*152nd session of GCC Ministerial Council held in Riyadh
Qatar's delegation to the meeting was headed by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
The meeting reviewed the developments of the joint Gulf action, efforts of the working committees within the framework of the GCC to implement the decisions of the Supreme Council of the Co-operation Council at its 42nd session, in addition to the latest regional and international developments.
A meeting was held between the Ministerial Council and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat on the sidelines of the meeting.
Another meeting was also held between the Ministerial Council and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrey Yermak, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, via video conference.
The Ministerial Council affirmed in a statement that the GCC position on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis is based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and preservation of the international order based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and non-use of force or making threat to use force.
He also affirmed his support for mediation efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, a ceasefire, a political solution to the crisis, giving priority to the language of dialogue, and settling the conflict through negotiations.
The council hailed the humanitarian and relief assistance provided by the GCC countries to Ukraine, and expressed its support for all efforts to facilitate the export of grain, all food and humanitarian supplies from Ukraine to contribute to affording food security for the affected countries.
HE Sheikh Mohamed reiterated, during the two meetings, Qatar's commitment to contribute to every international and regional effort to find an immediate peaceful solution to this crisis.
He affirmed that Qatar firmly believes in diplomatic solutions to international crises and the preservation of the international system based on respect for the UN Charter and the well-established principles of international law, including obligations under the Charter to settle international disputes by peaceful means, refrain from the threat or use of force, and adhere to the sovereignty and independence of states and its territorial integrity, and rejects and condemns everything that contravene these principles.
HE Sheikh Mohamed also stressed that the highest priority at present should be dedicated to ensuring the safety of civilians, avoid escalation and give voice to wisdom, and to resume negotiations for the sake of resolving the crisis immediately, especially that its repercussions spill over to all parts of the world.