international order and to respect principles of multilateralism," said Mr Li.
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