MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) noted the importance of establishing the independent Palestinian state, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday after the session in the framework of the strategic dialogue between Russia and GCC.

"We confirmed firm adherence to reaching a comprehensive, fair and stable settlement of Palestinian-Israeli conflict which envisages establishing the independent Palestinian state in universally recognized borders that would co-exist in peace with its neighbors," Lavrov said.

"It was stressed that soonest restoration of Palestinian unity is of principal importance in order to effectively move toward this goal," he added.