Abbas calls on Russia to hold International peace conference

President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday called on Russia to revive efforts to achieve peace and hold the international peace conference in Moscow as agreed upon many years ago. Abbas called on the Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a press conference to support the Palestinian Authority to release Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails before 1994. He condemned settlement activities saying they form an obstacle to the peace process. Abbas and Putin discussed the Arab Spring since it concerns both Russia and Palestine and discussed ways of cooperation between the two countries. He insisted that the Palestinian presidential and legislative elections are the gateway to achieve reconciliation. Abbas commended Putin’s efforts to support the Palestinian people and their cause. On the other hand, Putin said that Russia has no problem to recognize a Palestinian independent state, affirming that it will not change its position. Putin said that they discussed ways to overcome crisis concerning the negotiation process and thanked Abbas for the ongoing support of the Russian existence in the Palestinian territory. He pointed out the very responsible position adopted by PA in order to reach peace and confirmed that any unilateral moves are unconstructive.   An agreement was signed between the PLO and Russia on the legal status of the Russian Museum in Jericho in the presence of Abbas and Putin.