Destruction of Syrian chemical weapons proceeding actively - Lavrov

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Thursday, the Russian minister stressed that Russia and Egypt have "a common positive assesssment about the ongoing work on destroying Syria's chemical weapons."

"This work is proceeding actively and without any setbacks," he said.

The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is to consider a phased plan of Syria's chemical demilitarization submitted by Damascus on Friday. 

"We would probably already be in the initial stages of implementing the agreements that were offered by it. But amendments to it suddenly surfaced. We did not see them. And the amended version was circulated literally at the last moment, when we were about to leave Geneva," he said.

At first sight, the Russian delegation did not notice any significant problems in the proposed amendments, Lavrov said.

"But, naturally, the language of these ideas should be acceptable for all the participants in this process - both the P5+1 group and Iran," he said.

There was no joint proposal put forth by the P5+1, the Russian minister said.

"The American-proposed document and the amendments to it remain on the table. We will debate all of them at the level of political directors later. As you know, this meeting has been set for November 20. The outcome of this meeting will become clear after the meeting has been held," Lavrov said.

"I hope that all the sides will show their understanding concerning the agreements that already exist, as well as the need to treat them as agreements rather than some documents that will not be collective," he said. 

Russia, Egypt to promote military partnership

 Russia and Egypt are going to intensify military cooperation, Russia’s defense chief Sergei Shoigu has announced.

Shoigu left Serbia for Egypt yesterday to attend the first ministerial dialog on strategic partnership.

"We are intent to improve Russian-Egyptian military relations and increase the frequency of bilateral contacts," the former emergency vet was quoted as saying Thursday at a meeting with Egypt’s Defense Minister Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The head of the Russian defense stressed that a strong, democratic Egypt was a key element of stability in the Middle East.

Shoigu voiced his concern with the volatility in Egypt, and wished it would soon get through the hard times and settle all its issues peacefully.

A Wednesday meeting between Egyptian and Russian top military officials showed that both nations were equally interested in bilateral cooperation. Shoigu also underscored the importance of these ties, saying he hoped to continue a "constructive dialog on every aspect of military and technical cooperation."

Up for discussion will also be matters of regional and global security.

In Geneva Iran was presented with US - proposed draft agreement to which amendments were made last moment - Lavrov

Over past two years Arab League made a number of hasty decisions concerning Arab Spring events - Lavrov 

The League of Arab States (LAS) has made a number of hasty decisions concerning the crisis in Syria in the past two years, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ksenya Melnikova quotes Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying. 

"As for the League of Arab States' position on the Syrian crisis, this position is well-known, and our attitude towards it is also well-known. We believe that some too hasty decisions have been made in the past two years," Lavrov said at a press conference in Cairo following negotiations with his Egyptian counterparts.

"I think it's very important further to adhere to the fundamental principle of the League's work, which is the consensus principle," he said. 

Russia and Egypt to restart intergov’t committee on economic cooperation - Lavrov

Read Sergei Lavrov's interview with the Egypt's state-run al-Ahram daily newspaper: 

- Delay in Geneva-2 will cause more bloodshed in Syria - Lavrov

Russia wants Egypt to remain stable state - Lavrov

Russia wants Egypt to remain a stable state with an effective political system, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today on the results of talks with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmi.

"We believe that the work that is currently being done there, including the drafting of the new constitution and the holding of a referendum, will help the Egyptians move forward and achieve the long-wished results," the minister said.

"Russia remains committed to the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries," Lavrov stressed.

"We have respect for Egypt's sovereignty as well as for the Egyptians' right to decide their fate," he added.

Russia and Egypt are committed to strengthen partnership and cooperation - Lavrov

Russia and Egypt are committed to further strengthening of partnership and mutually advantageous cooperation, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "Egypt was and remains Russia’s leading partner."

"This year we mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We achieved considerable progress in bilateral cooperation. These are joint projects of 1950’s-1960’s and up-to-date projects in energy, agriculture, tourism and machine-building," the minister said.

"Despite the global economic crisis, in recent years trade between Russia and Egypt has considerably increased," he said.

Lavrov noted the active development of humanitarian relations. "Thousands of Russians live in Egypt and do business. Hundreds of Russian citizens arrive in Egypt to study at universities while young Egyptians work in Russia," he said.

"This is the base on which we should build more fruitful relations," Lavrov added. 

Russia and Egypt are committed to strengthen partnership and cooperation - Lavrov

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Egypt's state-run al-Ahram daily that it was necessary to comply with international law and the UN Charter in contributing to the political settlement in Syria.

"It is necessary to comply with international law and the UN Charter," the minister said, adding, "The interference into a sovereign state’s affairs is unacceptable."

"The crisis in Syria can’t be resolved by force. It can be settled by political and diplomatic means through direct dialogue between the authorities and the opposition," Lavrov said.