STRASBOURG. Jan 26 (Interfax) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) met in Strasbourg on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East and ways of resolving the Middle East crisis.
Senator Ilyas Umakhanov, a member of the Russian delegation, said at the meeting that Russia is offering to hold an international conference on the Middle East in Moscow in the next few months.
"We would very much like that to happen, but unfortunately the date of the conference cannot be determined yet. However, we are hoping that positive tendencies in Palestinian-Israeli political contacts will make it possible to prepare and call the forum in Moscow," he said.
"The Middle East process is currently contradictory and does not give reasons for optimism," Umakhanov said.
At the same time, Umakhanov reiterated that Russia still wants the parties to the conflict to begin dialogue. "We believe there is a need to follow the 'roadmap' developed by the Quartet on the Middle East. We are against unilateral actions by the parties to this conflict," he said.
"We believe that international support of Mahmoud Abbas as the legitimate leader of all Palestinians is important. At the same time, we believe it is wise to continue working with Hamas as well to avoid marginalization of a considerable part of Palestinian society and promote union in Palestinian on conditions acceptable to the international community," the Russian senator said.