New York, NY, November 8, 2007 … At a meeting with top leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the upcoming Annapolis conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that Russia intended to continue to play a constructive leadership role as a member of the Quartet of nations working for peace.

At the meeting, Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director expressed deep concern about Iran's continuing failure to comply with U.N. Security Council Resolutions calling on Iran to discontinue its uranium enrichment program.  They urged Russia to join with the other permanent members of the Security Council in quickly seeking a new round of tougher sanctions against Iran.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov shared with us the genuine concern of the Russian government over the potential dangers posed by a nuclear-armed Iran," said Messrs. Lewy and Foxman.  "He informed us that, in his view, relations between the United States and Russia continue to be good."

Foreign Minister Lavrov noted that the Annapolis meeting should be seen as the beginning of a new phase in the process of achieving peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.  He also said he was pleased by President Vladimir Putin's recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Foreign Minister Lavrov said he was committed to changing rhetoric and bettering relations with the United States.

ADL was joined at the meeting by Moshe Kantor, President of the Russian Jewish Congress and the European Jewish Congress.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.