Moscow concerned about state of affairs in Palestinian-Israeli settlement, steadily degrading situation on the ground
MOSCOW. April 6 (Interfax) - Moscow is concerned about the state of affairs in the Middle East settlement process, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
"Moscow is deeply concerned about the state of affairs in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process. The situation on the ground has been steadily degrading while the Palestinians and the Israelis have not been conducting political negotiations for almost three years," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
"The vacuum in the Middle East peace process is creating a breeding ground for unilateral steps, which undermine the prospect of an internationally acknowledged solution to the Palestinian problem, which will ensure the peaceful and safe coexistence of two states, Israel and Palestine, with each other and with all of their neighbors," the ministry said.
"Moscow still thinks that the formula of interstate settlement negotiations is optimal and is in the national interests of the Palestinian and Israeli people, who are our friends, as well as interests of all countries in the region and the global community as a whole," the ministry said.
"Specific parameters for settling the entire range of problems related to the final status of Palestinian lands, including the Jerusalem problem, should be coordinated within direct negotiations between the parties," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a co-sponsor of the peace process and an active participant in the Middle East Quartet, Russia will continue to assist the Israelis and the Palestinians in reaching the relevant agreements," the statement said.
"We reiterate our adherence to UN resolutions concerning the settlement principles, including the status of Eastern Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. We also deem it necessary to declare that we see Western Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli state in this context," the ministry said.
