Putin vows to help Palestine to coexist with Israel

Moscow, Apr 13 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin today vowed to continue rendering all help to Palestine in coexisting with Israel.

''Russia is interested in the achievement of a fair and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East,'' Mr Putin said at a ceremony in the St Alexander's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, dedicated to receiving credentials from eight newly accredited ambassadors, including Palestinian Ambassador Baker Abdel Munem.

''In attaining these goals, Russia is prepared to continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian government and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) led by Mahmoud Abbas,'' Mr Putin said.

He stressed that it was ''necessary to resume the peace process based on the Road Map peace plan and consistently move toward its final destination, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state peacefully coexisting with Israel.'' Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow will continue giving aid to the PNA even though its government was currently led by Hamas, the radical Islamic movement.

''We should look for options to provide aid for the Palestinians in a transparent, checkable way, and such options can be found without exacerbating the situation in Palestine,'' Mr Lavrov said while commenting on the EU's suspension of the aid to Palestine.

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