The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and a number of Arab Gulf states and Yemen, which erupted against the backdrop of statements by Minister of Information George Kordahi.

“Russia is counting on the soonest possible solution to the diplomatic conflict between Lebanon and the Arab Gulf states,” said a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noting that no one asked the Russian side to mediate to resolve this crisis.

Zakharova added: “As for the aggravation of the diplomatic crisis that resulted from the reaction of a number of Arab countries in the Persian Gulf to Minister Qardahi’s statements about the actions of the Arab coalition in Yemen, we certainly look forward to resolving the issue as soon as possible.”

Zakharova indicated that the statements made by Qardahi came at a time when he was not yet a minister representing the Lebanese state and its government, calling on the parties to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.