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Middle East and North Africa

Lavrov urges Palestine, Israel to avoid unilateral steps at talks

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Lavrov, Erekat to discuss prospects for Middle East peace process

MOSCOW, February 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has supported the efforts taken by Palestine and Israel to search for mutually advantageous decisions on the final status of Palestinian territories, the Foreign Ministry reported.

The ministry commented on Monday’s talks between the Russian minister and member of the PLO Executive Committee, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

The talks focused on the pace and the prospects for the talks between Palestine and Israel what the final purpose “is to create an independent and viable Palestinian state, which will co-exist peacefully with Israel and other neighbours”, the ministry said.

Erekat praised Russia’s “consistent policy on Palestinian issues, including within the Quartet for Mideast Peace and UN forums”. “The parties agreed to avoid unilateral steps, primarily in the settlement policy. It is necessary to restore Palestinian unity in order to meet Palestine’s aspirations,” the ministry said.

The meeting also focused on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

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