June 27, 2012 - 10:28 AMT
Lavrov says he will attend Syria conference, calls for Iran participation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he will attend an international conference on Syria, due June 30 in Geneva, RIA Novosti reported.

Lavrov, who was speaking to journalists on Tuesday, June 26, during a visit to Jordan as part of Russian delegation led by President Vladimir Putin, said the final document, to be adopted at the conference, should be considered by foreign ministers rather than by experts.

“I proceed from the assumption that the document should be considered by ministers,” he said.

Lavrov also said Iran should attend the conference, otherwise the participants will not represent all vectors of influence.

Russia has said the conference should include all permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, the United States, Britain, China and France), Syria's neighbors (Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon), as well as key regional players (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran) and international organizations (the Arab League and the European Union).