PRESS RELEASE:

Meeting of S.Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with Mahmoud Abbas, Head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)

20-01-2012

On January 20, S. Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, met in Moscow with Mahmoud Abbas, Head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), who paid a working visit to Russia. The meeting was also attended by S. Stepashin, Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

The sides discussed in detail the current situation regarding the Palestinian track of the Middle East settlement. There was a general agreement that the increased efforts to unblock the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations process on a generally recognized international legal framework are an important factor to stabilize the situation in the region.

S. Lavrov emphasized the strong Russia's support of the Palestinian people’s right to form their own independent and viable State, living in peace and security and enjoying good-neighborly relations with Israel. Russia along with other members of the Quartet of international mediators and parties concerned will advocate the re-launching of the substantive Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process and creation of appropriate favourable atmosphere to this end. In this regard, it is extremely important for Israel and PNA to refrain from unilateral actions, prejudging the outcome of final status negotiations. In this context, the necessity of ending the Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories is of particular importance.

M. Abbas spoke on the perspectives of achieving the inter-Palestinian reconciliation within the framework of the PLO and the Arab Peace Initiative in the context of the recent contacts among the leaders of Palestinian organizations in Cairo. He thanked Russia for rendering assistance to the reunification of the Palestinians.

The conversation focused on the processes of social and political transformation in the Middle East and North Africa, including in view of their possible impact on the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. While discussing the current situation in Syria, both sides expressed support for the ongoing LAS mission in the country through which it would be possible to put an end to violence, from whatever the party it comes from, and to start an extensive national dialogue.

The sides also considered some practical issues of the Palestine-Russia relations. They confirmed their mutual interest in the further strengthening of the political dialogue and the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in different spheres.