Palestine is ready to take part in a ministerial meeting on the Middle East settlement in Moscow, Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal told TASS, commenting on a relevant proposal by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a UN Security Council open debate.
"We are ready to participate at any level that will be necessary," he said.
Nofal noted that although Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas initially proposed holding an international conference, Palestine is ready to start working within the framework of the "quartet" of international mediators with the participation of Arab countries and Israel in accordance with the Russian initiative. "We appreciate the approach of the Russian side," he continued. - "Last week, the Special Representative of the Palestinian President visited Moscow. He met with Lavrov and [Russian President's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail] Bogdanov and talked about everything."
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that Lavrov, at the debate, reiterated the proposal to hold a meeting of the leaders of Palestine and Israel in Moscow. "We are ready to take part in it at any time," he stressed.
Speaking at a January 26 UN Security Council open debate on the Middle East settlement, Lavrov proposed holding a ministerial meeting this spring and summer with the participation of the "quartet" of international mediators on the Middle East settlement (Russia, the US, the UN, the EU), Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia as the author of the Arab peace initiative.
Two-state principle
Nofal told TASS that Palestine appreciates the position of new US President Joe Biden in support of the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"We appreciate the new American position," he said in response to a related question.
The Ambassador noted that Palestine had fallen on hard times under the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
He also drew attention to the fact that Acting US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Richard Mills announced the opening of the US Consulate in East Jerusalem and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C., which were closed under Trump. "We welcome that," he stressed.
The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said on Tuesday that Biden favors the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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Photo: Maxim Grigoriev / TASS
Based on materials from TASS