Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Iran could not be excluded from international efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Speaking at a news conference following talks with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier, Lavrov expressed Russia’s stance that all the problems in the Middle East, including Syria, could only be solved on the basis of wide-ranging dialogue.

“We believe all crises in the Middle East and North Africa should be settled via national dialogue with the participation of all ethnic and religious groups. This applies to Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen,” the Russian foreign minister stated.

“External powers that influence the situation on the ground should participate in the Syrian crisis settlement. This includes also Iran,” he added.

Lavrov noted that the Astana talks, which were initiated by Turkey, Russia and Iran with an aim to end the Syria conflict, were also based on the principle of inclusiveness.

Commenting on the outcome of the Islamic-Arab-US Summit- held on Sunday in Riyadh- which underlined efforts to counter Iranian threats in the region, the Russian official warned against divisions based on confessional considerations, noting that the war in Syria could not be resolved through confessional means that further divide the country.

Source: english.aawsat.com