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Russian FM Lavrov hails Mideast leaders in averting major war

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The prudence of Middle Eastern leaders and diplomatic efforts prevented the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah fighters in Lebanon from spreading across the region, Russia's foreign minister told a newspaper Monday.
MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) - The prudence of Middle Eastern leaders and diplomatic efforts prevented the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah fighters in Lebanon from spreading across the region, Russia's foreign minister told a newspaper Monday.

In an interview with daily Vremya Novostei, Sergei Lavrov also said Moscow was ready to continue working with Palestinian group Hamas, even though some countries consider it a terrorist organization.

Lavrov said there was a real danger that Syria and the Palestinians could have been sucked into fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hizbollah after the radical Islamic group killed three Israeli servicemen and captured two others in a cross-border raid.

"We were on the brink of a very serious conflict," he told the paper.

Before a ceasefire on August 14 ended more than 30 days of fighting, Israeli military operations claimed the lives of about 1,000 Lebanese civilians, forced nearly a quarter of the country's population to flee their homes, and demolished large parts of the country's infrastructure. About 160 Israelis also died.

Lavrov praised the restraint of the leaders of Syria and the Palestinian Authority, which was also targeted in an Israeli operation.

"Both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, and I am fully aware of this, were categorically opposed to war," he said. "And Israel's leaders, regardless of the controversy over their military operations, made every effort to avoid hitting Palestinian refugee camps."

Lavrov highlighted Syria's role, saying it is a "key player in the region and Russia's long-time partner." Moscow has maintained close ties with Damascus and has exported air-defense systems to it.

"Syria's president, government and foreign ministry are looking to resolve regional problems," he told Vremya Novostei.

Lavrov said Moscow believed Palestine's radical Hamas movement, which was voted into government early this year, had to change its tough stance and turn into a political force capable of creating peace.

"Giving up principles and making a 180-degree turn is not a simple move for any organization, but I can say, without going into details, that results are likely," he said.

Moscow has consistently called on Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist as a state.

A Hamas delegation visited Moscow in spring, sparking criticism of Russia from some officials in the West. But Lavrov said Russia was aiming to continue working with the group to ensure it made the transition into an organization capable of forging regional peace.

"We hope Hamas will be transformed into a political force that will unite Palestinians and make progress toward peace," he told Vremya Novostei. "We will not limit ourselves to the invitation extended to Hamas leader [to visit] Moscow this spring, and we will continue working with them."

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