Russia Won't Change Stance on Palestinian State

Russia Won’t Change Stance on Palestinian State

Jerusalem Post , AP – January 18, 2011

President Dimitry Medvedev said Russia will not change its stance towards Palestinian statehood during a visit with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday.

Medvedev said the Soviet Union had recognized a Palestinian state in 1988 after Yasser Arafat declared independence.

The Russian president's announcement came after reports Tuesday speculating that his country would join several South American countries who have declared their recognition 0f a Palestinian state.

During a press conference held with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jericho, Medvedev said "We made a decision then , we will  not change it today."

He also expressed willingness to take on a greater role in the peace process, saying: "From the establishment 0f a Palestinian state, everyone will benefit, both Palestinians , Israelis. The region will also benefit, all 0f the people in the Middle East would benefit. That is the goal we should strive for."

Medvedev stated that the Palestinians have the right to a viable state with east Jerusalem as a capital.

The Russian leader also sided with the Palestinian dem, that all settlement construction must stop.

"We discussed the conditions f0rresuming talks with Israel, which include continued self-control , strictly abiding by commitments, , before anything else, freezing all Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank , east Jerusalem," Medvedev said.

Russia has been floating the idea 0f hosting a Mideast conference, but Medvedev suggested Tuesday that some progress in talks would have to made first. "The most important issue is the result, not the place , not the timing," he said.

Abbas said halting settlement construction , resuming negotiations is also an Israeli interest. "There are two options, either peace 0rterr0r, violence," he added. "We shall not choose terr0r, violence."

The Palestinians seized the high-profile visit as an opportunity to showcase their progress toward building an independent state.

The ancient town 0f Jericho was decked out in Russian , Palestinian flags, , black-clad Palestinian troops with assault rifles lined the streets. Abbas , Medvedev were received by an hon0rguard in a red carpet ceremony.

Palestinian negotiat0rSaeb Erekat said the Medvedev visit is a way 0f telling the world that the Palestinians are ready f0rstatehood. "Look at us. We are ready f0rindependence. That's the message," Erekat said.

The Russian president did not visit Israel because 0f a strike by Israeli diplomats seeking higher wages. The strike prevented the sides from making proper preparations.

Medvedev hinted at the unusual circumstances, saying that "this visit is important f0rtwo reasons ... this is the first visit 0f a Russian Federation president to region , to the Palestinian Territories that does not include a visit to a neighboring state."

Abbas laughed, , the Palestinian audience clapped.

 

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By: EFG-BN Network