Arafat confers with Russian envoy
Palestine-Russia, Politics, 6/16/2001

The chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat on Friday met in Ramullah with the Russian envoy to the Middle East Andrea Vadovin, currently making a tour on the region.

The Palestinian official in charge of planning and international cooperation at the Palestinian Authority, who attended the meeting beside Arafat said that the meeting dealt with means of revitalizing the Palestinian- Israeli talks and the report of Mitchell committee. He considered that this meeting came to stress Russia's increasing role in the peace process and supporting the Palestinian rights at this phase.

In a press statement Shaath made in conclusion of the meeting. He added that this very meeting is an important part of the meetings which Russia is careful to make with the Palestinian leadership.

Shaath added "we are happy over the permanent Russian presence in our region and Russia's continued attempt to implement what was agreed upon."

In a statement, the Russian envoy said that the meeting centered on the developments of conditions in light of recent developments in the region. He noted steps agreed upon concerning security issues and that discussions are being now made on ways of moving from the security phase to the political phase and the return back of the two sides to the table of negotiations on the ground of UN security council resolutions 242 and 338 and the land for peace formula.

As for the Russian role in the region, Vadovin said " we think that contacts we are making head to implementing what had been agreed on especially as the two sides had voiced their consent on Mitchell committee and (director of the CIA) 'George Tenet document,'" and considered that moving from the security condition to the political situation is in need to fixing what he called a complete cease- fire.

Worthy mentioning that the Tenet plan treated equally between the Israeli artilleries, guns and planes and with the Palestinian stones.

In the same context, in Gaza, Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudinah said in a press statement that Arafat will meet at the headquarters of the Palestinian presidency in Ramullah in the West Bank today with the secretary general of the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to discuss the developments of conditions under international efforts especially American efforts aiming at restoring back calm to the region.

Abu Rudinah underlined the importance of continued international efforts in order to halt the Israeli aggressions and ending the siege and the Israeli closure imposed on the Palestinian territories since months.

Previous Stories:
  Arafat in Moscow today   (5/29/2001)
  Arafat to visit Moscow   (5/19/2001)
  Palestinian official in Moscow   (10/28/2000)

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