Russia: Lavrov calls for ‘objective’ probe on Saudi oil attacks

*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
W/S Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Nigerien counterpart Kalla Ankourao starting press conference, Moscow
SOT, Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "We have already spoken about the necessity of the detailed and unbiased investigation. And as I understand the efforts to do it are taking place now. It is important to make this process objective, as the allegations [against Iran] that are not backed up by facts do not help the situation, they only intensify tensions in the region, where the risk of confrontation is already high."
SOT, Kalla Ankourao, Nigerien Foreign Minister (French): "We took the decision together with Mr Lavrov to reassure the strengthening of our cooperation, and to develop it quantitatively and qualitatively, and this goes through opening of embassies in both countries. We took the lead and hope that at a later stage there will be a chance to have Russian embassy in Niamey. We assured Minister Lavrov that during the first quarter of 2020, under the instruction of the president of Niger, we will open an embassy in Moscow." *LOOSE TRANSLATION*
SOT, Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Besides the investigation, it is important not only to react on the accidents, and we are much concerned about what happened on September 14, but also it is important to take preventive and complex measures, to do so-called preventive diplomacy. And if these measures were taken in time, we could have probably escaped this particular problem".
W/S Ankurao and Lavrov leaving
SCRIPT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said an "objective" investigation into drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities is needed, speaking at a joint press conference with his Nigerien counterpart Kalla Ankourao in Moscow on Thursday.
"It is important to make this process objective, as the allegations [against Iran] that are not backed up by facts do not help the situation, they only intensify tensions in the region, where the risk of confrontation is already high," he said.
The Russian top diplomat also stressed the role of preventive diplomacy, saying it's important to avoid the situation from escalating into a conflict.
Ankourao on his part announced that Niger is to open an embassy in Moscow in early 2020.