OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2008. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, on April 18 met with the Head of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, who is on a working visit to Moscow.

An in-depth exchange of views took place on developments in Palestinian-Israeli settlement, in the Palestinian territories, in particular, in the Gaza Strip and in the Middle East as a whole. The Russian side expressed firm support of the negotiation process between the PNA and Israel, aimed at creating an independent and viable Palestinian state coexisting in peace and security with Israel. In this connection Lavrov welcomed Abbas’s mindset to continue Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and bring them to mutually acceptable peace accords.

The minister stressed the importance of restoring Palestinian unity on a clear-cut basis acceptable for the international community and of all the Palestinians adhering to the Mecca agreement and the Arab peace initiative.

Common concern was expressed over the continuation of tension around Gaza and the necessity of implementing the appropriate provisions of the Roadmap by the parties and of ending settlement activities and terrorist manifestations, among them rocket firings into Israeli territory and the disproportionate military actions of Israel leading to civilian suffering and deaths, was pointed out.

The Russian side voiced support for the preparedness reaffirmed by Abbas to facilitate a ceasefire between certain Palestinian groups and the Israelis. Special attention was paid to remedying the acute humanitarian situation in Gaza and lifting boycott and isolation on the Strip.

Abbas was informed about our vision of a Moscow conference on the Middle East and vigorously supported the necessity of holding this forum in the Russian capital to impart an impulse so necessary today to the negotiation process begun in Annapolis.

A common opinion was expressed that the forum should also envisage consideration of the issues surrounding resumption of Syrian and Lebanese track negotiations in the interests of a comprehensive settlement in the region.

Concrete matters relating to bilateral Russian-Palestinian cooperation also were examined and mutual interest in its further development in diverse fields was expressed.