Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, met on 25 September with Mr. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, on the sidelines of the high-level segment of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated that the meeting focused on a range of international and regional issues of mutual concern, with particular emphasis on the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the alarming escalation in Lebanon. During the discussion, Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored that a descent into a full-scale regional confrontation would benefit no one, warning that Israel’s continued provocation is pushing the situation to a perilous brink. He emphasised the urgent need for the international community to recognise the gravity of the situation and to act swiftly and decisively to de-escalate.
Roshdy further noted that Mr. Aboul Gheit briefed Lavrov on the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic ministerial group's efforts, which are focused on halting the war on Gaza through an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and implementing the two-state solution. He highlighted the critical role Russia could play in transforming the two-state vision into a tangible reality, rather than allowing it to remain a mere slogan.
Additionally, Roshdy stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit attentively listened to Lavrov’s perspective on the ongoing war in Ukraine, expressing his hope for a political resolution to this dangerous and protracted conflict.
The spokesman concluded by stating that the Secretary-General and Lavrov also explored ways to further strengthen Arab-Russian relations, within the framework of existing cooperation, noting that these efforts are expected to culminate in the convening of the Arab-Russian summit once preparatory arrangements are completed.
