| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Mahmoud Abbas Besieges the Kremlin
// The Palestinian leader doesn't want to share Russia with Hamas
Head of the Palestinian administration Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Moscow yesterday. This is his first visit to Moscow since the Gaza Strip came under the control of Hamas and the Palestinian leader will try to convince Moscow to give its full support to the Fatah movement, which he controls, and to support the peace plan with Israel agreed upon with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Kommersant has information that indicates that the Kremlin does not intend to be swayed. Abbas will, however, find solace in the promise of 50 BTR-70 armored personnel carriers to be sent in the near future.
A source in the Palestinian administration told Kommersant that Abbas requested an immediate audience with Russian President Vladimir Putin a week ago. The Palestinian leader wanted to see Putin no later than June 29. On June 30, an extraordinary session of the League of Arab Nations takes place with the participation of foreign ministers, where the U.S. president's recent initiative to hold an international conference on a Palestinian-Israeli settlement in the autumn of this year. Abbas intends to find out Russia's reaction to the American proposal. Moscow was not completely forthcoming. Putin had an opening in has schedule only on Tuesday. Today Abbas will be received by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Most of all, Abbas wants Moscow to decide conclusively whom it will hold a dialog with in Palestine. Palestine was divided after the radical Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June, leaving the Palestinian Autonomy leader's Fatah only the West Bank of the Jordan River. The West and Israel has long been in Fatah's corner, and are boycotting Hamas. Of the major players in the Middle Eastern peace process, only Russia is trying to maintain contact with both of the main powers in Palestine.
It appears that Moscow will maintain that line, and Abbas will be disappointed on his Moscow visit. Even though its contacts with Hamas have not brought any serious benefit, they remain dear to Russia. Just at the end of last week, Lavrov has an in-depth telephone conversation with Hamas political bureau chairman Khaled Mashal. The Russian Emergencies Ministry is now preparing for an operation to supply food and medicine to the Gaza Strip. In the meantime, the Palestinian Observer Mission at the United Nations, which is subordinate to Abbas, is taking all possible steps to hamper the passage of a resolution on humanitarian aid to the Strip. Kommersant has received information indicating that they will try to convince Abbas in Moscow of the need to make peace with Hamas.
Moscow has also been shaken by the sudden activity shown by the U.S. in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. With Washington's support, Israel has already proposed a peace plan to Abbas that proposes the formation of a Palestinian state on the territory of 90 percent of the West Bank. Abbas is convinced that the Bush administration intends to see the peace process to conclusion before the next administration comes to office. “I heard it with my own ears from President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,” Abbas said. In Russia, they feel that the U.S. wants to monopolize the peace process. Therefore, Moscow will seek recognition from Abbas of its leading role in the Middle East quartet, made up of Russia, the U.S., the European Union and the UN.
There will some gifts for Abbas as well. According to Kommersant's information, Palestine will finally receive the 50 BTR-70 armored personnel carriers the Russian President promised several years ago. All of contractual ceremonies have been completed, and the vehicles should be dispatched to the West Bank in the immediate future.
Alexander Reutov
All the Article in Russian as of July 30, 2007
|
|
|
