Lavrov notes growth of Russia’s influence on world stage

SOCHI, October 16. /TASS/. Russia has not lost its influence on the world stage, but, on the contrary, improved it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a panel discussion "Global policy and its agenda: How to protect the world" held as part of the World Festival of Youth and Students." "I believe that our influence has grown," the Russian foreign minister said. "Maybe it is indiscreet, but that’s what our interlocutors are telling me." Russia is the only country that is actually communicating with all Middle East conflicting parties, he said. "The situation in Syria would be the most illustrative example, probably," the minister noted. "All oppositionists are coming to talk to us, including the most radical ones. The fact that we reached ceasefire agreement with armed ground units and provision of humanitarian supplies through our military demonstrates that we can work in any situation with any real political or military force." "I don’t remember anyone repeating since that time the idea that Russia lost its influence," Lavrov noted. Read more