MOSCOW, December 5. /TASS/. Russia’s principled position is that direct Palestinian-Israeli talks on all disputable issues, including the status of Jerusalem, are to be resumed immediately, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin’s telephone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"The sides discussed problems of the Middle East settlement and Vladimir Putin laid bare Russia’s principled position in support of the immediate resumption of direct Palestinian-Israeli talks on all disputable issues, including the status of Jerusalem, in order to reach lasting fair solutions meeting the interests of both sides," the Kremlin said. "The sides also noted the importance of the agreement between the movements Fatah and Hamas that was signed in Cairo in October, which is geared to consolidate intra-Palestinian unity."

The two leaders also discussed "current issues of bilateral cooperation in the context of agreements reached during the Russian-Palestinian summit held in Moscow this May," the press service said.

According to the Kremlin, the conversation was initiated by the Palestinian leader.