Itongadol.- Prime Minister Avigdor Liberman met Thursday in Rome with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, but the statement his office released after the meeting said nothing about the Ukrainian crisis.
Rather, according to the comment, the two men discussed Syria, the Palestinian negotiations and "other issues on the agenda." Liberman is scheduled to meet later in the day with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Before leaving for Rome, the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday night issued Israel\’s first comment on the Ukrainian crisis. Israel has been careful to keep a low profile on this issue, not wanting to antagonize Washington or Moscow.
"Israel is watching with great concern the developments in Ukraine, anxious for the security of all its residents and hoping that the situation does not deteriorate to the loss of life," the statement said. "Israel expects the crisis in Ukraine will be handled through diplomatic means and resolved peacefully."
Liberman, according to the statement issued from his office, expressed to Lavrov his concern about the situation in Syria, and pointed out that the missiles intercepted at high sea on Wednesday on their way to the Gaza Strip were made in Syria.
Israel, Liberman said, has seen increased efforts by Syria to transfer quality weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas, and would not resign itself to that situation. Further, he said, Israel was worried about efforts by "extreme groups" to heat up the Golan Heights front.
Liberman said he hoped that Russia would continue in its efforts to ensure that the chemical weapons will be taken out of Syria.
Liberman expressed satisfaction at the "good relations" between the two countries and the strengthening of economic, trade and tourism ties.