Russia backs independent Palestine

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas meet in the West Bank city of Ariha (Jericho) on January 18, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/160796.html

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has reaffirmed Moscow's support of an independent Palestinian state as recognized by the former Soviet Union in 1988.

"Russia made its choice a long time ago ...we supported and will support the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem [al-Quds]," Medvedev said on Tuesday at a press conference with acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank oasis town of Ariha (Jericho).

Medvedev also said without Israel's “reasonable” decision on its settlement activity, Middle East talks will not be progressive.

"It is impossible to close your eyes to this fact,” the Russian president said.

In the past two months, several Latin American countries have recognized Palestine as an independent state based on the borders set before 1967.

On September 2, Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumed direct talks, but the talks were stalled again only three weeks later when Tel Aviv refused to extend a partial 10-month freeze it had imposed on its illegal settlement activities.

The Palestinians say that the settlement construction is aimed at preventing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Along with Palestinian and other Arab territories, Tel Aviv occupied East al-Quds during the Six-Day War in 1967.

The occupation and later annexation of the city -- which the Palestinians have long been demanding as the capital of their future state -- has never been recognized by the international community.