Upcoming International Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law and Ministerial Meeting of the Middle East Quartet of International Mediators
PRESS RELEASE
On June 24, Berlin will host an international conference on civil security and the rule of law in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), with a meeting of the Middle East Quartet of mediators to be held on its sidelines. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will lead the Russian delegation.
The main task of the Berlin Forum is uniting international efforts to render support to the PNA authorities in reinforcing security and establishing the rule of law in the Palestinian territories. This has great significance for the formation of Palestinian statehood. For its part, Russia provides all-round assistance in this field – from personnel training to the equipment of PNA power structures.
In the course of the Quartet meeting it is borne in mind to exchange views on the present situation in the peace process, primarily in the context of the continuing Palestinian-Israeli talks. In particular, it is planned to discuss questions associated with the truce that went into effect a few days ago in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas and other aspects of the current state of Palestinian-Israeli affairs – such as the importance of the parties' fulfillment of their obligations under the Roadmap and the agreement on movement and access, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade.
Russia works energetically towards the earliest possible restoration of Palestinian unity as an important prerequisite for substantive shifts in the direction of creating an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is borne in mind to draw the attention of our partners to this question as well.
The Quartet participants are expected to touch on the theme of Syrian-Israeli contacts currently being conducted with Turkish mediation. Moscow supports efforts to restore talks on this track as an important condition of establishing a comprehensive and long-term peace in the region.
June 20, 2008