Middle East peace process – EU-Troika Foreign Ministers’ Meetings with Russia (Vienna, 15 Feb 2006)/Remarks by Foreign Minister Plassnik – EU Presidency press release/Non-UN document (excerpts)

Plassnik: “Close and rich web of relations with Russia"

EU-Troika Foreign Ministers’ meeting with Russia in Vienna

The EU-Troika Foreign Ministers’ meeting with Russia was held in Vienna today. Participating in the meeting were Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, her Russian homologue Sergei Lavrov, the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The subject of the talks was the current status of relations between the EU and Russia and important international topics, such as Iran and the Middle East peace process.

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“On the Middle East peace process, the EU and Russia are also working together from a common basis in the framework of the Middle East Quartet. Our line towards Hamas is clear: renunciation of the use of violence, recognition of the right of Israel to exist and adherence to the existing agreements and obligations”, the Foreign Minister emphasised. There is no reason to doubt that Russia will be consistent on these principles in its announced contacts with Hamas. 

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