MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The two officials discussed ways of cooperation within the so called Middle East Quartet as well as other negotiation mechanisms.
"We are convinced that all interested parties should make efforts to fix the situation," Lavrov said at a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Maliki, stressing Russia's commitment to the two-state solution.
On June 3, the participants of an international conference in Paris issued a joint declaration highlighting the vulnerability of the current state of things and urging parties to the conflict to resume direct talks.
Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. Tel Aviv is building Jewish settlements on the occupied territories to consolidate land gains despite objections from the United Nations.
