23 December 2002 00:00
A RIA NOVOSTI INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN ALEKSANDR YKOVENKO AHEAD OF A MOSCOW VISIT BY ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, DUE DECEMBER 22-23
2641-23-12-2002
Q.: What is your assessment of the current state of Russian-Israeli relations?
YAKOVENKO: In the last few years Russo-Israeli relations have become increasingly richer in content. We proceed from the assumption, that the development of mutually beneficial relations corresponds to the long-term interests of both countries and fosters stability in the Middle East.
The forthcoming routine visit to Moscow Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will pay on his Russian counterpart's invitation will add to dynamics of the multidimensional Russo-Israeli dialogue.
Israel is one of Russia's major partners in the region and relations between our countries are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and desire to promote the further development of bilateral relations.
Q.: What issues will dominate the Israeli minister's Moscow meetings?
YAKOVENKO: To be discussed are a series of international problems of current importance. Russia will elaborate on its principled stance on terrorism, laying an emphasis on the necessity of achieving political settlement of the present regional conflicts, which are fueling extremist and terrorist forces' activities.
Talks with Benjamin Netanyahu will be held as part of Russia's effort to stabilise the situation in the Middle East, which has recently escalated as a result of growing tensions around Iraq and the torpedoed Arabian-Israeli peace process.
The point at issue are measures to overcome the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation, to prevent escalation of tensions in the Israel-Lebanon-Syria triangle and to find ways out of the present crisis and towards resumption of the peace process.
It is quite obvious that further escalation does not only threaten regional stability, but may trigger instability in other regions as well.
In this context, Russia's active contacts with all the parties involved, including Israel, are aimed at directing the Arabian-Israeli conflict into the channel of political settlement as soon as possible.
Q.: What are the ways to reach this goal?
YAKOVENKO: To rely on military means alone is a road to nowhere. What we need is a comprehensive approach and the conflicting parties' desire to meet halfway in order to put an end to terrorism and violence in all its manifestations and to resume the substantive negotiation process.
A good chance to achieve progress in the Mideastern settlement effort is a "road map", which is being worked out by the group of four international mediators, with Russia being its active member. The latest meeting of the "G-4" in Washington at a ministerial level elaborated on the practical steps to be taken to resume movement towards peace in the Middle East.
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