Russian Federation FM Lavrov meets with PA President Abbas – Comments to the media – Press release/Non-UN document

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov comments to the media after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Amman, 6 November 2012)

For us the statehood of Palestine is not questionable; we recognised the State of Palestine when it was pronounced in 1988. We have a full embassy of Palestine in Moscow and this is our policy.

I consider it very important that President Abbas again firmly stated readiness to resume direct negotiations with Israel in order to discuss status issues in accordance with the existing international legal framework. We fully support this approach.

Russia also supports efforts to restore Palestinian unity. We are pleased that our positions coincide in the fact that the achievement of this unity must be based on the platform of the PLO and the Arab peace initiative. I think this is a very constructive approach.

I am satisfied with frank, substantial and very useful talks we had today with President Abbas.