FM: Iran is biggest threat to ME

Lavrov says Moscow will continue to engage with Hamas.

Lavrov Lieberman 311 (do not publish again) (photo credit: flash 90)
Lavrov Lieberman 311 (do not publish again)
(photo credit: flash 90)
Iran is the biggest threat to the Middle East not just because of its nuclear program, but also because of its  support for terrorist organizations, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman asserted Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Lieberman went on to say that he does not think that a Palestinian state will be established until 2012.
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At the press conference, differences of opinion regarding Hamas were apparent with Lavrov saying that Moscow would continue to engage with Hamas, and Lieberman nothing that this was a point of disagreement.
Regarding the deliveries of S-300 anti missile systems to Iran, Lavrov referred to a recent UN sanctions resolution and said that Russia abided by international decisions and that a presidential decree on what weapons will and will not be sold will be released shortly.
Lavrov also said that the Quartet mechanism needed to be expanded to be more effective, and cited the recent decision to set up a committee that would include representatives from the Arab League.
Presently the quartet is made up of representatives from the EU, US, Russia and the UN.
Lavrov will meet with President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu before he travels to Ramallah and Cairo.