OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2010. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, on January 19 held talks in Moscow with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Naser Joudeh, who was in Russia on a working visit.

In examining the regional and international agenda, primary attention was paid to resuming Palestinian-Israeli talks in the context of the task of unblocking the Middle East peace process. Common opinion was expressed about the special importance at this stage of collective efforts, particularly in the format of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators for the establishment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. Naser Joudeh positively assessed the Russian initiative for the early holding of a ministerial Quartet meeting in order to overcome the crisis in the negotiation process.

There was noted the coincidence or similarity of positions on the concrete parameters for restarting the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue on a final status of the Palestinian territories on the well-known international legal basis.

The sides reaffirmed their principled commitment to the renunciation of unilateral steps and to the cessation of the construction of Israeli settlements, including natural growth, both in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. The necessity was stressed of restoring the unity in Palestinian ranks on the platform of the PLO and the Arab Peace Initiative, with the leadership role of Mahmoud Abbas, who is the legitimate head of the PNA and PLO.

Naser Joudeh backed up the initiative of the Russian Federation to hold an International Conference on the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in Moscow with the appearance of necessary conditions.

The ministers spoke for consolidating the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq, and declared support to the efforts of the Iraqi government to stabilize the situation in the country, and suppress terrorism which is trying to prevent the restoration of security and normal life there. They emphasized the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections becoming a serious step towards achieving national unity on the basis of consideration of the interests of all Iraqis.

The Russian and Jordanian ministers welcomed the positive development of the internal political situation in Lebanon, which has become possible as a result of a patient dialogue with regard for the interests of all Lebanese sides. They emphasized that this way precisely corresponds to the tasks in consolidating the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Lebanese state.

There was accentuated the necessity to resolve the situation around the Iranian nuclear program solely by peaceful political means and to strengthen security and stability in the Persian Gulf zone as a whole.

During the talks the state of, and prospects for Russian-Jordanian relations were thoroughly discussed, with emphasis on practical steps towards the further strengthening of cooperation in the economic, commercial, energy, military-technical, cultural and other spheres of bilateral interaction. The special importance of summit-level contacts, having a determining significance for the advancement of the full range of partner relations between Russia and Jordan, was highlighted.