Lavrov: Quartet mechanism needed to be expanded to be more effective.
By HERB KEINONlavrov 311(photo credit: AP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference Tuesday that the Quartet mechanism needed to be expanded to be more effective.Following a meeting with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Lavrov said that the quartet recently decided to set up a committee that would include representatives from the Arab League.Presently the quartet is made up of representatives from the EU, US, Russia and the UN.RELATED:Barak wants initiative on US tiesLavrov announces high-level ME talksAt the press conference differences of opinion regarding Hamas were apparent with Lavrov saying that Moscow would continue to engage with Hamas. Lieberman said that this is one point of disagreement between them.Regarding the deliveries of S-300 anti missile systems to Iran, Lavrov referred to a recent UN sanctions resolution and said that Russia abided by international decisions and that a presidential decree on what weapons will and will not be sold will be released shortly.Lieberman responded by saying Iran is the biggest threat to the middle east not just because of its nuclear program but also becasue of its support for terrorist organizations.Lieberman continued by saying he does not think that a Palestinian state will be established until 2012.
