Lavrov urges states to accept Lebanon poll results
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the international community Tuesday to accept the result of upcoming Lebanese elections, regardless of who wins.
He added that the mistake that was committed when Hamas won the Palestinian elections a few years ago should not be repeated, a reference to international isolation of the Hamas government that many saw as prolonging and intensifying the Middle East conflict. In a statement to the Russian Interfax information services, he said "If the international community had acknowledged the victory of Hamas, the actions of Hamas would be different today."
Lavrov said he hopes that Lebanon”s elections will be transparent, free, just and democratic. He added that even if the Hizbullah-led opposition wins the elections, the Lebanese government would still participate in an upcoming international conference on the Middle East, which will be held in Moscow.