Putin: Long-Term, Fair Solutions Needed to Settle Israeli–Palestinian
Conflict
20:20 11.12.2017(updated 20:51 11.12.2017)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201712111059908920-putin-israel-palestine/

Putin has discussed bilateral ties between Russia and Egypt during the talks
with his counterpart Sisi, as well as the situation in the Middle East,
including the Israeli-Palestinian settlement in the wake of the
controversial decision made by US President Donald Trump last week.

Russia and Egypt "advocate for a swift resumption of the direct
Palestinian-Israeli dialogue on all controversial issues, including the
status of Jerusalem. Long-term and fair agreements respecting the interests
of both sides are needed," President Vladimir Putin has stated following the
talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Sisi, adding that such
agreements must be in accordance with the decisions of the international
community that had been earlier adopted.

"We consider any steps that anticipate the outcome of the dialogue between
the Palestinians and the Israelis to be counterproductive. We believe that
such steps are destabilizing, do not help resolve the situation, but, on the
contrary, provoke conflict," the Russian president said.

Commenting on US President Donald Trump's controversial decision on the
recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli state, that has been
widely condemned by Arab states, as well as many countries voicing support
for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russian
Foreign Ministry has previously stated that Moscow was concerned about the
move and called on all sides to show restraint.

Ahead of Washington's announcement, Putin and Palestinian leader Mahmoud
Abbas discussed the Middle East peace process, with the Russian president
expressing support for the immediate resumption of direct
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on all controversial issues, including the
status of Jerusalem.

Israel declared Jerusalem its "single and indivisible" capital, including
its eastern districts and historic center, repulsed half a century ago from
Jordan and later annexed. The world community does not recognize the
annexation and considers the status of the city to be one of the core
problems of the Middle East conflict, which should be resolved on the basis
of an agreement with the Palestinians, which claim the eastern part of
Jerusalem. In this regard, all foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv.

Situation in Syria and Fight Against Terrorism

The two leaders have also discussed the situation in Syria, with President
Vladimir Putin saying that Russia and Egypt have agreed to strengthen
coordination of efforts to promote the peace process in the country.

"We are grateful to our Egyptian partners for supporting the Russian
initiative to convene the Syrian National Dialogue Congress. We are planning
to involve in its work various groups of opposition, including
representatives of the so-called Moscow and Cairo platforms," Putin added.

In his turn, Sisi said that he had discussed political crises in Libya and
Syria with Putin, noting that Egypt's position coincided with Russia's in
terms of the need for expansion of de-escalation zones in the Arab Republic
to create necessary conditions for further peace talks between all religious
and ethnic groups.

According to the Egyptian president, Moscow and Cairo have agreed to
exchange reconnaissance information to fight against terrorism.

At the same time, Putin said, "We agreed to expand ties in the military and
defense industry areas. First of all, in order to strengthen the
anti-terrorist potential of the Egyptian Armed Forces."

Putin and Sisi met shortly after the Russian president announced the
withdrawal of troops from Syria, emphasizing that the country's sovereignty
and independence has been preserved thanks to the successful anti-terrorist
operation, adding that conditions for the political settlement in the
country under the auspices of the UN have been created and the refugees,
that had to flee their homes, may return.

Egypt-Russia Ties

Speaking about the long-awaited resumption of direct flights with Egypt that
have been suspended after the deadliest plane crash in history of the
Russian aviation that took place in the Sinai in 2015, Putin said, "In this
time, the Egyptian side did great work on increasing the level of security
in airports. The Russian security service reported to me that we are overall
ready for resumption of direct flights between Moscow and Cairo."

Russia will seek to sign an agreement with Egypt on resumption of direct
flights very soon, the president added.

A Kogalymavia Airbus A321 passenger airliner, with 217 passengers and seven
crew members on board, crashed in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on October
31, 2015, leaving no survivors. Russia designated the incident as a
terrorist act.

Following the crash, Russia suggested that Egypt should increase security
measures, while Cairo made security upgrades in its airports after the
tragedy in an effort to comply with Russian demands and resume air traffic.

Commenting on bilateral trade, Putin said that investment in the Russian
industrial zone near Egypt's northeastern city of Port Said could total $7
billion. "We believe that it will become the biggest regional center for the
manufacturing and delivery of Russian goods to the markets of the Middle
Eastern countries and Africa. Leading Russian companies are already
expressing interest in this project."

The trade turnover between Russia and Egypt has grown by 1.5 times during
the first nine months of 2017 and exceeded $4 billion, Putin said, adding
that "Russia has always recognized the particular importance of the
development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations with Egypt, our
long-standing and reliable partner in the Middle East and North Africa."

During the meeting, Russia and Egypt signed in Cairo on Monday the decrees
on the implementation of the contracts on the construction of the Dabaa
nuclear power plant (NPP) with Russia's participation. The two countries
signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction and
the operation of the first Egyptian nuclear power plant in the Dabaa area on
the Mediterranean Sea coast using Russian technology in 2015.