All news

Palestine leader would visit Moscow for Victory Day celebrations if invited — envoy

The Palestinian side has not yet received an official invitation

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Palestine State President Mahmoud Abbas would welcome an invitation to attend the celebrations of 70th anniversary of WWII Victory Day in Moscow, envoy to Russia Fayed Mustafa said on Tuesday.

The Palestinian side has not yet received an official invitation. But "Should we receive one, we would gladly take part. I can state this officially. Mahmoud Abbas holds great respect and sympathy for Russia," the ambassador said.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is expected to attend celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, Israeli ambassador in Moscow Dorit Golender told TASS earlier.

“The former president, Shimon Peres, has already accepted the invitation,” the diplomat said. The details will be coordinated later.

Moscow has invited many global politicians - including the leaders of North Korea and China - to the celebrations featuring a traditional Red Square military parade. Chinese President Xi Jinping and around 20 foreign leaders have already confirmed their decision to attend World War Two Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also given a positive response to Moscow’s invitation. Kim’s trip to Moscow will be his first foreign visit since taking power from his late father, Kim Jong Il, as the country's leader in 2011.