Moscow urges Arafat to await peace deal

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, AUG. 11. Moscow has urged the visiting Palestinian leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat, to postpone declaring the creation of an independent Palestinian state until a comprehensive peace deal is reached with Israel.

Commenting on Mr. Arafat's plans to declare statehood on September 13, the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Igor Ivanov, said, ``Moscow thinks it necessary to carefully weigh all possible variants'' of the further course of events, the Interfax news agency reported.

``It is essential that this step should promote a Palestinian- Israeli settlement and lead to the emergence of a full-fledged state on the map of the world,'' Mr. Ivanov told a joint press conference with Mr. Arafat at the end of their talks in Moscow on Friday. At the same time, Mr. Ivanov suggested that Russia would recognise the Palestinian state if it were declared on September 13. ``Russia has no problem recognising Palestinian statehood,'' he said.

The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, who met the Palestinian leader earlier today, reiterated Moscow's strong support for a Palestinian state. ``You know Russia's position, which was always highlighted by respect for Palestinian rights, including the right for an independent state,'' Mr. Putin said in televised remarks opening the meeting with Mr. Arafat.

Russian television quoted diplomatic sources as saying Moscow urged Mr. Arafat to postpone declaring Palestinian statehood till November 15, the anniversary of Palestine's 1988 declaration on creating a sovereign state.

During his one-day visit to Moscow, Mr. Arafat sought to secure a greater Russian role in the peace process to counter- balance Washington's dominance. He told the press conference that he had ``asked Russia to intensify its activity at all levels,'' including preparations for a four-party summit of Palestine, Israel, Russia and the U.S. with a possible invitation of other Arab states and France, which is current chairman in the European Union.

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Section  : International
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