The official spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Yakovenko, has told RIA Novosti that great attention will be paid to the war on terrorism, the problem of regional security, including the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and prospects for transforming the Middle East into a WMD-free zone.
Mr Yakovenko explained that the Russian side would discuss the details of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza strip and the assistance that Russia and other members of the quartet of mediators could provide. He continued that the talks would particularly focus on how the sides were fulfilling their commitments under the road map peace plan and earlier brokered agreements, and how each side was taking the interests and concerns of the other into account.
According to Mr Yakovenko, during the talks, Russia is intending to confirm once again that the quartet of Russia, the US, EU and UN remained the best instrument of international assistance to the peace process.
The official spokesman said that the need for the quartet was increasing. "The close co-ordination of the mediators' actions within this mechanisms allows agreed approaches to ways to stabilise the situation around the Palestinian territories and return the sides to the negotiating table to be worked out," he said.
The Russian foreign minister is visiting Egypt as part of a Middle Eastern tour that will last until September 7. Sergei Lavrov will also visit Lebanon, Israel and Syria.
