Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas (L) welcomes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) in the West Bank town of Jericho upon his arrival from the Jordanian capital Amman across the Allenby Bridge border crosssing on January 18, 2011 (AFP Photo / Jack Guez)
Dmitry Medvedev said Israel must stop expanding settlements in the Palestinian territories, after his meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
The meeting was held in the residence of the governor of the city of Jericho on Tuesday. This is Medvedev’s first visit to the Palestinian territories during his term in office. Vladimir Putin was the last Russian leader to visit, when he was President in 2005.
Medvedev stressed that the main focus of Tuesday’s discussion was the peace process in the Middle East, with the most important issue being that Israel has to stop building homes in the Palestinian territories, especially in East Jerusalem.
"We have discussed possible prospects for resuming dialogue. To this end, the parties should display as much restraint as possible and honor their commitments. This concerns above all the freezing of Israel's settlement activities on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem," Medvedev said at a news conference following the talks with Abbas.
The Palestinian leader thanked Russia for supporting the Palestinian Authority and acknowledged Russia's important role in settling the Middle East crisis.
According to President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia reiterates its commitment to back a Palestinian state with the capital in East Jerusalem.
“Russia’s position stays the same – we made our choice at the end of the ‘80s – we have been backing and we will be backing the right of the Palestinians to create their own state, independent, united, sustainable, with the capital in East Jerusalem,” stated Medvedev.
He also stressed that “everyone can only benefit from the forming of the Palestinian state – Palestinians, Israelis, all nations of the Middle East.”
President Medvedev also said that Russia’s support of Palestinian people is not only in the political field and expressed hope that the cooperation between the two countries will expand for years to come.
During this visit a memorandum on mutual understanding was signed between Russian and Palestinian Ministries of Agriculture. Olympic committees and informational agencies of both countries have also signed agreements.
The initial plan for President Medvedev's Middle East tour was to hold talks with Israel as well, but that failed when the Israeli Foreign Ministry went on strike, leading to the cancellation of the visit.
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