MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will push for an immediate end to bloodshed in the Middle East and the launch of peace talks between Israel and leaders of the Islamic movements Hizbollah and Hamas, a deputy foreign minister said Wednesday.
Speaking to the ambassadors of several Arab countries and the Arab League's charge d'affaires in Moscow, Alexander Saltanov said: "Neither side can expect to emerge the winner from this conflict."
In a news release summing up the talks, ministry spokesmen said, "The Russian side emphasized its resolve to push for an immediate end to the bloodshed and for the shift toward a negotiated settlement of the crisis, with a view to reviving the Mideast peace process on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions."
The Arab envoys thanked Russia for its proactive efforts to settle the conflict in the region. They also expressed their deep concern over the latest developments in southern Lebanon, where, according to Ambassador Assem Jaber, more than 830 people have been killed and about 3,200 others wounded since Israel began its military operation against Hizbollah on July 12.
Jaber said most of the people affected by the Israeli offensive were civilians, including women and children. He said the attacks had left over 900,000 Lebanese displaced, and caused huge damage to the country's infrastructure and environment.
