Russian FM, Arafat Discuss Settlement of Mideast CrisisRussia stands for creating an effective mechanism to guarantee getting rid of the Middle East crisis, Russian media cited Ivanov as saying at his talks with Arafat.The most pressing task at present is to curb the confrontation and conflict between Palestinians and Israeli as soon as possible, Ivanov told a joint news conference after the talks. He urged both sides to take joint measures to build mutual trust and restore negotiations. He said that Israel should stop its settlement activities and Russia views the Egyptian-Jordanian initiatives and the Mitchell plan as "an acceptable basis for further efforts on restoring stability and serenity in the Middle East." Ivanov voiced Moscow's support for Arafat's proposal on calling for an international conference on the Middle East issue, and disclosed that Russia will dispatch a foreign minister's special envoy, Ambassador Andrei Vdovin, to the Middle East for mediation. Arafat, who arrived here Monday for a two-day visit, stressed at the press conference that Russia plays an important and active role in looking for ways out of the current Mideast crisis. He said that Palestine expects speedy and resolute steps from Russia so that the process is returned to a peaceful path. Arafat agreed to accept the Mitchell plan and the initiatives put forward by Egypt and Jordan as a basis for resumption of the negotiating process. He said the current Mideast situation is "extremely dangerous," and expressed the hope that the whole international community, especially the U.S., Russia, the European Union and Arab states, will make joint steps to check the rising violence in the region and broke Israel's economic blockade against Palestine. "All forces should work more actively to save peace in the Middle East...A delay may cause an explosion not only in Palestine, but also in the entire region," Arafat emphasized. |
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