Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with Permanent Representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) nations to the UN

On January 24, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with the permanent representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) nations at the UN.

They exchanged views on the unprecedented escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Sergey Lavrov told the OIC delegates about the main results of his participation in the recent UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East and described in detail Russia’s view of the current turbulent problems in the region.

The meeting confirmed the similarities of the positions held by Russia and the Muslim world on the problems in the Middle East, including the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The participants emphasised the need to immediately declare a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians and settle the issue through political and diplomatic channels in accordance with UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and also the Arab Peace Initiative and the Madrid Principles, including the two-state formula. This implies the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with a capital in East Jerusalem, which would co-exist in peace and security with Israel.

In the context of the humanitarian crisis on Palestinian lands and the high risk of the entire Middle East sinking into a bigger war, Sergey Lavrov emphasised the importance of consolidating the positions of the external players on Palestinian-Israeli problems. This would make it possible to stabilise the situation and create conditions for new negotiations.

In this context, it is vital to ensure Palestinian national unity under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and prevent the administrative and geographical fragmentation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The participants noted the importance of creating an effective collective mediation mechanism with a leading role played by the Middle East countries.

The Russian initiative to hold consultations in Moscow with the region’s countries and the international players who are interested in an honest dialogue is designed to develop constructive multilateral cooperation on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.