MOSCOW, January 20, 2012 (WAFA) - President Mahmoud Abbas met on Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Russian capital Moscow .

Abbas briefed Lavrov on the latest political developments, efforts made to implement the reconciliation agreement, continuing violations of the Israeli occupation  and the stalled peace process due to the Israeli intransigence.

Abbas, who will be awarded the Patriarch Alexy II honorary award, said : “'As we used to, we will go to another Republic of the Russian Federation; this time to the republic of Chuvashia.” “'In these difficult days we feel the urgent need for such a visit, and it's a great honor for me to get the award on behalf of the Orthodox peoples and this is a great honor for us.'

President Abbas said:  “Since last September, when we were together at the United Nations, on that same day the Quartet issued a statement that we accepted and supported right away. The statement which talks about finding basis for negotiations on the borders and security issues, as well as refraining from unilateral actions by the concerned parties.”

F.R.