Russia interested in resumption of direct Palestinian-Israeli talks - Lavrov
MOSCOW. July 9 (Interfax) - Russia is interested in the soonest possible resumption of direct negotiations to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Russia, as a permanent [UN] Security Council member and a member of the Quartet on the Middle East, is interested in drafting agreements as soon as possible to resume direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine," Lavrov said at a meeting with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni in Moscow on Tuesday.
Moscow has repeatedly proposed to the other members of the Quartet that the appropriate conditions be in place so that such negotiations begin without any unilateral steps, he said.
"This position of ours is still effective, and we are ready to support any agreements on starting such negotiations," he said.
