Russia plans to organize another intra-Palestinian meeting — deputy foreign minister

Mikhail Bogdanov described the previous meeting as "a historic breakthrough"

N'DJAMENA /Chad/, June 6. /TASS/. Moscow plans to organize another meeting that will bring together members of all Palestinian political forces, because the previous event of this kind was a success, Russian Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters.

"Of course, there are [such plans]," the senior Russian diplomat said, answering to a reporter’s question.

The minister described the previous meeting as "a historic breakthrough," because the delegates "signed a joint consensus declaration for the first time."

Bogdanov explained that as a result of the meeting "all organizations, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad recognized the leading role of the Palestine Liberation Organization and [declared] their plans of joining it."

Besides, consensus was reached on the need to pursue a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russian deputy foreign minister said.

"After that, they [the Palestinian factions] travelled to Beijing on an invitation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I presume, they also had a fruitful exchange of opinions," Bogdanov added.

Representatives from various Palestinian movements met in Moscow on March 1-2, for consultations in order to overcome an internal split. The Russian side provided a venue for the meeting between delegates from factions within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including the Fatah movement, as well as participants from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. In all, envoys from more than 10 organizations have arrived in Moscow for the meeting.

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