Lavrov, Abbas discuss West Asia situation

Moscow, Apr 15 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on phone the current situation in West Asia in the wake of EU suspension of aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Lavorov told Abbas yesterday that the "international community should continue efforts to resume dialogue on the issue and ensure stability and solve social and humanitarian problems of the Palestinian people," Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On his part, Mr Abbas highly praised Russia's efforts to provide aid to Palestinian National Authority (PNA), following an EU decision to stop direct budgetary aid, unless Palestine renounces violence, recognises Israel and resumes peace talks, accepting all the previous agreements.

Mr Lavrov said earlier this week that Moscow would continue providing aid to the PNA, and that the international community should work with Hamas after its landslide victory in Palestinian Parliamentary elections in January.

He also said it was extremely important to ensure compliance of all previously signed agreements in the post-election period, and utmost care should be taken not to jeopardise the West Asian peace process, which is paving the way for an agreement to create a sovereign Palestinian state.

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