All news

Lavrov: Russia views establishment of US embassy in Jerusalem negatively

The opening ceremony of the new US embassy is taking place in Jerusalem on Monday

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Moscow views the establishment of the US embassy in Jerusalem negatively for it is a revision of international agreements, Russia’s Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"As for the establishment of the US embassy in Jerusalem, we have many times expressed our negative view of this decision," Lavrov told a press conference following consultations between the foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Egypt. "We are confident that agreements enshrined in the global community’s decisions should be unilaterally revised in such a way," he added.

According to Lavrov, all issues concerning the Israeli-Palestine conflict can only be resolved through direct dialogue between the leaders of the opposing sides so Moscow has been "reaffirming this position in all contacts with the Israeli leadership." "As you know, Russia has many times suggested hosting a platform for such a dialogue. Our proposal is still on the table," Lavrov said.

The opening ceremony of the new US embassy is taking place in Jerusalem on Monday. The US delegation to the event is headed by Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. US President Donald Trump, who decided to move the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on December 6, 2017, chose not to attend the ceremony.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the key issues concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel, who seized the eastern part of the city during the 1967 war, insists that Jerusalem is the single and indivisible capital of the country, while Palestinians wish to make the eastern part of the city the capital of their state.