Lavrov and Mekdad discuss a number international and regional issues

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal Mekdad, a number of international and regional issues including the escalation currently taking place in the Middle East region.

“Special attention was paid to the issue of the ongoing escalation of the situation in the Middle East, and the two ministers stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the need to find solutions to the critical humanitarian problems of the residents of the strip,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website about the meeting that brought the two sides together in Moscow yesterday.

The statement added that the two ministers discussed issues related to the situation in Syria, including post-war reconstruction, and commitment to the principles of respect for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

On the urgent issues of further strengthening the multifaceted Syrian-Russian partnership, the statement explained that several practical steps have been coordinated in favor of increasing mutual cooperation in the economic, trade and humanitarian fields.

The statement emphasized the  inadmissibility of aggressive and provocative actions in the region, which lead to the expansion of military confrontation to states .

The statement  stressed the need for multilateral efforts to achieve a lasting and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East on the basis of international law.

The meeting was attended by the Syrian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, and from the Russian side, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, head of the Middle East department Alexander Kinchak, and a number of senior officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Amal Farhat