Putin expects Abbas's visit to Russia to be productive
SOCHI. May 11 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin says he expects his talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will be productive and will address, among other topics, ways to resolve the "problems of the Middle East."
"Over many years, we have been working together on one of the key problems of the present-day world, namely resolving the problems of the Middle East. Certainly, we have always had something to talk about. I am very glad to see you. I hope that your visit will be quite productive," Putin said in addressing Abbas during the Russian-Palestinian top-level talks.
Relations with Palestine are of particular importance to Russia, Putin said.
"Both we and our colleagues in Palestine, in Bethlehem, have just spoken about the deep roots of the relationship between Russia and Palestine. But our relations have always been very warm and trusting in recent history too. I want to thank you for the attention that you have been giving to Russian-Palestinian relations," Putin said.
He also thanked Abbas for supporting Russian fellow citizens who live in Palestine and visit holy places there as pilgrims.
Speaking before the start of the talks, Abbas, for his part, praised Putin's personal attention to steps aimed at strengthening Russian-Palestinian relations.
"The Palestinians have always sensed that you are with us, that you support us and pursue a stance that is similar to ours, and that Russia's position has remained unchanged in this sense since the very start of our relations and up to this day. Russia's position has been firm. This position supports the independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967 and with its capital in East Jerusalem. We have always heard this position from you, it is firm, and you have always repeated it to us," Abbas said.
The problem of Palestine cannot be settled without Russia's role in this process, he said.
Hopefully, Russia will continue to support Palestine in the future, and it will be possible to secure the proclamation of the independent state of Palestine through the efforts that are being made today, Abbas said.