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Palestinian issue cannot be resolved without participation of Russia and US — ambassador

Palestine’s Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafez Nofal sees the solution to the Palestinian issue in the "5+1" format, similar to one used during the nuclear talks with Iran
Palestine’s Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafez Nofal  Sergei Shakhidzhanyan/TASS
Palestine’s Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafez Nofal
© Sergei Shakhidzhanyan/TASS

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. The resolution of the Palestinian issue, restoration of the country’s unity is impossible without the participation of Russia and the United States, Palestine’s Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafez Nofal said on Friday.

"Big crises in the world cannot be resolved without the participation of such major players as Russia and the United States," the diplomat told the Govorit Moskva radio station. "Russia’s role in the Middle East is growing: the Iranian issue has been resolved, Russia’s relations with the Gulf area countries are gradually improving, the country is ready to play an effective role in the negotiations on the Palestinian issue," he said.

Russia has the necessary tools for restoring the country’s unity and resolving the conflict with Israel, the diplomat noted. "Russia has excellent relations with all the units of the Palestinian movement, especially Fatah and Hamas. At the same time, Russia has good relations with Israel as well," Nofal added.

The Palestinian side has no misgivings about the consolidation of Russia’s role in the region, he said. "While putting forward certain initiatives, Russia does not pursue its narrow-minded selfish goals," the ambassador said.

The diplomat noted he saw the solution to the Palestinian issue in the "5+1" format, similar to one used during the nuclear talks with Iran. "It’s necessary to attain the U.S.-Russian partnership, to reconsider or give a fresh impetus to relations with four more countries: Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt — the coalition of these forces would be the best solution to the problems in the region," Nofal said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Meshaal on August 3 that Russia supported efforts to restore the Palestinian unity on the basis of the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Arab Peace Initiative.