Putin: Bloody conflict causes suffering for Palestinians

An event was held at the Palestinian Embassy in Moscow on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 29. The event was attended by the special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Middle East and African countries, Mikhail Bogdanov, the Palestinian ambassador in Moscow, Abdel Hafız Nofal, the Turkish ambassador in Moscow, Tanju Bilgiç, and representatives of the diplomatic mission.

Palestinian citizens attended the event carrying Palestinian flags, prayed by leaving flowers at the embassy building in memory of those who lost their lives in the Israeli army’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, and chanted slogans against Israel.

In his speech here, Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Nofal thanked event participants for their support and read Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ special message.

Putin’s special representative for the Middle East and African countries, Bogdanov, also read the letter Putin sent to Abbas.

“RUSSIA IS IN FAVOR OF PALESTINE ESTABLISHING ITS STATE”

Referring to the situation in Palestine in his letter, Putin said:

* Bloody conflicts are causing suffering to the civilian population of Palestine, and I think it is important at this time to confirm Russia’s consistent position in favor of realizing the legitimate right of its people to establish their own sovereign state within the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

* This is the basic condition to achieve a comprehensive, just and long-term solution to the Palestine-Israel issue. I am sure that through joint efforts we will be able to achieve further development of traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Palestine, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. (AA)