RAMALLAH, July 12, 2018 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to head on Friday to Russia where he is expected to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow and attend the World Cup final on Sunday, Palestinian ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal stated on Thursday.
According to Nofal, Abbas and Putin are expected to discuss the latest political developments in the Palestinian arena and the Middle East region.
Among the items placed on the meeting agenda are the creation of a new international mechanism for sponsoring the peace process and Israeli violations against the Palestinian people, particularly settlement construction, the ongoing Gaza siege and the Israeli parliament’s decision to deduct the stipends the Palestinian government pays to the families of Palestinian detainees and those killed and injured by Israeli forces from the Palestinian tax revenues.
Underscoring the importance of the meeting, Nofal said that the meeting would take place only a short period before Putin’s summit with US President Donald Trump, scheduled on July 16 in Helsinki, during which the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be discussed.
He added that Abbas would join a host of leaders in attending the final match of the World Cup 2018 between France and Croatia in the Russian capital following an invitation from the President of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino.
The Palestinian diplomat made these remarks during an interview with Voice of Palestine radio station.
This will be President Abbas‘ first trip abroad since recovering from lung infection he was treated for last month.
K.F./M.K.
