Russia and the USA agree that international mediators need to encourage Palestine and Israel to talks, against the background of Palestine striving for UN recognition as an independent state, a high-ranking spokesman of the US administration said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a meeting last night. They noted that the main goal is a solution of the Middle Eastern problem through formation of two states. Russia and the USA share the view, RIA Novosti reports.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the Palestinian National Administration Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that a request would be filed on September 23. Israel, the USA and a set of other states expressed a sharp response to the Palestinian initiative. They support renewal of the peace talks with Israel that stopped about a year ago over Israel's refusal to stop settling in the occupied areas on the West Bank of the River Jordan and East Jerusalem. Palestine is trying to build an independent state with the Gaza Strip a part of it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed direct talks with Mahmoud Abbas at the UN General Assembly in New York that would be continued in Jerusalem and Ramallah.
Some experts believe that this is another attempt to stop Abbas from filing a membership request to the UN. Abbas said that he is “under great pressure” within the bid.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed US anti-missile systems in Europe, the situation in Syria, Russia’s membership in the WTO and the Georgian issue.
Georgia may create obstacles to Russia in joining the WTO. The US supports a consensus between the two states. It also supports Swiss mediation in helping Russia and Georgia reach an agreement.
