"An informal conference of The Four may meet at a foreign-ministerial level in Sharm al-Sheikh, morning November 23. Mr. Lavrov is ready for such a conference. As he fully realises, current developments in the Middle East demand from The Four a more dynamic involvement in launching a constructive Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The minister proceeds from that awareness," Alexander Yakovenko, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said to the media. He officially confirmed Sergei Lavrov's upcoming visits to Israel and Palestine.
"Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, intends a short visit to Israel and the Palestinian national autonomy, November 23-as soon as the international conference on Iraq finishes in Sharm al-Sheikh," said Mr. Yakovenko as he was going over to the minister's prospective schedule.
Once in Israel, Sergei Lavrov is going to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Silvan Shalom, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He will hold conference in Ramallah with Mahmoud Abbas, PLO Executive Committee Chair, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, and other Palestinian leaders.
Mr. Lavrov intends to discuss the ways to get Mideastern peace efforts out of a deadlock, and to step up Russian promotion of such efforts, added Alexander Yakovenko.
