MOSCOW, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Russia's foreign minister called Tuesday for an international conference to defuse Middle East tensions after meeting the head of the Arab League.
Russian leaders have previously expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and the growing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the call after holding talks in Moscow with Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the 22-member Arab League. The two men discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Russia is a member of the Quartet of mediating parties dealing with that conflict, along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.
"I think a (collective) approach can best be realized through an international conference," Lavrov said. He said such an international gathering should deal with both Israeli-Palestinian issues and Syria's continuing involvement in Lebanon.
"I am convinced that at this crucial stage, when the situation in the region has escalated, our contacts and agreements will be very welcome in the region and the international community as a whole," Lavrov said according to the RIA Novosti report.
Lavrov said he hoped new talks scheduled to start Tuesday in Mecca in Saudi Arabia could avert a potentially disastrous civil war between Hamas, which won the most recent Palestinian legislative elections, and the Fatah faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
"We are unanimous that it is necessary to support the Palestinian nation's efforts toward reaching national accord and forming a unity government," Lavrov said.
