OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2010. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, met in Moscow with a Palestinian Hamas delegation led by Politbureau Chief Khaled Mashaal on February 8. Consultation was also held with Alexander Saltanov, the Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister.

A discussion of the situation in inter-Palestinian relations and in the region as a whole took place.

During the meetings the Russian side reaffirmed its consistent stand in favor of political methods for achieving a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the Middle East conflict, the unacceptability of violent methods and the importance of the strict observance of the norms of international humanitarian law by the parties. It was emphasized that the priority task in conflict settlement today is resuming Palestinian-Israeli talks as soon as possible which must be instrumental in terminating the occupation of Arab lands begun in 1967 and realizing the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to the creation of an independent, sovereign and viable state coexisting with Israel in peace and security.

Moscow noted the principled significance it attaches to the speediest overcoming of the split in Palestinian ranks in order to unite them on the PLO platform and on the basis of the Arab peace initiative. Support was expressed to Egypt’s efforts for inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

The Hamas delegation evaluated highly Russia’s line in the matter of restoring Palestinian unity, ending the blockade of the Gaza Strip and achieving a just peace and security in the Middle East.