Putin in meeting with Abbas: Mideast peace should be reached only through diplomacy

PA president and Russian leader meet in Moscow, discuss current state of Israeli-Palestinian relations as well as armed conflicts in Middle East.

By REUTERS
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meets Vladimir Putin on official visit to Russia (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meets Vladimir Putin on official visit to Russia
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Russia's leader Vladimir Putin met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday in his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. The current state of Israeli-Palestine relations as well as armed conflicts in the Middle East were at the top of the talks agenda.
"Now as the situation grows more difficult in the region, of course, it is very important to hold consultations on the full range of issues. I mean of course, primarily the Israeli-Palestinian issue but not only that, I would like to discuss with you the situation in Syria, Iraq and now in Yemen," said Putin addressing Abbas at the start of the meeting.
Moscow has refrained from voicing support to one side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, traditionally maintaining good relations with both partners.
"Certainly you know our position on all of those issues, but now I would like to draw attention particularly to the problem of Palestine. Our opinion remains the same - we should do our best to achieve peace only through negotiations," said Abbas.
According to the Kremlin press-service among the topics discussed were trade and economic relations between the two parties and development of tourism.