Russia calls for conflicting parties' involvement in WAsia

Moscow, Feb 6 (UNI) Russia today called for all conflicting parties to be involved in the work of the "Quartet" of international mediators, which is trying to resolve the West Asia crisis.

''Russia has confirmed, at the meeting of the Quartet in Washington, the need for the interaction with the Arab states such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the need for the participation of representatives of the conflicting sides in meetings of the Quartet,'' Russian Foreign Minster Sergei Lavrov said at a joint press conference after the talks with the visiting Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

The Quartet on the West Asia settlement includes, Russia, US, EU and the UN.

''An international conference on West Asia will be called for by the international community. The Quartet of mediators of West Asia settlement, itself advocates the broadening of the circle of countries that are participating in the search for a comprehensive settlement,'' he stressed.

Mr Lavrov also warned against provocations targeting Jerusalem shrines, saying any attempts to stage provocations targeting religious sanctuaries, primarily those in Jerusalem, were unacceptable.

''We view any attempts to stage provocative acts against any religious sanctuaries as unacceptable. It is true particularly in relation to Jerusalem, given the special status of this city,'' he said, as the leaders of the Fatah and Hamas movements were meeting today as Israeli bulldozers moved towards the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

''Any provocations targeting Jerusalem are unacceptable, especially given existing experience on this issue,'' Mr Lavrov added.

UNI