Haaretz - 06.26.2007

Russian FM: We don't support 'divide and conquer' policy in PA

By Yossi Melman and Barak Ravid

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday during a brief visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, that Russia does not believe in implementing a "divide and conquer" policy in regard to rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas.

Two weeks ago, Hamas seized control over the Gaza Strip in violent clashes with Fatah. The "divide and conquer" policy would isolate Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Fatah in the West Bank.

Lavrov spoke before his meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, having arrived in Israel Tuesday evening in order to receive an update on Monday's four-way summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Lavrov is also planning to travel to the West Bank in order to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.

In addition, the Russian foreign minister will meet with the families of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

Israel's government is interested in Russia's stance on the Palestinian power struggle because Moscow has not ruled out diplomatic negotiations with Hamas, even after the group's Gaza takeover, and also prevented the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution expressing the council's unequivocal support of Abbas.

As in previous Russian foreign ministers' visits to Israel, Lavrov will also discuss Iran's nuclear program and Russia's sale of arms to Iran.

Lavrov said that he would visit the family of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit because, "we must do something about this issue. Hamas' political leadership must realize that there will not be a Palestinian nation if the Palestinians don't behave in a cultured way." 

Prior to his meeting with Livni, the Russian foreign minister met with President-elect Shimon Peres who asked him to obtain a sign of life from the IDF soldiers who were kidnapped by Hezbollah last summer, and act toward securing Shalit's release.

Lavrov is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

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Interfax - 06.27.2007

Russia willing to help release abducted Israeli servicemen - Lavrov

JERUSALEM (Interfax) Russia is willing to facilitate the release of abducted Israeli servicemen, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. 

"We know that some specific contacts are currently being maintained to secure the release of the abducted Israeli servicemen," Lavrov said at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Wednesday. 

"We are not directly involved in this process, but we are prepared, if need be, to send a serious political signal if Israel specifies the addressee," he said. 


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Interfax - 06.27.2007

Lavrov not planning to meet Hamas officials

MINSK (Interfax) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is not planning to meet Hamas representatives and is urging the leaders of Hamas and also Hezbollah to promote the release of the abducted Israeli servicemen. 

He made the statement on a flight from Tel Aviv to Minsk on Wednesday in response to a question about whether he is planning any contacts with Hamas representatives in the near future he said: "So far there are no such plans." 

"We expect that Hamas and Hezbollah will soon do their utmost to free Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit and two Israelis captured in Lebanon," Lavrov said. 


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