Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he hopes a meeting with Arab counterparts this week can bring the world closer to agreement on how to help end the bloodshed in Syria, but gave no sign Moscow would stop protecting President Bashar Al Assad.
Speaking at a joint news conference after talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Lavrov said he would join Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on Saturday, an indication Moscow wants a strong hand in Syria diplomacy.
Interesting groundwork
"I think our meeting could produce very interesting groundwork that we would promote in a broader international format," Lavrov said.
He said Russia and the Arab League share fundamental goals for Syria, but criticised Western and Arab calls for Moscow to pressure Al Assad's government. Russia has rejected pleas to press for Al Assad's resignation and urged nations with influence on his armed opponents to get them to stop fighting.
"We are convinced of the need not to await some magical actions for one another but to sit down together and try to agree how we can all take a common line... to influence all sides in Syria to stop shooting at each other, sit down for negotiations and start an inclusive national dialogue," he said.
