RUSSIA: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calls for a widening of Middle East peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday (February 6) called for a widening of the Middle East peace talks. Lavrov, who hosted Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa for discussions in Moscow, said there was a need for more Arab League countries to take an active part in the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "The (Middle East) Quartet has been seeking more countries to get involved in finding a peaceful solution (to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict) and I believe this is accepted by many countries, we need a collective effort. An international conference will be welcomed by the world community, even those countries who have had doubts about the need for such a conference, understand the necessity for such a conference," said Lavrov at a joint news conference with Moussa. Lavrov also called for a resumption of active talks between Israel and the Palestinians. "At the last meeting of the Quartet in Washington we confirmed through the joint communiqué, the need for a more active cooperation with Arab countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. But also the need to convey meetings involving the parties involved in the (Palestinian-Israeli) conflict," the Russian foreign minister added. Last Friday (February 2), the quartet of Middle East peace brokers backed a U.S. push to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks but voiced deep concern about violence among Palestinians that threatens to undermine the effort. The group, which includes the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, disagreed over the U.S. policy of isolating the Hamas-led Palestinian government and Syria, which Russia said was "counterproductive". "We talked about the Arab-Israeli conflict, about the ideas of the World Summit, about the importance of the continuation of the discussions and investigations and about the importance of the United Nations," said Moussa. The United States is making a fresh effort to promote peace at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is weak and the power struggle between Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah has erupted into street clashes between their forces. Fighting between rival Palestinian factions escalated across Gaza on Friday, killing at least 17 people as Hamas overran compounds used by Abbas's forces and two major universities were set ablaze. The group reaffirmed a year-old international aid embargo against the Hamas-led government unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and respects past peace deals. The militant group Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence, swept to power in Palestinian elections in January 2006. Efforts by the U.S.-backed Abbas to form a unity government with Hamas that might be more interested in negotiating peace with Israel have so far failed.

ITN Source | February 7, 2007

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