GENEVA, March 7 (KUNA) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that ccreating a Palestinian state along the side of Israel is quite a realistic goal.
In response to KUNA on whether such a two-state solution is double with all the problems on the ground, he explained that Russia believes that the new US administration is committed to such an approach.
Lavrov added that the strategic goal of a two-state solution is still the main goal.
He explained that after a new government is created in Israel, “we” will identify the basis for the forthcoming Moscow conference and the crucial element is to ensure Palestinian unity.
“We welcome the efforts taken by Egypt in identifying the conditions for such unity including the creation of a new Palestinian government and the creation of parliamentary elections in Palestine,” he stressed.
Lavrov added that: we” believe that this is a very important imitative and that any other ideas which would go against these efforts will be counterproductive, so “we” are focusing our steps now in supporting the work of Cairo.
He also said that the task to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime in the Middle East remains urgent.
“We consistently advocate this region to become a nuclear-weapon-free zone and eventually, a zone free from all other types of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
He added that in 1995 and 2000, the NPT Parties already took decisions on the Middle East.
“Mutually acceptable solutions for their implementation need to be sought within the forthcoming preparatory activities for the NPT Review Conference. We stand ready for a joint work to fulfill the task as well,” stressed Lavrov.
On the issues of disarmament he praised US President Barack Obama and said “I fully share the commitment of the US president to the noble cause of saving the world from the nuclear threat and see here a fertile ground for a joint work.
He stressed that his country is open to dialogue and is prepared for negotiations with the new US Administration.
Lavrov on the forthcoming negotiations of the “Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START !) which expires on 5 December of this year said that such a future agreement should be legally binding.
“It is of no less importance that the instrument should be forward-looking and should limit not only warheads, but also strategic delivery vehicles, that are intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers,” he said.