Arab League's role in settling Mideast conflicts increasingly more important - Lavrov
MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Russia expects the role that the League of Arab States plays in settling conflicts in the Middle East will strengthen and that all Arab states without exception will be involved in the Arab League's activities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We are firmly convinced that the League of Arab States is playing an increasingly more important role in the efforts to pacify the situation in various parts of the Middle East and North Africa," Lavrov said at a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday.
"We would like this role to continue strengthening and the League's activity to be truly inclusive as concerns involvement of all Arab states without exception," he said.
Aboul Gheit said Russia is among the main powers on the international and regional arena and regular contacts with Moscow are important to the Arab League.
The Arab League comprises 22 member countries. Syria was expelled from the organization in 2011.
