The normalization of Israel's relations with Arab countries should not overshadow the solution of the Palestinian problem, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"Regarding the Palestinian problem, we proceed from the fact, and in this, we are united with the United Arab Emirates, that the normalization of Israel's relations with Arab countries is gaining momentum, in general, of course, is a positive phenomenon, because it eliminates long-standing contradictions and establishes channels of communication, civilized and based on legal methods," Lavrov said at a briefing following talks with UAE colleague Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He noted that Russia, in connection with this process, "has always stressed that it should not overshadow, much less consign the Palestinian problem to oblivion." "The problem, which should be solved on the basis of existing UN decisions and which should involve the creation of a Palestinian state that will coexist with the state of Israel in peace and security," the head of the Russian diplomacy said.
According to Lavrov, his UAE counterpart confirmed during the talks that this was also the position of his country. The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that the international community must help restore direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel, and to this end, Russia has repeatedly proposed resuming the work of the quartet of international mediators - Russia, the US, the UN and the EU. The minister added that Moscow believes it is necessary to include representatives of the Arab League in the Quartet's efforts.
Lavrov said he and his UAE counterpart discussed the recent formation of the Arab quartet, which included Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE. "I think, and the minister shares this opinion, that it is possible and necessary to try to unite the efforts of the international quartet and the Arab quartet in order to agree on the terms of resumption, I stress once again, of the direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations," Lavrov said.
"Our ultimate goal is the complete normalization of the situation in the region, the establishment of the Palestinian state and the establishment of relations between Israel and all countries in this part of the world," said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from RIA Novosti