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UN Security Council may discuss Middle East settlement in two weeks — diplomat

Moscow is also prepared to host contacts between Palestinian and Israeli representatives

PARIS, June 3. /TASS/. The UN Security Council’s meeting on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may take place in two weeks, Russian presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS on Friday.

"Two days ago special representatives of the Quartet, who cooperate very actively and maintain permanent contact, gathered as there is a task to draw up an unbiased and comprehensive report for the UNSC on the state of affairs in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement with assessments, an analysis of the events in relations with the Israelis and the Palestinians," he said.

"Such a meeting is planned in a couple of weeks in New York," Bogdanov said.

He stressed that the UNSC meeting should be held on the basis of a prepared report. "After this discussion certain recommendations can be formulated on how the problems mentioned in this report could be solved in close cooperation with the Palestinians and the Israelis," the diplomat said.

Moscow prepared to host Palestine-Israel contacts 

According to the diplomat, Moscow is prepared to host contacts between Palestinian and Israeli representatives.

"Of course, we will be prepared to do this, if there is the wish and readiness of the two parties - Israelis and Palestinians - to have a meeting. I believe that there are contacts in this or that format, but if they wish to meet in Moscow, we are prepared to have them."

Bogdanov said that Moscow was also ready to provide an opportunity for intra-Palestinian contacts for the sake of restoring Palestinian national unity. He added that it was essential to overcome the split in Palestinian society.

"Moscow might prove a site for a unification meeting of representatives of different Palestinian socio-political parties and organizations with the aim to restore Palestinian national unity on the constructive basis of peace talks with Israel and with due regard for the aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people, enshrined in the corresponding resolutions and decisions by the international community," Bogdanov said. "This unity is to rely on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization, recognized by the International Community as the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people. This political platform provides for peace talks with Israel."

"We are pro-actively campaigning in support of the early restoration of Palestinian national unity on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Arab peace initiative," Bogdanov said.

The international peace conference on the Middle East settlement initiated by France began in Paris on Friday morning with delegates from 26 countries, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, chief of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini and a delegate from the League of Arab States taking part. The main parties to the conflict - Palestine and Israel - are absent.