Russia backs Egypt and Jordan in rejection of Palestinian displacement

Russia’s Special Representative for the Middle East has stressed Moscow’s strong support for the positions of both Egypt and Jordan in rejecting the forced displacement of the Palestinian people. Mikhail Bogdanov Leonidovich stressed that there will be no peace or stability in the region as long as the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories continues. He also stressed that the Arab Peace Initiative represents a fair and balanced basis for reaching a comprehensive and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue.

Leonidovich has extensive experience in Arab affairs, having previously served as Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and the Arab League. He made his remarks during a meeting with Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament, who is visiting Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special representative congratulated Al-Yamahi on his recent election and noted that this was the first visit of a delegation from the Arab Parliament at this level.

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He also touched on developments in the Middle East, and suggested that internal national consensus is the only basis for reaching permanent and sustainable solutions to the crises witnessed by some Arab countries. He affirmed Russia’s support for such consensus at all levels.

Al-Yamahi expressed the Arab Parliament’s support for the development of Arab-Russian relations, which are now at strategic partnership level in many areas, and its support for the outcomes of the meetings of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum between the Arab League and the Russian Federation. He also noted the Arab Parliament’s support for Putin’s initiative to prepare for the first Arab-Russian summit at heads of state level, which he said will represent a qualitative leap in strengthening and developing Arab-Russian relations.

He described the positions of the Russian Federation towards the Palestinian issue in all international forums as “courageous”, and emphasised the importance of Russian support for Arab efforts to resolve crises in the Arab region without foreign interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries.

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