OREANDA-NEWS. March 2, 2009. Dmitry Medvedev sent a message of greetings to delegates at the International Conference to Support the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza.

Mr Medvedev said in particular in his message:

“The delegates at this conference have the noble and very urgent task of providing large-scale assistance to Gaza’s population. There is a clear need for this kind of help. Only through common efforts can the international community resolve humanitarian problems and rebuild destroyed infrastructure.

As one of the co-sponsors of the conference, Russia supports the desire of the countries and organisations represented at Sharm El Sheikh to assist the Palestinians in Gaza’s reconstruction.

Russia has already begun this work. Right from the first days of the crisis, Russian Emergency Situations Ministry airplanes delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza. Russia will soon send to Palestine a large amount of flour, made available as a voluntary targeted contribution to the UN World Food Program’s funds. Taking into account Palestine’s needs, we are also ready to send two more planes with medicines and other humanitarian cargo, and set up a mobile flying hospital in Gaza.

But at the same time, all of these measures to help the Palestinians will be effective only if the region can be reliably stabilised. In our view, the conclusion of a lasting ceasefire and lifting the blockade of Gaza, as well as restoring the Palestinian unity around the PLO platform, are important steps in this direction.

Setting Palestinian statehood on a solid foundation and strengthening the Palestinian National Authority’s institutions are especially important in this respect. Motivated by these considerations, we are preparing to make a gift to the Palestinian National Authority of 50 armoured troop carriers and two civilian helicopters.  

We see the provision of training in Russia for Palestinian national specialists and personnel as an important part of our humanitarian cooperation. Each year, Russia provides free education to 150 Palestinian students, and around 100 law enforcement officers receive training.

But we should not let the humanitarian issues make us lose sight of the strategic objective, namely, pursuing the peace process on the basis of universally recognised international law, including the UN Security Council resolutions, the Roadmap, and the Arab peace initiative. 

It is towards this goal that Russia will continue to work as a member of the Quartet of mediators in the Middle East peace process, coordinating its efforts in close contact with all parties in the conflict of course, and with the League of Arab States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. We hope that the Moscow conference on the Middle East will mark an important stage on the road to a fair, lasting and universal settlement in the region.”

Mr Medvedev’s message was delivered by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, who heads the Russian delegation at the Sharm El Sheikh conference.