Putin to meet Abbas to discuss Palestinian-Israeli settlement

MOSCOW, April 13 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the State of Palestine, during the latter’s working visit to Russia on April 13. "The forthcoming talks will dwells on the key aspects of Russian-Palestinian relations and ways of their further development with an emphasis on trade, economic and humanitarian spheres," the Kremlin press service said. Putin and Abbas will pay special attention to the current situation in the Middle East and Northern Africa. "The sides will have a substantive exchange of views on prospects for the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and other urgent regional problems," the Kremlin press service said. President Putin has stressed it many times that Russia is ready to contribute to the Palestinian-Israeli talks. "Russia consistently stands for the earliest implementation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians to create their own independent, territorially integral and viable state," Putin stressed. "We believe that the acquisition of national sovereignty by Palestine on the basis of universally acknowledged norms of international laws will become a vital factor in ensuring a comprehensive and fair settlement in the Middle East. I would like to confirm that the Russian side intends to continue giving all-round support to the Palestinian authorities in the establishment of state institutions and the solution of urgent socio-economic problems," Putin said on the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People late last year. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is also planning to meet Abbas on April 13 to discuss bilateral trade and economic ties. "During the negotiations Medvedev and Abbas will consider the main areas of bilateral cooperation in the investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres. They will also discuss other issues of mutual interest," a Russian government source said. Read more