NEW DELHI, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia, India and China called Wednesday for regional conflicts to be resolved through dialogue and without confrontation.
The Russian, Chinese and Indian foreign ministers have gathered in the capital of India to discuss the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, Mideast conflict resolution, the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs.
"We share the view that all regional conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and without confrontation," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference following the meeting.
Lavrov also said the ministers discussed future cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional security and economic bloc that comprises Russia, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and has India as an observer member.
Apart from developing close economic relations, SCO members seek to strengthen their ties in the sphere of regional security.
Last year, the organization announced plans to conduct in 2007 the first joint military exercise with another regional security bloc, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The ministers also stressed the importance of regional security organizations in the fight against terrorism and agreed to coordinate their efforts to eliminate factors that create "the breeding grounds" for the spread of terrorism, including financing, illicit drug-trafficking and transnational crime.
"Regional organizations have a significant potential for cooperation in the fight against terrorism," the ministers said in a joint statement following the meeting in New Delhi.
They criticized the double-standard approach in anti-terrorism policies, and agreed that terrorist acts should be condemned regardless of their goals or geography.
In addition, the participants of the meeting called for a greater transparency and effectiveness of the United Nations, including its Security Council, to provide a better response to new global challenges.
Russia and China said they regard India as an influential and important member of the international community and reaffirmed their backing of India's bid for permanent UN Security Council membership.
The next trilateral meeting of foreign ministers will be held in China.
