Lavrov says Iran, Russia, Syria and Türkiye in talks for meeting

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian foreign minister on Friday said Iran, Russia, Syria and Türkiye are agreeing on date, place, and parameters of a quadrilateral meeting.

Speaking at a news conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sergey Lavrov said holding quadrilateral meetings is in the interest of all four countries.

The minister pointed out that Iran, Russia, Syria and Türkiye repeatedly reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, advocated a full-fledged settlement taking into account the interests of Syrian people, and also condemned actions that encourage separatism.

The diplomat added that based on these grounds a substantive conversation with the main purpose of reconciliation between Syria and Türkiye should start.

"This would be a very important shift in the situation in the region, which we are ready to promote in every possible way and which we are ready to encourage in every possible way," he said.

Turning to the situation in Afghanistan, Lavrov said all neighboring countries admit the necessity to stay in touch with the interim Taliban administration, emphasizing that positive changes in the country including an inclusive government and giving electoral and educational rights to women are important for international recognition.

- Sanctions against CIS countries, 'second front' against Russia

Lavrov said he informed in detail his colleagues from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) about Russia's assessment of Western interference, and its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Despite the EU and US threats of sanctions, the trade turnover between Russia and the CIS is growing, he added.

The minister expects that an agreement on free trade of services and a meeting of the heads of the CIS states, scheduled for June 8 in Sochi, will give impetus to the expansion of the economic cooperation.

One of the measures for countering the risk of sanctions is transfer to payments in national currencies, he said.

Lavrov described the establishment of a trilateral Kazakhstan-Russian-Uzbekistan union as a "project that will strengthen energy security" in the region.

The Russian diplomat argued that the West is pushing for conflicts on Russian borders to open a "second front" and distract it from the military campaign in Ukraine.

Moldova and Georgia are seen as potential battle grounds against Russia, he said, adding that Poland also demonstrates an aggressive approach, deploying significant forces on the border with Belarus.