Russian envoy says UN vote must promote Mideast peace

PanARMENIAN.Net - The recognition of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a UN non-member observer state must result in a constructive dialogue between Palestinians and Israel leading to a peaceful settlement of the decades-long Mideast conflict, Russia’s envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said, according to RIA Novosti.

The UN General Assembly recognized on Thursday, Nov 29, the PA as a non-member observer state by a more than two-thirds majority. Israel and the United States were among nine UN members that voted against the move.

“It is extremely important now that this event led to constructive steps,” Churkin said after the vote.

He said the Palestinian authorities had assured Russia that they would not use their victory in the United Nations to isolate Israel but rather strive to revive the stalled Palestinian-Israeli talks.

“We also hope that Israel would take it [the vote] as a serious signal indicating that the international community has become weary of this conflict,” Churkin added.

The diplomat said Russia would make a strong effort to push Palestinians and Israel for the dialogue and attempt to “revitalize” the work of the Quartet of international mediators in the Mideast conflict – the United States, the EU, the UN, and Russia.

“We have proposed to set up a ministerial-level meeting of the Quartet in the near future,” he said.

The Quartet on the Middle East was established in 2002 and is devoted to negotiating peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The last meeting of the Quartet took place in September 2011 at the UN headquarters.