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International conference on Mideast settlement useful — ministry

The aim of the France-arranged conference was to revive the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations but the creation of special working groups for resolving any issues had not been part of agenda

PARIS, June 3 /TASS/. An International Conference on the Middle East Settlement, which took place in Paris on Friday, was useful, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, told TASS.

"The conference was useful. We still need to analyze the content of the Paris discussion; study the final document and then see what can be done, by using common approaches, to promote a sustainable negotiating process between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Bogdanov said.

The Russian deputy foreign minister also noted that the sides in conflict - Israel and Palestine - should also assess the conference’s results. We are going to have contacts at a very high level with both sides," he added. Bogdanov said the aim of the France-arranged conference was to revive the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations but the creation of special working groups for resolving any issues had not been part of agenda.

The International Conference for the Middle East Settlement took place in Paris on Friday. Representatives of 29 countries, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Europe’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and the League of Arab States (LAS) head. The sides in conflict - Palestine and Israel - were absent from the gathering.