Russian upper house speaker calls on Middle East Quartet to get back at negotiating table

BETHLEHEM, February 2. /TASS/. Speaker of Russia’s upper parliament house on Tuesday called on the Middle East Quartet to get back at the negotiating table. Valentina Matviyenko, who is currently on a working visit to Palestine, noted with regret that the negotiating process on the Middle East settlement had been practically frozen. "We think any further escalation between Israel and Palestine inadmissible," she stressed. "We think it vital that all members of the international Quartet sit back at the negotiating table. There is no alternative to the political dialogue." She underscored that the negotiations should be conducted within the established framework of international law and in conformity with United Nations and U.N. Security Council resolutions. These efforts, in her words, are to be crowned by the establishment of good-neighborly peaceful relations between Israel and Palestine that would be beneficial for the development of both countries. "Russia has always come forth with constructive initiatives within the Quartet," she noted. Read more