FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Valdai Club Meeting Denounces U.S. Destabilization of Middle East Region

Feb. 19, 2019 (EIRNS)—This morning, the Valdai Club convened its 8th Middle East conference, titled “Middle East: New Stage, Old Problems?” Over the next two days, experts will be exploring Russia’s policy in the region, with a clear focus on Syria but also with the larger region in view.

In his address to the meeting, read out by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed Western-led efforts to redesign the Middle East.

“The Middle East, which has been enduring a period of severe tests, still holds a central place on the global agenda. Both the future of the region’s governments, international security and stability hinge on how the situation will develop there,”

he said.

“The methods of geopolitical engineering, attempts at imposing foreign models of development and values on the people of the Middle East and North Africa, especially through the use of force, have led to the weakening or collapse of states and an unprecedented surge in international terrorism across a whole number of countries.”

Lavrov further pointed out that “In addition, (it) has led to a massive migration crisis, destabilizing the ethno-confessional balance that had consolidated throughout the centuries.” He stated that, in contrast, Russia has always called for diplomatic and political means to overcome these crises.