The head of the Palestinian Autonomy displayed courage while listening to Putin’s appeal to live peacefully with Israel.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Autonomy is the Mother of Order
// Vladimir Putin recognized the right of Israel for existence.
Yesterday, in the Kremlin, the Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with the head of the Palestinian National Administration Mahmud Abass. In the opinion of the Kommersant’s reporter Andrey Kolesnikov, they talked politics. The negotiations started from Putin’s kind words about the great friend of the Russian people Yassir Arafat. Putin did his best to comfort Abbas in connection of the death of Arafat. “But life goes on”,- Putin said in a manner of a tired man.
There’s no confidence, though, that Mahmud Abass have taken to heart the fact of Arafat’s death as close as Putin. All in all, if not that, he wouldn’t have been sitting in the Kremlin discussing with the President the details of the restarting of the Palesninian-Istaeli dialog aiming at constructive cooperation between the authorities of Palestinian national autonomy and state of Israel.
Both leaders kept on emphasizing the role of Russia as an effective partner in the case of the cooperation. Russia is good by itself (as a direct negotiator) and as a participant of the “quartet of mediators” (used to be cosponsor of the peaceful process, an these words were like a music for the Russian diplomats).
A lot have changed since that. And no Russia is no longer a cosponsor of the building of the schools on the bank of Jordan.
Vladimir Putin, as a famous peacemaker called upon to live with Israel in peace, that also has the right to existence, “not just existence, but a peaceful one.” For this existence to be really safe, Israel should perform some manly deeds and first of all leave Gaza and the Western bank of Jordan. However, there’s need to persuade the Israeli leader Ariel Sharon to do that. He wants to do that too (the dwellers of the settlements, seem cannot believe that though).
In Abbas’ opinion, a “window of hope is opening” (I’d say a window leaf) now (i.e. as a result of his coming to power) for chance to create an independent State of Palestina.
Putin gave an evasive answer to the question of the elections in Iraq (if to take into consideration his early statements on its account). HE said the “conditions were, to put it mild”, difficult. But he carried on and added he can understands that.
- But the very fact is a great event,- the President noticed,-maybe historical for the Iraqi people.
Abbas was standing all the time, with his head bowed and his eyes down. One might get a feeling that he was a head of the society of the Russian-Palestinian friendship still takes it as a wisdom of the Kremlin. Apparently, Abbas cannot hear well. It’s most likely he cannot for he speaks too loudly. People with bad ears speak that way.
After two qualifying questions Putin expressed his opinion about interests of Russia in the in the Middle East. HE said the situation in the region influences the energy market where Russia has peculiar positions. However, the Russian political ambitions were out of the topic, due to clear reasons.
And the meeting as such was limply going to its end. So it was quite surprising when in the very end Putin shuddered and started talking on the philosophical topics.
- As for the measures of the new Palestinian administration on the introducing the order…- he said.
Actually there were no questions from the reporters on how he evaluated the measures.
- Anarchy,-- Russian President declared, - leads to problems and complication of the situation. Definite people’s ambitions growth, that purpose their aims, as a rule don’t meet the aims of the people, especially if they break the law.
Obviously he was arguing with somebody.
Apparently with himself.
Andrey Kolesnikov
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 01, 2005
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