MOSCOW, May 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has discussed the restoration of political unity among Palestinians with the leader of Hamas’ political bureau Haled Mashaal, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
“In the course of the meeting the main focus was directed at recent inter-Palestinian agreements on national unity issues,” the ministry said in the statement.
Both sides noted that restoration of unity among the Palestinian people is necessary for a settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Bogdanov, who is a special presidential envoy to the Middle East, met with Mashaal during a visit to Qatar.
“Restoration of the unity among Palestinians based on the political platform of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Arab Peace Initiative meets the interest of a fair and effective Israel-Palestine settlement, the final cause of which is to fulfill national aspirations of Palestinian people by creating an independent, viable, sovereign state with territorial integrity living in safety and peace with Israel,” the statement said.
Last month, rival Palestinian movements Hamas and Fatah reached a deal for the first time in seven years on forming a united government and holding general elections. Hamas has been in power in Gaza since 2007, while Fatah has been holding sway in the West Bank.
Following the April agreement, Israel said it was not willing to negotiate with the Hamas-backed Palestinian government. Moscow has expressed disappointment about the suspension of peaceful negotiations.
