MOSCOW, Friday, December 21, 2018 (WAFA) – Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Riyad al-Malki, called on Friday during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov upon Russia to play a greater role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

During a joint press conference with Lavrov in Moscow, al-Malki stressed the need to find an international mechanism on the basis of international references and resolutions, leading to a settlement based on a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Al-Malki reaffirmed President Mahmoud Abbas’s acceptance of the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Russia, which was rejected by the Israeli side. 

He called on Russia and the international community to pressure Israel to abide by its agreements with the Palestinians and comply with the relevant international resolutions.

The two foreign ministers discussed the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the peace process and the national reconciliation process, and ways to enhance cooperation and coordination by Palestine and Russia.

On the other side, Lavrov stressed Russia‘s support for intra-Palestinian national reconciliation. He added that Moscow is ready to host a new round of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in Russia next year.

He also expressed deep concern about the United States‘ positions on the Palestinian issue and its disregard of international resolutions.

M.N