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Middle East and North Africa

Lavrov, Hariri discuss Syrian crisis’ impact on Middle East

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MOSCOW, January 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Diplomatic settlement was the only possible option to resolve the Syrian crisis, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov told Saad Hariri, leader of the Lebanese parliament's Al-Mustaqbal fraction, in Paris on Sunday, Russia's Foreign Ministry reported on Monday.

This was in the best interests of the entire Middle East region, while interference from outside was unacceptable as it would primarily “play into the hands of international terrorists and extremists”, the ministry cited Russia's top diplomat as saying.

Lavrov and Hariri also discussed the regional agenda and the current situation in Lebanon against the background of the Syrian crisis.

The Russian side highlighted its principal support of “unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the republic of Lebanon, and the right of the people of Lebanon to decide their country’s fate on the basis of the major political and religious forces’ accord in the legal framework and without any foreign interference”.

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Middle East and North Africa

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