Sergei Lavrov (file photo) (official site)
26 October 2005 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will accept the conclusions of a United Nations probe into the assassination of Lebanon's former premier.
Speaking to journalists in Jerusalem, Lavrov added that Russia was calling on Syria to cooperate with the probe into the February killing of Rafiq Hariri.
He said President Vladimir Putin discussed the issue with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad in a 25 October telephone conversation.
Earlier, Russian news agencies quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin as saying Russia will do "everything necessary" to stop attempts to introduce sanctions against Syria.
The statement came after the United States and France circulated a draft resolution at the UN threatening sanctions against Syria if it doesn't cooperate with the probe.
(AFP)