Государство Израиль
STATEMENT BY ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO, THE OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN OF RUSSIA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REGARDING THE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF ISRAELI TROOPS FROM THE NORTHERN AREAS OF GAZA AND THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM ON THE WEST BANK
Unofficial translation from Russian
STATEMENT BY ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO, THE OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN OF RUSSIA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Regarding the Agreement in Principle Between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority on the Withdrawal of Israeli Troops from the Northern Areas of Gaza and the City of Bethlehem on the West Bank
Moscow welcomes the agreement in principle reached on June 27 between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the northern areas of the Gaza Strip and the city of Bethlehem on the West Bank. This important step along the road of stabilizing the situation became possible with the announcement by Palestinian organizations, including Hamas, of a cease-fire and that they would halt anti-Israeli actions on the understanding that Israel will halt armed incursions in Palestinian areas and extra-judicial killings of activists of these organizations.
The agreement came largely thanks to the vigorous efforts of PNA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who is striving for an end to the Palestinian-Israeli force-based standoff and the resumption of the negotiating process in line with the Road Map for Middle East settlement, drawn up by the Quartet of international mediators - Russia, US, EU and UN.
The deal had been facilitated by the active influence on Palestinian groups by the Quartet members and influential regional parties, Egypt in particular. The constructive position of PNA Head Yasser Arafat had played an important role.
At the last ministerial meeting of the Quartet in Jordan on June 22, its participants called for an immediate and comprehensive ending of all violence in the zone of conflict. We, therefore, regard the deal as a manifestation of readiness by the government of Israel and the leadership of the PNA and Palestinian organizations to act with due consideration for the demands of the international community.
We expect that from now on both sides will refrain from violent actions which could provoke new exacerbation of the situation. This would help begin the process of restoring confidence between the Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of the Road Map, which opens the way to peace for all peoples of the Middle East region.
June 28, 2003