PERSIAN GULF REGIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM

About:

• Objective: It is a proposed diplomatic initiative to address the lingering conflicts and mistrust in the Gulf region,
  
  
• Need of a forum: He said that such a platform is a must in the Persian Gulf region which has witnessed many wars in the last 4 decades; from Saddam Hussein’s aggression against Iran and later against Kuwait, to US operations and finally to the humanitarian nightmare in Yemen.
  
  

• Proposed Mandate: The proposed forum can look into the inviolability of international boundaries; non-interference in internal affairs of others; the peaceful settlement of disputes; the unacceptability of threats or use of force, and the promotion of peace and prosperity in the region.
  
  
• Criteria: He said that dialogue among countries is possible based on definitions provided in the Global Agenda on Dialogue among Civilizations adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in
  
  
• Comment:
  • The announcement of Persian Gulf Regional Dialogue Forum is significant as it comes in the wake of continued erosion of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which in the recent years has been divided between the Iranian and the Saudi spheres.
    
    
  • The proposal is among the set of fresh initiatives that Iran has taken in recent months that also included Iran connecting with the Taliban for peace talks.