Russian Foreign Minister argues that Middle East tensions may be advantageous to many countries

(Interfax – April 11, 2013) Middle East conflicts are advantageous to those who would like the region to have smaller and less influential countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the RTVI channel.

“This may be advantageous to many. For instance, those who want the region to have less influential countries. Those who want these countries in the case they fail to stay busy with “cleaning up” the aftermath of a terrible war as long as possible,” he said. “Aleppo, a city protected by UNESCO, has been ruined in Syria. Just see what is going on in Egypt.

“This may be also advantageous to someone, because Egypt has always been a leading country of the region with a principled position and a weighty vote on Palestinian settlement,” he explained. “Although Cairo seeks to confirm this role, it spends most of its energy on domestic pacification. We met with President Muhammad Mursi when President Vladimir Putin attended the summit in South Africa. We will continue to work with him and support stabilization efforts.”

Lavrov added that “Egypt has been removed from the active role it used to play in Middle East affairs and other people “call the tune” at the LAS now.”

The decision to expel Syria was made in violation of the LAS Charter: “The Charter says such decisions must be made by consensus only, but two or three states raised objections,” he said. “So, the only way [nothing new can be invented here] is to stop encouraging violence and militarization of conflict and to bring the sides to the negotiating table.”