Wikileaks: Russia sees Lieberman as 'one of their own'

During 2009 visit to Moscow, FM bonds with Russians; tells Sergei Lavrov that Israel not planning military strike on Iran.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Lieberman 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Lieberman 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
The Russians see Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as "one of their own" revealed a document released by Wikileaks on Sunday.
The document revealed comments by official Israeli delegate Yuval Fuchs who said Lieberman's June 2009 visit to Russia was conducted in Russian and the foreign minister "shared stories about Moscow, and smoked, creating a comfortable atmosphere with his Russian interlocutors." Lieberman "behaved like an old friend" Fuchs said, and noted that the Russians "acted as if they already knew him," the Wikileaks document stated. 
RELATED:Wikileaks: Israel tried to plan Cast Lead with Egypt, PAAhmadinejad: US planned Wikileaks release to pressure Iran
Fuchs was also revealed to have said that the foreign minister's visit centered on a lengthy meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during which Lieberman said Israel was not planning a military strike on Iran.
According to the document, Lavrov raised concerns about an Israeli attack on Iran that "would cause instability in the region and an influx of refugees into the Caucasus" but Fuchs said Lieberman responded that Israel "was not talking about such a response" and was aware that a strike would cause a "chain reaction" in the region.
Fuchs also said that Lavrov criticized the United States' role in the Middle East, telling Lieberman that the US invasion of Iraq was a "present" to Iran, and it's decision to isolate Syria created a "setback" for a Middle East settlement.
Speaking on captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, Lavrov said he would look into the possibility of Russian officials visiting the kidnapped soldier.


Related Tags
Sergei Lavrov