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Middle East and North Africa

Palestine notes Russia’s role in organizing talks with Israel — Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/. Palestine’s authorities on Tuesday noted the importance of Russia’s role in organizing the Palestino-Israeli negotiating process, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after today’s consultations in Ramallah.

The consultations involved the Russian president’s special representative on the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and representatives of the Palestinian state led high-ranking officials from the Palestinian presidential office and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

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"During a confidential exchange of opinions on the entire set of Palestinian problems, special attention was paid to development of the situation in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip in light of Palestinian municipal elections set for early October," the ministry’s statement said.

"The task to restore as soon as possible Palestinian national unity on the PLO political platform aimed at establishment of a Palestinian independent state coexisting in peace and security with Israel was also considered," it said.

"Palestinian leadership representatives underscored Russia’s high demand in the cause of contributing to organization of a stable Palestino-Israeli negotiating process, including the possible organization of a meeting in Moscow between the leaders of Palestine and Israel," the statement said.

After the consultations, Bogdanov had a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is on a visit to Poland, the ministry said.

"Abbas confirmed his unchanged set for continuation of active Russian-Palestinian political contacts in the interests of a solid and just peace in the Middle East," the statement said.

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Middle East and North Africa Palestine Israel

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