MOSCOW, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia hopes for a resumption of full-scale aid to Palestinians and progress in relations with Israel following an agreement between PNA leaders to continue dialogue on forming a coalition government, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.
The Palestinian president held talks Sunday with a leader of the ruling Hamas group, at which the sides failed to agree on forming a unity government. However, PNA leader Mahmoud Abbas said earlier the negotiations had been productive and the dialogue would continue for another two weeks before he could consider early elections.
"We hope that the agreement between Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Mashaal to continue consultations will lead to the creation of a PNA coalition government that would meet the known criteria of the international community," Mikhail Kamynin said.
Islamic group Hamas, still considered a terrorist organization by the Israel, the U.S., and the EU, gained a majority in the PNA after defeating the president's Fatah faction in polls a year ago.
The Russian diplomat said Sunday's talks had created favorable conditions for lifting an Israeli blockade of Palestinian territories.
"With these developments, there is a real chance for progress in Palestinian-Israeli relations and for the resumption of a productive talks process" between Israel and the PNA, based on the roadmap for peace, the spokesman said.
The diplomat said Russia will continue its support for the Middle East peace process on both regional and global levels, including at the upcoming ministerial meeting of four international mediators in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to Washington early next month to join other negotiators from the Mideast Quartet, which comprises Russia, the United States, European Union, and the United Nations, in "a serious discussion on the whole range of issues relating to the Mideast settlement."
