|
|
| By: Israel Insider staff and partners |
| Published: February 27, 2007 |
| |
Russia pledged Tuesday to help lift an economic embargo against the Palestinian government as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Hamas political director Khaled Mashaal, upping the stakes in Moscow's bid to build influence in the Middle East.
"We are striving to have the international community support the peace process and make it irrevocable, including helping end the blockade against the Palestinian government," Lavrov said at the start of talks with Mashaal.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is also visiting Moscow, met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and asked that he urge Hamas to speed up the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The Israel Our Home chairman also asked Russia to do the opposite of what it pledged Mashaal and intensify the economic siege imposed on the Palestinian government. Lieberman also asked that Russia contribute to the international pressure exerted on Iran over its defiant nuclear program.
Alone among the Quartet's members, Russia has criticized the sanctions and maintained diplomatic contacts with Hamas, hosting a pair of official visits since the January election that Mashaal called "bold steps."
Read the rest. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
