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Russia, Turkey call to assist actively in run-up for conference to create mass destruction weapons-free zone in Middle East

The joint statement noted the need to attain a comprehensive, just and firm settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict

ISTANBUL, April 17 (Itar-Tass) – Russia and Turkey urged all Middle Eastern countries to participate actively in the run-up to a conference for the creation of a zone free of mass destruction weapons in the Middle East, the foreign ministers of the two countries said in a joint statement on the results of the third meeting of the Russian-Turkish Joint Group of Strategic Planning here on Wednesday.

“The ministers called to convene a conference to create a zone free of mass destruction weapons in the Middle East to fulfil the appropriate decision taken at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and urged all countries in the Middle East Region to participate actively in the run-up and holding of this event,” the joint statement runs.

The joint statement noted the need to attain a comprehensive, just and firm settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, including the land for peace principle, the Road Map plan and the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as the agreements previously reached between the parties to the conflict.

“The final goal of this settlement should be the establishment of an independent, viable and territorially integral Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, which co-exists in peace and security with Israel and other neighbours,” the document reads. “The ministers agreed that the granting of the status of an observer state to Palestine, which is not a member-country of the United Nations Organization, is an important step on the path to a two-state solution of the Palestinian problem through negotiations and its international recognition as a country, and confirmed their support to the Palestinian efforts for this purpose,” the joint statement runs.

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