Participants of interdepartmental meeting in the Foreign Ministry, chaired by the Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and with the participation of the scientific Director of the Institute of Oriental studies Vitaly Naumkin, said that stability in the Middle East would not be achieved without settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This is stated in a statement issued on Friday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"During the in-depth exchange of views in the context of the long-term task of promoting and protecting Russia's national interests in the Middle East, it was emphasized that ensuring stability in this strategically important region of the world is possible only through the achievement of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement," the report says. "At the same time, an integral component of such a settlement should be a just solution to the Palestinian problem through the establishment of bilateral negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on a well-known international legal basis, including the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly and the Arab peace initiative."
According to the Ministry, the meeting also discussed the need for political unity of the Palestinians on the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), "including through holding a regular meeting of all major Palestinian parties and movements in Moscow for this purpose."
"Overall, noted the continued readiness of Russia in contacts with all stakeholders, as well as in such multilateral formats as the Middle East "Quartet" of international mediators and UN agencies, to promote lasting peace and genuine good-neighbourliness in the Middle East", - concluded the Russian foreign Ministry.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS