SAUDI ARABIA: Moscow to seek Syria progress, bigger Middle East role in Riyadh

Record ID: 189089

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Moscow to seek Syria progress, bigger Middle East role in Riyadh
  • Date: 14th November 2012
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 14, 2012) (REUTERS) FLAGS OUTSIDE THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) HEADQUARTERS GCC MEMBERS WAITING TO GREET RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV LAVROV GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR RUSSIAN FLAG ON CAR LAVROV WALKING IN INSIDE, BANNER IN BACKGROUND SAYING: '2ND JOINT MINISTERIAL MEETING GCC-RUSSIA' LAVROV AT ROUND TABLE GCC MEMBERS LAVROV / GCC MEMBERS LAVROV GCC MEMBERS SIGN FOR CONFERENCE GCC MEMBERS IN FRONT OF CONFERENCE SIGN
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQTSVNYEOJCP9TKQL791P661I
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Saudi Arabia as Moscow eyes a bigger regional role in the Middle East.


    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (November 14), attending the second joint ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council with Russia.
    Lavrov was greeted by GCC members at their headquarters in the capital Riyadh.
    The Russian Foreign Ministry has said little about the visit beyond announcing that Lavrov will meet Saudi officials and attend the meeting between Russia and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council on issues including Syria.
    Russia is expected to urge Saudi Arabia to allow its regional rival Iran to join moves to end the conflict in Syria, diplomatic sources said.
    Lavrov is hoping to raise Moscow's profile in a region where its influence is at risk after blocking three U.N. resolutions meant to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the bloodshed.
    The trip to Riyadh is Lavrov's second Middle East visit in less than two weeks. Last week in Cairo he embraced an Egyptian-backed drive to bring together four regional powers to seek a solution to the Syrian crisis.
    Lavrov's efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to back the inclusion of Iran in peace efforts are seen as unlikely to succeed.
    Russia is under pressure to do more to end the violence in Syria and risks being sidelined. Moscow denies Western accusations it is shielding Assad, saying it is driven by the need to prevent meddling and let Syrians decide their fate.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register