MOSCOW, February 3. / TASS/. Russia and the League of Arab States are discussing preparations for the next meeting of the Russian-Arab Ministerial Cooperation Forum scheduled for this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

"We intend to promote interaction in the context of strengthening strategic dialogue between Russia and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, as well as between Russia and the League of Arab States. There is a ministerial forum between us and the League of Arab States, and we are now discussing preparations for its next meeting, which is due to take place this year," Lavrov told a meeting of the United Russia party commission on international cooperation and support for compatriots abroad.