MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Moscow will carry on the attempts to stabilize the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
"We are trying to continue our efforts towards peaceful resolution of the crises in Syria and Yemen and to prevent destabilization in Iraq. The situation in Libya is a source of our profound concern," he told Patriarch John X of Antioch and All The East.
The current situation in a number of regional countries is a result of external interference, the Russian minister pointed out. "Brazen interference in [the affairs of] regional countries and indifference to the fate of their peoples have led to a surge in extremism and terrorism which now have to be fought," Lavrov said.
The Patriarch thanked Russia for efforts it had been taking towards Middle East stabilization.
"We highly appreciate the efforts of Russia to achieve peaceful resolution of regional problems," he said.