Sunday, January 28, 2007
Russia questions US role in Middle East
* Lavrov says Iran and Syria should not be isolated
MOSCOW: Russia expects the United States to explain its growing military presence in the Middle East when the countries next meet to discuss the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian news agencies on Saturday.
ââ¬ÅI have seen no change in Washingtonââ¬â¢s fairly aggressive rhetoric,ââ¬Â Lavrov said. ââ¬ÅIt continues, just like its actions to increase the military presence in the region. It will be one of the questions which we want to clarify in Washington. Whatââ¬â¢s it all about?ââ¬Â
Lavrov is expected to take part in a meeting of the Middle East quartet group in Washington on Feb. 2 to try to get a peace process between Israelis and Palestinians back on track. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to host the meeting.
The United States is in the process of sending an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, which it invaded in 2003, to try to quell an insurgency. It already has 134,000 troops in the country.
Washington has said it is also deploying a second aircraft carrier group in the Gulf as well as Patriot missile defence systems - steps widely seen as a warning to Iran and Syria.
It maintains a significant military presence in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which houses the US Navyââ¬â¢s Fifth fleet.
Lavrov also said unilateral US sanctions against Iran would be counterproductive to efforts to resolve the problem of the countryââ¬â¢s nuclear ambitions and would force Tehran out of the negotiating process.
Lavrov said Iran and Syria should not be isolated but should understand that they were expected to play a positive role and in return they would receive an appropriate position in the regional dialogue. ââ¬ÅWe are deeply convinced that Iran and Syria should not be isolated but brought into the peace process,ââ¬Â he said, speaking on return from a visit to India with President Vladimir Putin.
ââ¬ÅIn general, the problems that exist in the Middle East and in the surrounding region are linked to muddle-headed ideas about prestige. Someone says something once and from then on he canââ¬â¢t break with this principle. This is an inflexible policy, and itââ¬â¢s short-sighted.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\01\28\story_28-1-2007_pg4_1
Russia questions US role in Middle East
* Lavrov says Iran and Syria should not be isolated
MOSCOW: Russia expects the United States to explain its growing military presence in the Middle East when the countries next meet to discuss the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian news agencies on Saturday.
ââ¬ÅI have seen no change in Washingtonââ¬â¢s fairly aggressive rhetoric,ââ¬Â Lavrov said. ââ¬ÅIt continues, just like its actions to increase the military presence in the region. It will be one of the questions which we want to clarify in Washington. Whatââ¬â¢s it all about?ââ¬Â
Lavrov is expected to take part in a meeting of the Middle East quartet group in Washington on Feb. 2 to try to get a peace process between Israelis and Palestinians back on track. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to host the meeting.
The United States is in the process of sending an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, which it invaded in 2003, to try to quell an insurgency. It already has 134,000 troops in the country.
Washington has said it is also deploying a second aircraft carrier group in the Gulf as well as Patriot missile defence systems - steps widely seen as a warning to Iran and Syria.
It maintains a significant military presence in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which houses the US Navyââ¬â¢s Fifth fleet.
Lavrov also said unilateral US sanctions against Iran would be counterproductive to efforts to resolve the problem of the countryââ¬â¢s nuclear ambitions and would force Tehran out of the negotiating process.
Lavrov said Iran and Syria should not be isolated but should understand that they were expected to play a positive role and in return they would receive an appropriate position in the regional dialogue. ââ¬ÅWe are deeply convinced that Iran and Syria should not be isolated but brought into the peace process,ââ¬Â he said, speaking on return from a visit to India with President Vladimir Putin.
ââ¬ÅIn general, the problems that exist in the Middle East and in the surrounding region are linked to muddle-headed ideas about prestige. Someone says something once and from then on he canââ¬â¢t break with this principle. This is an inflexible policy, and itââ¬â¢s short-sighted.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\01\28\story_28-1-2007_pg4_1
