18 April 2002 00:00
ON A MEETING WITH AMBASSADORS OF ARAB COUNTRIES
Gennady Seleznyov, Chairman of the State Duma, has met with the ambassadors of Arab countries - Egypt, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, the League of Arab States - accredited in Russia. Also taking part in the meeting were Deputy State Duma Chairman Vladimir Zhirinovsky, and Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Committee A. A. Shabanov.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the situation that has evolved in the Middle East, and the possibility to resolve it. The situation in the Middle East, said Egyptian Ambassador Reda Shehata, is dangerous. The principal demands of the Arab states, he declared, are the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestine, the lifting of the blockade of Ramallah and the residence of Yasser Arafat, a shift to peaceful negotiations, and more active participation by Russia as a cosponsor in the process of settlement in the Middle East. By Shehata's judgment, Israel is trying to oust Russia from this process, while attempts by the US to stop Israel are ineffective. At the same time, he believes that all the great powers permanent members of the UN Security Council bear responsibility for what is happening in Palestine. Israel's ignoring of the UN's demands may spell a breakdown of the established world order.
"Without the active participation of the Russian Federation, a solution of the Palestinian problem is unachievable," Palestine's ambassador, Khairi al-Oridi, stressed.
Gennady Seleznyov noted that the State Duma shares this position, informing the ambassadors about the documents adopted by the deputies in support of Palestine. The deputies, he said, understand the essence of the Middle East conflict, and condemn the aggression. Including the double game of the Americans, who verbally support the recommendations of the Madrid Quartet but are actually planning to bomb Iraq.
"The idea of peace for land has no alternative," Seleznyov emphasized.
The sides drew attention to the fact that Israel possesses weapons of mass destruction. But hitherto, A. A. Shabanov said, "this factor has not been legalized in public opinion." From his point of view, in the conditions of the weakening of the UN the need has ripened for the creation of an influential new international parliamentary organization that would be concerned with the Middle East problem.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky told about the many contradictions and intertwinings of different interests, in which the Middle East conflict is steeped.
The State Duma, Seleznyov gave an assurance, is watching with unremitting attention the developments in the Middle East, and supports the peace initiatives.
The Speaker noted that in the course of this talk he had received "first-hand information" taking into account the new situation that has developed in the Middle East.
Gennady Seleznyov determined as the major task - "solving the most urgent problem - the problem of a Palestinian state." "It is clear that the state of Palestine must be formed, just as it is clear that the state of Israel must remain within its borders - the only question is, what borders." In this connection the Chairman of the State Duma condemned the idea proposed by Israeli authorities of holding an international conference along the lines of that held in Madrid eleven years ago "in order to again review the structure and principles of existence of the two states." He believes that this "is not a solution of the problem," but that it is necessary to proceed, first and foremost, from the necessity of implementing the UN Security Council resolutions on the Middle East.
He gave an assurance that the State Duma will continue to give primary attention to the situation in the Middle East, adopting statements with proposals to the Russian president and international organizations.
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