Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov held several telephone talks, the main topic of which was the situation in the Middle East.
At the initiative of the Palestinian side, a telephone conversation was held with Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and member of the Fatah Central Committee Saeb Erekat.
According to the Russian MFA, the parties discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict settlement on the internationally recognised legal basis with the assistance of the Quartet of international mediators. The Russian side once again stressed the importance of restoring Palestinian national unity on the PLO political platform as soon as possible.
At the American side’s initiative, Mikhail Bogdanov had a telephone conversation with Assistant to the US President and Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz.
The officials had an in-depth discussion on topical issues on the Middle East agenda with an emphasis on the prospects for the Palestinian-Israeli settlement.
Bogdanov discussed the situation in Libya, Syria and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement during a videoconference with the ambassadors of the EU member states and the head of the EU mission in Moscow.
The video conference was organized at the request of the EU ambassadors and the head of the EU delegation in Moscow.
"The situation in the Middle East and North Africa region was discussed, with an emphasis on the development of the situation in Libya and Syria and the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement," the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
The day before, the head of the Palestinian national authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said that Palestine had decided to terminate all agreements with Israel and the United States against the background of the Israeli government's intentions to annex part of the Palestinian land.
According to him, Palestine is ready to return to negotiations on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the mediation of a third party - negotiations can take place with international participation through a peaceful international conference in accordance with international law.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry