Moscow to seek Syria progress, bigger Middle East role in Riyadh

 
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is hoping to raise Moscow's profile in a region where its influence is at risk after blocking three U.N. resolutions meant to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the bloodshed.                

The Syrian uprising, which has cost 38,000 lives in 20 months, has further strained traditionally uneasy ties between Russia and Saudi Arabia, a key ally of the United States.                         

The trip to Riyadh is Lavrov's second Middle East visit in less than two weeks. Last week in Cairo he embraced an Egyptian-backed drive to bring together four regional powers to seek a solution to the Syrian crisis.                   

Saudi Arabia, which supports the rebels fighting Assad, has skipped two ministerial meetings of the group, which includes Egypt and Turkey - also critics of Assad - and Iran, Syria's closest regional ally.                        

Lavrov's efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to back the inclusion of Iran in peace efforts are seen as unlikely to succeed.             

"Lavrov has supported Egypt's regional quartet initiative, but the problem there is that the Saudis don't want to take part in a format that includes Iran. So he will be trying to convince them to change their minds," said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the magazine Russia in Global Affairs.                      

Russia is under pressure to do more to end the violence in Syria and risks being sidelined. Moscow denies Western accusations it is shielding Assad, saying it is driven by the need to prevent meddling and let Syrians decide their fate.          

"On Syria, Russia has cornered itself," a European diplomat in Moscow said. "It has been promoting Iran's right to participate ... so Lavrov may raise that with Riyadh, though he is not going to achieve much."                   

A Middle East source also said there was little chance of any breakthrough at the talks in Riyadh.   


REUTERS