MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's planned visit to Jordan and the Palestinian territories will take place, and the allegations that this trip would be a response to Israel's inability to receive him is a mere speculation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"The visit will take place. And I can assure you that the allegations that President Medvedev has decided to travel to the Palestinian territories in retaliation to the fact that the Israelis failed to receive him have absolutely nothing in common with reality, and they smell of a very bad provocation," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.
The Russian president originally planned to travel to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan, he said.
"For well-known reasons, Israeli diplomats categorically refused to serve any visitors from abroad. But visits to Palestine and Jordan are not served by Israeli diplomats, and therefore they will take place," Lavrov said.