OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2009. A telephone conversation took place on January 14 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel Tzipi Livni. The latest developments in the Gaza Strip were discussed, along with efforts being taken by the international community to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible. Lavrov expressed deep concern over the unceasing growth in the number of victims of the military confrontation.

Livni set out the Israeli approaches, emphasizing that Israel has been taking steps to minimize the grave humanitarian consequences of hostilities in the Strip.

The head of the Russian foreign affairs agency spoke firmly for an early end to bloodshed and the need to fully implement UN Security Council resolution 1860 and pointed out the importance of the efforts being taken in this context by Egypt. Lavrov particularly stressed the significance which Russia attaches to ensuring the safety of Russian citizens remaining in the conflict zone.